Illegal disposal of dead pythons punished

The 26 year old South Morang man appeared in Heidelberg Magistrates Court yesterday on five charges relating to his burying of 32 dead carpet pythons in the Mount Disappointment State Forest.

He was found guilty without conviction, was ordered to pay $10,000 to the court fund and placed on a good behaviour bond for two years.

The man had a private wildlife licence to own the captive-bred carpet pythons but euthanised them when some became infected with a disease.

The man buried the snakes in the State forest where there was a significant risk of the disease spreading to native wildlife. He also failed to keep accurate records as required in the conditions of his licence and gave false or misleading information to an authorised officer when asked about the snakes.

In passing the sentence, the Magistrate described the offending as ‘very reckless’

Quotes attributable to a Conservation Regulator spokesperson, Greg Chant, said:

'Disposing of privately kept wildlife in this manner is reckless and represents a significant biosecurity risk for native wildlife and the community.'

'The case is a reminder to people who own wildlife as pets that they need to keep accurate records of the animals in their care and take appropriate care with diseased or dead animals.'

'The conditions in permits to keep wildlife as pets need to be taken seriously so that the privately kept wildlife, native wildlife and the community are protected.'