In the United States, most large scale "rescue" of reptiles means they're seized from a bad or illegal situation and then killed. That's been the case in Queensland, Australia, too -- but no more.

Andrew Powell, Minister for the Environment and Heritage Protection of Queensland, overturned that policy, directing agencies that take in seized reptiles find them homes, whether in zoos or wildlife centers, or private homes by adoption.

From the Courier-Mail:

Mr Powell said the arrangement would save many animals from an uncertain fate.

"Every year our wildlife rangers are called on to help native birds and reptiles which, for a number of reasons, cannot be released into the wild,'' he said.

"It may be because we can't identify the area from which they came or that they were born in captivity.

"Some animals are the innocent victims of illegal activity, others are surrendered by wildlife carers whose circumstances have changed and they simply can no longer look after them.

"Historically they were offered to zoos and wildlife parks but, if they had no space, there was no alternative but to euthanise them."

Although the growing No-Kill Movement has not frequently championed the cause of pets other than cats and dogs, the principles of animal rescue and sheltering it espouses apply to reptiles and other "non-cuddly" pets, too.

Far too many organizations that claim to be advocating for the "humane" or "ethical" treatment of animals resort to large-scale slaughter when it comes to reptiles, whether to make a court case stronger or simply because they lack awareness of, or connections to, existing reptile rescue networks run by seasoned herpers.

"What's starting to happen here is a great step forward," said Cindy Steinle of Small Scale Reptile Rescue in Wisconsin. "Reptile rescue has evolved greatly over the past decade to follow the lead of our counterparts working with other species of pet, and thankfully fewer animals are killed today, due to the partnership between rescues and the sheltering community.

"Just because an animal is not 'cuddly' does not make it undesirable as a pet, nor mean its life has no value."

Photo: Jungle Carpet Python by Venom925