❓ A British man was arrested at Perth airport for attempting to smuggle 210 native animals out of Australia. The Department of Conservation and Land Management and Customs worked together to intercept him, and the animals will be returned to their habitats.
AnsweredQoN 1193Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I understand that there was an incident at Perth international airport last night involving an attempt to smuggle protected native wildlife out of Australia. Will the minister please confirm what happened? Dr J.M. EDWARDS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. Early this morning a British man was arrested at the Perth international airport because he was found to be trying to smuggle out of Perth some of our native wildlife. Late last week - about Thursday - both the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Customs hotline received a phone call from a member of the public saying that a man in a four-wheel drive, which appeared to be a hire vehicle, had been observed picking up bobtails. CALM worked with the Australian Customs Service. CALM did the initial surveillance and investigation, and tracked the man. Last night when he arrived at the airport, his suitcases were X-rayed, and both suitcases were found to contain frogs, lizards, skinks, a snake and three native cockroaches. This morning I inspected all these animals. There were 210 animals in total. I was a bit amused that I was shown the snake and told that I could not handle it because it is a bit venomous. Fortunately, the man concerned did not find that out. The man has been charged. He appeared in court this morning. It was alleged in court that he arrived in Perth early in October, hired the four-wheel drive vehicle, and then did a big circle around Western Australia, going to Coolgardie, north to Mt Magnet, across to the coast and then back down, eventually ending up in Mundaring. The man has cooperated. We know where all the animals came from. They are all in a good state of welfare. As soon as the court procedures are finished, they will be taken back to their natural habitats. I am delighted that both CALM and the Customs agency have worked so closely on this very successful intervention, which we know is the largest interception of reptiles in Western Australia. We believe that it may well be the largest of its kind in the whole of Australia. The man has been charged under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. As soon as all the animals are properly identified and it is determined how rare some of the species are, he will face further charges under the Wildlife Conservation Act. I want to commend all the officers in the field and in the city who cooperated magnificently and intercepted this man at the airport.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for the question. Early this morning a British man was arrested at the Perth international airport because he was found to be trying to smuggle out of Perth some of our native wildlife. Late last week - about Thursday - both the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Customs hotline received a phone call from a member of the public saying that a man in a four-wheel drive, which appeared to be a hire vehicle, had been observed picking up bobtails. CALM worked with the Australian Customs Service. CALM did the initial surveillance and investigation, and tracked the man. Last night when he arrived at the airport, his suitcases were X-rayed, and both suitcases were found to contain frogs, lizards, skinks, a snake and three native cockroaches. This morning I inspected all these animals. There were 210 animals in total. I was a bit amused that I was shown the snake and told that I could not handle it because it is a bit venomous. Fortunately, the man concerned did not find that out. The man has been charged. He appeared in court this morning. It was alleged in court that he arrived in Perth early in October, hired the four-wheel drive vehicle, and then did a big circle around Western Australia, going to Coolgardie, north to Mt Magnet, across to the coast and then back down, eventually ending up in Mundaring. The man has cooperated. We know where all the animals came from. They are all in a good state of welfare. As soon as the court procedures are finished, they will be taken back to their natural habitats. I am delighted that both CALM and the Customs agency have worked so closely on this very successful intervention, which we know is the largest interception of reptiles in Western Australia. We believe that it may well be the largest of its kind in the whole of Australia. The man has been charged under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. As soon as all the animals are properly identified and it is determined how rare some of the species are, he will face further charges under the Wildlife Conservation Act. I want to commend all the officers in the field and in the city who cooperated magnificently and intercepted this man at the airport.
I thank the member for the question. Early this morning a British man was arrested at the Perth international airport because he was found to be trying to smuggle out of Perth some of our native wildlife. Late last week - about Thursday - both the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Customs hotline received a phone call from a member of the public saying that a man in a four-wheel drive, which appeared to be a hire vehicle, had been observed picking up bobtails. CALM worked with the Australian Customs Service. CALM did the initial surveillance and investigation, and tracked the man. Last night when he arrived at the airport, his suitcases were X-rayed, and both suitcases were found to contain frogs, lizards, skinks, a snake and three native cockroaches. This morning I inspected all these animals. There were 210 animals in total. I was a bit amused that I was shown the snake and told that I could not handle it because it is a bit venomous. Fortunately, the man concerned did not find that out. The man has been charged. He appeared in court this morning. It was alleged in court that he arrived in Perth early in October, hired the four-wheel drive vehicle, and then did a big circle around Western Australia, going to Coolgardie, north to Mt Magnet, across to the coast and then back down, eventually ending up in Mundaring. The man has cooperated. We know where all the animals came from. They are all in a good state of welfare. As soon as the court procedures are finished, they will be taken back to their natural habitats. I am delighted that both CALM and the Customs agency have worked so closely on this very successful intervention, which we know is the largest interception of reptiles in Western Australia. We believe that it may well be the largest of its kind in the whole of Australia. The man has been charged under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. As soon as all the animals are properly identified and it is determined how rare some of the species are, he will face further charges under the Wildlife Conservation Act. I want to commend all the officers in the field and in the city who cooperated magnificently and intercepted this man at the airport.
Early this morning a British man was arrested at the Perth international airport because he was found to be trying to smuggle out of Perth some of our native wildlife. Late last week - about Thursday - both the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Customs hotline received a phone call from a member of the public saying that a man in a four-wheel drive, which appeared to be a hire vehicle, had been observed picking up bobtails. CALM worked with the Australian Customs Service. CALM did the initial surveillance and investigation, and tracked the man. Last night when he arrived at the airport, his suitcases were X-rayed, and both suitcases were found to contain frogs, lizards, skinks, a snake and three native cockroaches. This morning I inspected all these animals. There were 210 animals in total. I was a bit amused that I was shown the snake and told that I could not handle it because it is a bit venomous. Fortunately, the man concerned did not find that out. The man has been charged. He appeared in court this morning. It was alleged in court that he arrived in Perth early in October, hired the four-wheel drive vehicle, and then did a big circle around Western Australia, going to Coolgardie, north to Mt Magnet, across to the coast and then back down, eventually ending up in Mundaring. The man has cooperated. We know where all the animals came from. They are all in a good state of welfare. As soon as the court procedures are finished, they will be taken back to their natural habitats. I am delighted that both CALM and the Customs agency have worked so closely on this very successful intervention, which we know is the largest interception of reptiles in Western Australia. We believe that it may well be the largest of its kind in the whole of Australia. The man has been charged under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. As soon as all the animals are properly identified and it is determined how rare some of the species are, he will face further charges under the Wildlife Conservation Act. I want to commend all the officers in the field and in the city who cooperated magnificently and intercepted this man at the airport.
The man has been charged. He appeared in court this morning. It was alleged in court that he arrived in Perth early in October, hired the four-wheel drive vehicle, and then did a big circle around Western Australia, going to Coolgardie, north to Mt Magnet, across to the coast and then back down, eventually ending up in Mundaring. The man has cooperated. We know where all the animals came from. They are all in a good state of welfare. As soon as the court procedures are finished, they will be taken back to their natural habitats. I am delighted that both CALM and the Customs agency have worked so closely on this very successful intervention, which we know is the largest interception of reptiles in Western Australia. We believe that it may well be the largest of its kind in the whole of Australia. The man has been charged under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. As soon as all the animals are properly identified and it is determined how rare some of the species are, he will face further charges under the Wildlife Conservation Act. I want to commend all the officers in the field and in the city who cooperated magnificently and intercepted this man at the airport.
I am delighted that both CALM and the Customs agency have worked so closely on this very successful intervention, which we know is the largest interception of reptiles in Western Australia. We believe that it may well be the largest of its kind in the whole of Australia. The man has been charged under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. As soon as all the animals are properly identified and it is determined how rare some of the species are, he will face further charges under the Wildlife Conservation Act. I want to commend all the officers in the field and in the city who cooperated magnificently and intercepted this man at the airport.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for the question. Early this morning a British man was arrested at the Perth international airport because he was found to be trying to smuggle out of Perth some of our native wildlife. Late last week - about Thursday - both the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Customs hotline received a phone call from a member of the public saying that a man in a four-wheel drive, which appeared to be a hire vehicle, had been observed picking up bobtails. CALM worked with the Australian Customs Service. CALM did the initial surveillance and investigation, and tracked the man. Last night when he arrived at the airport, his suitcases were X-rayed, and both suitcases were found to contain frogs, lizards, skinks, a snake and three native cockroaches. This morning I inspected all these animals. There were 210 animals in total. I was a bit amused that I was shown the snake and told that I could not handle it because it is a bit venomous. Fortunately, the man concerned did not find that out. The man has been charged. He appeared in court this morning. It was alleged in court that he arrived in Perth early in October, hired the four-wheel drive vehicle, and then did a big circle around Western Australia, going to Coolgardie, north to Mt Magnet, across to the coast and then back down, eventually ending up in Mundaring. The man has cooperated. We know where all the animals came from. They are all in a good state of welfare. As soon as the court procedures are finished, they will be taken back to their natural habitats. I am delighted that both CALM and the Customs agency have worked so closely on this very successful intervention, which we know is the largest interception of reptiles in Western Australia. We believe that it may well be the largest of its kind in the whole of Australia. The man has been charged under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. As soon as all the animals are properly identified and it is determined how rare some of the species are, he will face further charges under the Wildlife Conservation Act. I want to commend all the officers in the field and in the city who cooperated magnificently and intercepted this man at the airport.
I thank the member for the question. Early this morning a British man was arrested at the Perth international airport because he was found to be trying to smuggle out of Perth some of our native wildlife. Late last week - about Thursday - both the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Customs hotline received a phone call from a member of the public saying that a man in a four-wheel drive, which appeared to be a hire vehicle, had been observed picking up bobtails. CALM worked with the Australian Customs Service. CALM did the initial surveillance and investigation, and tracked the man. Last night when he arrived at the airport, his suitcases were X-rayed, and both suitcases were found to contain frogs, lizards, skinks, a snake and three native cockroaches. This morning I inspected all these animals. There were 210 animals in total. I was a bit amused that I was shown the snake and told that I could not handle it because it is a bit venomous. Fortunately, the man concerned did not find that out. The man has been charged. He appeared in court this morning. It was alleged in court that he arrived in Perth early in October, hired the four-wheel drive vehicle, and then did a big circle around Western Australia, going to Coolgardie, north to Mt Magnet, across to the coast and then back down, eventually ending up in Mundaring. The man has cooperated. We know where all the animals came from. They are all in a good state of welfare. As soon as the court procedures are finished, they will be taken back to their natural habitats. I am delighted that both CALM and the Customs agency have worked so closely on this very successful intervention, which we know is the largest interception of reptiles in Western Australia. We believe that it may well be the largest of its kind in the whole of Australia. The man has been charged under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. As soon as all the animals are properly identified and it is determined how rare some of the species are, he will face further charges under the Wildlife Conservation Act. I want to commend all the officers in the field and in the city who cooperated magnificently and intercepted this man at the airport.
Early this morning a British man was arrested at the Perth international airport because he was found to be trying to smuggle out of Perth some of our native wildlife. Late last week - about Thursday - both the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Customs hotline received a phone call from a member of the public saying that a man in a four-wheel drive, which appeared to be a hire vehicle, had been observed picking up bobtails. CALM worked with the Australian Customs Service. CALM did the initial surveillance and investigation, and tracked the man. Last night when he arrived at the airport, his suitcases were X-rayed, and both suitcases were found to contain frogs, lizards, skinks, a snake and three native cockroaches. This morning I inspected all these animals. There were 210 animals in total. I was a bit amused that I was shown the snake and told that I could not handle it because it is a bit venomous. Fortunately, the man concerned did not find that out. The man has been charged. He appeared in court this morning. It was alleged in court that he arrived in Perth early in October, hired the four-wheel drive vehicle, and then did a big circle around Western Australia, going to Coolgardie, north to Mt Magnet, across to the coast and then back down, eventually ending up in Mundaring. The man has cooperated. We know where all the animals came from. They are all in a good state of welfare. As soon as the court procedures are finished, they will be taken back to their natural habitats. I am delighted that both CALM and the Customs agency have worked so closely on this very successful intervention, which we know is the largest interception of reptiles in Western Australia. We believe that it may well be the largest of its kind in the whole of Australia. The man has been charged under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. As soon as all the animals are properly identified and it is determined how rare some of the species are, he will face further charges under the Wildlife Conservation Act. I want to commend all the officers in the field and in the city who cooperated magnificently and intercepted this man at the airport.
The man has been charged. He appeared in court this morning. It was alleged in court that he arrived in Perth early in October, hired the four-wheel drive vehicle, and then did a big circle around Western Australia, going to Coolgardie, north to Mt Magnet, across to the coast and then back down, eventually ending up in Mundaring. The man has cooperated. We know where all the animals came from. They are all in a good state of welfare. As soon as the court procedures are finished, they will be taken back to their natural habitats. I am delighted that both CALM and the Customs agency have worked so closely on this very successful intervention, which we know is the largest interception of reptiles in Western Australia. We believe that it may well be the largest of its kind in the whole of Australia. The man has been charged under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. As soon as all the animals are properly identified and it is determined how rare some of the species are, he will face further charges under the Wildlife Conservation Act. I want to commend all the officers in the field and in the city who cooperated magnificently and intercepted this man at the airport.
I am delighted that both CALM and the Customs agency have worked so closely on this very successful intervention, which we know is the largest interception of reptiles in Western Australia. We believe that it may well be the largest of its kind in the whole of Australia. The man has been charged under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. As soon as all the animals are properly identified and it is determined how rare some of the species are, he will face further charges under the Wildlife Conservation Act. I want to commend all the officers in the field and in the city who cooperated magnificently and intercepted this man at the airport.
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