National Symposium On Reptiles, Amphibians And The Law

June 22, 2012 - PRLog -- Laws and regulations intended to protect reptiles and amphibians and their habitat are often met with resistance, enforcement problems, and scientific dispute. On Sept. 28-30, 2012, a group of veterinarians, herpetologists, zookeepers, breeders, regulators, keepers, and conservationists will meet in Houston, Tex., to discuss these issues at the First Annual National Symposium and Workshop on Reptiles and Amphibians and the Law.

Presenting the event are the National Reptile and Amphibian Advisory Council in partnership with the Association of Amphibian and Reptile Veterinarians (ARAV), the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC), and the East Texas Herpetological Society (ETHS).

"Whether it’s Burmese pythons in Florida or the Dunes Sagebrush lizard in Texas, reptiles and amphibians increasingly are at the center of environmental, political, animal welfare, and legal debate on every level from local to international,” said NRAAC steering committee chair Jeff Barringer. “How do we go forward? What issues will arise in the future? How can we work together? These are the questions that will be on the table in Houston.”

"The ARAV is pleased to be a co-sponsor of the first Reptile and Amphibian Law Symposium and Workshop,” said Wilbur B. Amand, VMD, ARAV’s executive director. “We believe that having all the stakeholders involved will advance our understanding of existing laws and provide a venue to discuss changes and improvements to laws and regulations impacting reptiles and amphibians."  

Confirmed panelists include Dr. Elliot Jacobson from ARAV and the University of Florida;  Mike Canning, PIJAC president; Dr. David Doherty, vice-president, EHTS; Doug Hotle, curator of herpetology at Albuquerque Biological Park; Jeff Barringer, founder and publisher of kingsnake.com; Alan Kardon, curator of herpetology, San Antonio Zoo; Andrew G. Gluesenkamp, Ph.D., herpetologist, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; Steve Hammack of the Fort Worth Zoo. Organizations and agencies including the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the USDA/APHIS, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums have been invited to send panelists as well.

Registration for the Reptile and Amphibian Law Symposium and Workshop is free, and anyone with an interest in the subject is welcome to attend. For more information and to register, go to http://nraac.org.

The National Reptile and Amphibian Advisory Council
The National Reptile and Amphibian Advisory Council (NRAAC) is a not-for-profit educational organization, staffed and run by volunteers. NRAAC’s purpose is to produce an annual symposium on reptile and amphibian laws, rules, and regulations. The organization welcomes participation by anyone involved in the keeping, breeding, care, and conservation of reptiles and amphibians