A Dapto man has been convicted for keeping 10 unlicensed exotic animals – including two Columbian red tailed boa constrictors and an American alligator.
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Kyle Page, 26, was charged under the NSW Non-Indigenous Animals Act for keeping 10 unlicensed exotic animals, which were seized from his home in December 2013.
He was this month convicted of 10 charges at Port Kembla Local Court receiving a six month suspended jail sentence.
The exotic animals also included four corn Snakes, two Red Eared Slider Turtles and one veiled Chameleon.
At the time of the raid Lake Illawarra Inspector Paul Allman said all the animals were in good condition, and it appeared as though the owner had been hand feeding many of them.
‘‘The owner of the animals was very cooperative,’’ Insp Allman told the Mercury. ‘‘They were well maintained in a proper set up.’’
NSW Department of Primary Industries’ Director of Biosecurity Compliance Peter Day said the animals were “seized, examined for biosecurity threat by DPI Veterinarians and euthanised”.
He welcomed the conviction, saying “ keeping of exotic animals without a license is a very serious offence.”
“It was determined that Mr Page did not possess, nor ever had possessed, a licence to keep the exotic animals,” he said. “The outcome of this case sends a strong message about the importance of our State’s biosecurity by managing risks that impact our environment, economy and community.”
The DPI believed Mr Page purchased the exotic animals via an online source.