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There is
a crisis in the reptile community, a crisis of apathy. We are beset by
interests that would end the hobby and business that all of us love.
Animal Rights groups have been on the march for eight years on a
national campaign to end reptile ownership state by state. They have
successfully enacted their model legislation and restricted private
ownership of many reptiles in about a dozen states. What has the reptile
community done to stop this alarming trend? Invasive species scientists
ambitious to make a name for themselves on the back of the reptile
community have produced studies riddled with faulty science. The US Fish
& Wildlife Service is petitioned by the South Florida Water Management
District to add Burmese Pythons to the Injurious Wildlife List of the
Lacey Act and subsequently gives a Notice of Inquiry and Request for
Comment on adding the genera Python, Boa & Eunectes to the
Injurious Wildlife List. By the deadline of April 30th
2008 only approximately 1,500 comments were logged. If current trends
continue and the reptile community continues to sit on their hands, in
2-5 years the reptile community will be irreparably damaged and slip
into oblivion. The reptile community must stand up and take their future
in their own hands before there is no possibility of a future.
In
spring of 2005 after recent triumphs in KY and NY the Animal Rights
Movement convinces a naïve State Senator to sponsor a bill in the North
Carolina Senate that would ban the ownership of most exotic reptiles.
Two men, Andrew Wyatt and Carl Person, decide to fight this proposed
legislation. They meet Mack Robinette, Gray Rushin and Will Leary and
decide to join forces creating an organization called the North Carolina
Association of Reptile Keepers (NCARK). At the Carolina Reptile & Exotic
Animal Expo NCARK is able to motivate over 1000 people to email the NC
Senate opposing this bill. The bill is recalled and resubmitted as a
study bill passing the Senate, but failing in the House of
Representatives. Over the next two years the bill is revived several
times… and meanwhile NCARK has created a large membership, raised funds,
made inroads with state agency staff, made allies with other animal
interests, and generally confounded the Animal Rights efforts to pass
their bill. In 2006 NCARK works with NC Partners in Amphibian & Reptile
Conservation (NCPARC) to create an alternative proposal regulating
certain reptiles. In 2008 NCARK and NCPARC get all reptiles removed from
the proposed Animal Rights Legislation and have their alternative
proposal adopted and recommended for introduction in the 2009
legislative session. Now the Animal Rights Movement suffers their most
decisive loss in eight years and NCARK creates a model for action to
defend the interests of reptile owners nationwide.
In 2006
the Animal Rights Movement introduces their model legislation into South
Carolina. Roark Ferguson creates South Carolina Association of Reptile
Keepers (SCARK) and utilizes longstanding relationships within SC State
agency staff to make his case. He then duplicates the grassroots effort
in NC successfully thwarting the Animal Rights Movement for another
decisive victory in SC. The model of NCARK is beginning to turn the tide
at the state level against the previously unchecked efforts of Animal
Rights.
In the wake of the US Fish
& Wildlife Service Notice of Inquiry and Request for Comment on an
addition of the genera Python, Boa & Eunectes
to the Injurious Wildlife List of the Lacey Act, a `Summit' of top
reptile industry representatives is called in Chicago and hosted by
North American Reptile Breeders Counsel. The legendary herper and
python expert Dave Barker asks Andrew Wyatt, co-founder and President
of NCARK to come to Chicago and make a presentation on how to take the
NCARK model and create a national reptile advocacy to represent the
reptile industry. On the second day of meetings April 5th,
2008 Andrew makes the case to create the United States
Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK). The basic concept is that the
reptile community as a national entity must take their destiny in
their own hands and look out for their own interests as a number one
priority. That if we fail to do so, the reptile industry and community
as we know it will cease to exist. If we don't take decisive action on
our own behalf the hobby and business we love will be destroyed by a
growing tide of adversity. This is a chance for a fractured community
to unite and work together to become something stronger than ever
before. The idea was overwhelmingly supported and the USARK was born.
The mission of USARK is a
simple mission of education and advocacy. The US Association of
Reptile Keepers, Inc is a science and education based advocacy for the
responsible private ownership of, and trade in reptiles. We endorse
caging standards, sound husbandry, escape prevention protocols, and an
integrated approach to vital conservation issues. Our goal is to
facilitate cooperation between government agencies, the scientific
community, and the private sector in order to produce policy proposals
that will effectively address important husbandry and conservation
issues. The health of these animals, public safety, and maintaining
ecological integrity are our primary concerns.
USARK has now been
incorporated, appointed a Board of Directors, appointed officers and
created a dynamic website with a sophisticated database and
communications function. Dr. Warren Booth, PhD whose post doctoral
work focuses on genetic markers and invasive species biology has
agreed to lead our science and research efforts. The models for state
legislation developed by NCARK are the foundation of a campaign to
secure our states and take back ground lost to the Animal Rights
Movement. We now have a voice and the tools necessary to address any
issue that confronts the reptile community. But this is an effort that
requires the help of the masses of people involved with this hobby and
business. We need to create an enormous central database in order to
call for powerful grassroots response when needed. Positions
articulated by our Board of Directors and Lobbyists need to be
supported by activating strong grassroots support. Membership is the
key to long term success. It is time for the reptile community to quit
hoping and praying that things will go well for us. It is time to
stand up, throw our hat in the ring and begin to effectively address
every issue that confronts the industry today.
In order to fund the kinds
of projects USARK would like to initiate it will take a creative
approach to fundraising. Although many of the top industry
representatives have made significant donations to get USARK on its
feet, the ultimate success of the organization depends on
participation from everyone. It would be unfair to attempt to
piggyback this effort on the few. Everyone needs to take
responsibility for their own piece of this effort so that the
financial requirements will be spread to the masses. Once you have
joined USARK or signed up on the mailing list you will receive email
updates on how to get more involved in fundraising and grassroots
initiatives on specific issues. We have some young guys and gals that
are bringing some really fresh innovative ideas on how USARK can
accomplish its goals. All it takes is for the individual hobbyists,
breeders and small businesses to step up to the plate and get
involved.
Now with USARK we can take
full responsibility for ourselves and be a strong player by giving
voice to the concerns that are a priority to our industry. This is
truly an opportunity to galvanize the reptile community and move
forward as a cohesive and powerful advocacy. Issues regarding the
Animal Rights Movement attempting to ban what we do state by state are
not going to just go away. Invasive species issues and proposals for
federal legislation are not going to stop. We all need to step up,
take responsibility and become part of the solution. The alternative
is to let this hobby and business slip away from us completely. Please
take a stand with USARK and take action to secure our future.
Andrew Wyatt
President
US Association of Reptile Keepers
PO Box 279
Grandy, NC 27939
252-207-1041
president@usark.org
www.USARK.org
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