LETTER: Concerned About What is Being Shipped Into Hawai‘i

My name is Jean Souza and I live in Hilo. Presently I am closely watching the Hawaii Craigslistings for Rosellas, a really beautiful variety of Austration parakeet. I saw the ad that I just forwarded to you, on Craigslist…Honolulu. “Adorable Male Ball Python Firefly Yellow Belly with Het Genes¨

https://honolulu.craigslist.org/search/pet?query=python

Not knowing if this was a spuff or not and not wanting to find out 10 years from now that it was not, I called around. From HPD, I talked with a very concerned operator that let me know that this was not exactly a Police matter but checked and provided me with a number to the Dept of Ag. (808) 837-8413.

I call them and spoke to a gentleman that assured me that these ads like others for monkeys were placed from the mainland. He had no interest and a “forget about it” attitude. Indeed I have seen ones for monkeys but I don’t want one thank you and didn’t give it any great thought. However, in my Craig’s observations I have never seen one for a snake before, not to mention a small shipable snake. I would have probably disregarded the entire situation except that a couple have been caught in Hawaii, 2 on the Big Island somewhat recently.

These creatures are indeed small, cold blooded and if contained no very active, so would they show up on scans if shipped overnight?????? Do they scan every parcel coming into the state? Seriously, I am concerned about what is being shipped into Hawaii along with the “could care less” attitude of our Agriculture Department. On the Big Island we have a very prolific population of Coqui Frogs. But no big deal, they eat bugs and it could be worse. SNAKES! I get multiple shipments each week of books and other business related supplies and can totally see a snake being shipped in. With the kind of attitude offered on July 4 by the Agriculture Department, the Hawaiian Islands are going to resemble Guam in 20 or 30 years.

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