Japanese man warned over stealing insects

By ANNE BESTON environment reporter

An international bug smuggler caught with beetles taken from the Waitakere Ranges has escaped prosecution because of a loophole in the law.

It is the first time someone has been caught taking wildlife from a regional park, a trend that is worrying the Department of Conservation and Auckland Regional Council.

ARC parks and recreation policy adviser Neil Olsen said the incident had been an eye-opener.

"It never dawned on us that bugs and beetles would become a target.

"Our bylaws are not designed to deal with this sort of issue."

The penalty for smuggling species listed under the Wildlife Act is a maximum fine of $50,000 or six months' jail.

The Japanese man is a known illegal wildlife trader registered as an entomologist.

He was let off with a warning because the beetles are not protected under the Wildlife Act and were not taken from conservation land, which would have allowed DoC enforcement staff to prosecute.

The smuggler had around a dozen beetles stowed in his hand luggage along with a spiked hatchet for gouging insects out of logs, specimen bottles and bug-doping camphor tablets.

Mr Olsen said the man also had a map of where various insects could be found in the ranges, "obviously prepared for him by someone in New Zealand".

A price list he had with him put the going rate for various beetles, ranging from about $60 to $500 each, "enough to pay for his trip to New Zealand at least", said Mr Olsen.

The man's approach was an almost exact copy of an illegal bug hunt on Australia's Lord Howe Island last year. Two Japanese men were caught with around 1000 insects while in transit at Sydney Airport.

The men were prosecuted because under Australian laws, all wildlife is protected.

DoC wildlife enforcement group member Colin Hitchcock said New Zealand native species were "highly sought after" by illegal traders but New Zealand law protected only those species listed under the act.

DoC was concerned the bug smuggler had information he could have passed to other blackmarket traders and could have been a "scout" for more serious smugglers looking for rare skinks, geckos and weta.

Mr Olsen said the ARC was reviewing its bylaws and would look at strengthening provisions around the removal of live organisms from regional parks.

Animal trade

Common beetles fetch between $150 and $200 each.

New Zealand falcons can fetch up to $5000.

A pair of rare harlequin geckos can sell for $25,000.

One tuatara can fetch more than $13,000.

Penalty for smuggling species listed under Wildlife Act up to $50,000 fine or six months' jail.