It emphasizes how important it is to support local breeders who have spent years in mastering the art. South African Tarantula breeders are light years behind Europe and America when it comes to breeding spiders. Last year (2010) was one of the best years ever with special spiders seeing the light. I personally anticipate an even better breeding season in 2011.

Well, if you are serious about curbing the root cause of the problem, 20 year sentences might do the trick. For too long it was simply a wrap over the fingers for exotics' smuggling and it is a far larger operation than drug smuggling.
We actually do have a reasonable range of exotic species in SA in for the time being its better than nothing. I think there are some real knowledgable creatures on this forum that understands the concept of managing genetically healthy, captive bred spiders and this could keep our market alive for quite some time.

(as long as i can get my Metallica,Balfouri and Subfusca)

I understand the importance of local breeding, and I thought our breeders were pretty pretty good at it. but does this mean that we wont ever be able to get other rare exotic spiders from other countries, or are a few select people in the country able to get a permit to import?

@ T-rad: No easy answer there mate; My guess is, - and i stand to be corrected - that we had our chance. Any thing coming in will be considdered taboo. Not even special exotics import permits (if there is such a thing) will stand for much longer.It will probably come down to - you may keep what you have in a controlled environment or it will be confiscated. Either way no trade of any nature, not even locally.

Well considering we have a huge range of species in South Africa already that are captive bred ect. It won't be surprizing to see more and more. People tend to do whatever it takes to get whatever they want. Its human nature.

I myself have had a few "illegal" items imported. Nothing serious, like my guitar hero that wasn't allowed in SA until it was official here, i got it 3 months before it was in South Africa, friend of mine sent it to another guy in Botswana and he drove it down.

So in essence, its not difficult to get "illegal" items or Tarantulas in this case in South Africa, just the risk is incredible and really not worth it but like i said, someone, somewhere will make a plan. Lol.

I just figured this article i found would show you the lengths some people go to get the spiders we have here in SA considering most of them or rather all of them are illegal to import.

Well that made me quite sad... I guess you could never really cut down on local trading though, but hopefully this never comes into actions, will just have to wait and find out, but in the meantime, breeders do your thing