A chameleon breeder from the Czech Republic has pleaded guilty to illegally bringing seven baby veiled chameleon into New Zealand and trading them.
The 35-year-old teacher of herpetology - the study of reptiles - whose name is suppressed, appeared in Wellington District Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to trading in a
threatened species, having possession of unauthorised goods and knowingly importing a new organism on March 9 and 10.
The lawyer for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Melinka Berridge, said the man and an associate arrived at Auckland Airport on March 9 from Prague.
He was carrying seven baby chameleons in a temperature-controlled box.
Before going through Customs he transferred the chameleons to a pouch in his jacket.
Ms Berridge said the man drove to New Plymouth, where he gave the chameleons to a New Zealand lizard collector.
On March 11, MAF staff spoke to him and he admitted the offences. He said he had given the chameleons as a gift for hospitality shown to him during a previous trip in 2000.
Ms Berridge said there was an immense risk to New Zealand if the chameleons carried disease. The maximum sentences for the charges were five years' jail and $500,000 fine.
Defence lawyer Brett Crowley asked that the man remain on bail. Judge Bruce Davidson remanded him until Monday for sentence.
Veiled chameleons are a threatened species, native to Saudi Arabia and Yemen, and are protected by international law.
- NZPA
Herald Feature: Environment
