I agree with you Dylant, there is no way the impact of exotic Tarantulas can be measured against the delicate Fauna of the Western Cape, but please don't call any comments "stupid" when your own punctuation looks like that of a grade one child. Comments are personal views, and strangely enough, we all have one, albeit "stupid" in your view.

@dylant relax... I was just being humorous...

No need to insult me or the jester's comments I make. Saying "I won't mention names" doesn't indemnify you of the comments YOU make. Besides, you haven't made enough posts on this forum to actually know what you're talking about (LOLOLOL ). And before you get all offended by that comment, it's simply referencing a humorous debate being entertained on this here electronic broadcasting medium. Take a deep breath, have a coke and a smile

I fully understand the implications and seriousness of the situation, but thanks for making it clear anyway.

@Spunky... pay?? Can't I download some sort of illegal copy of some dubious website somewhere? LOL, just kidding. Where do I get a copy? Must you subscribe or can you find it at places like exclusive books? I'm actually just interested in reading the bit about the locals to see what Maxine was talking about. Not a good thing if they telling everyone where to go and pluck local baboon spiders from their habitats...

HS

I would love to know who wrote the article.

Ceratogyrus wrote: I would love to know who wrote the article.

Good point... and also irresponsible of the publisher... I mean if everyone knew where to go find some of our most stunning sp., I bet the numbers would take a hammering. but "nobody" would have any in their collections if you asked them.

In all honesty, I don't think Cape Nature knows why tarantulas are illegal.
They are supposedly invasive (Which could very well be true) and as I understand it, that's why they are banned. If someone did an Environmental Impact Assessment they might be able to prove that they are not invasive (Or possibly prove that they actually are?)
Why there and not the rest of the country, I don't know? I think a colony of P.murinus can be just as devastating in Limpopo as Western Cape.
Basically they are just trying to protect our local fauna and flora against the "unknown"

dylant wrote: People really make some stupid comments on this forum!! wont mention any names!! you should do some research on fynbos and how important it is to us as south Africans. I have a home in CT and have found many baboons spiders in the fynbos over the years!!!!. I could go out on any one day and bring back bucket loads. If exotic T's entered this system our baboons could be decimated. People live on the edge of the fynbos and it would take just one gravid female to escape and it could cause serious problems!!!!!!!!

just a thought!!!

WC Natcon took the approach of banning all species and then allowing the non-detrimental ones in on permit. The opposite would be to allow all species and then trying to ban a few - which is hard. If this makes any sense to you you will understand why Centurion has Iguanas next to the Hennops River and the Western Cape doesn't.