A Good Read on Zebra Plecos

http://www.reef2rain...-cites-listing/

Thanks for posting.  Very interesting.  

I have reproduced below an extract from this article ......

"It's been over a decade since wild-caught H. Zebra could be legally obtained in the aquarium trade"

I have seen older posts relating to WC Zebra Plecos on this and other forums. Some on 'for sale' classifieds as well. Does this mean that we have knowingly or unknowingly been a part of the smuggling chain and actively supported and sponsored the smuggling of Zebras? Is this not illegal? From what I've read there is a ban on Zebra exports in Brazil since January 1, 2005. Have I have misunderstood the above-mentioned extract? Is there a more plausible explanation?

The laws have changed many times over. For the past several years there was legal export. Now it's changing again and I believe export of zebras out of brazil will be banned again

That would render the information on the article as incorrect/invalid.

From what I understand (I could be wrong here), the ban that came into effect on January 1, 2005 still stands. WC Zebras are being smuggled out of Brazil via neighbouring countries. The difference now is that Zebras got on the CITES Appendix 3 as of January 1, 2017. This listing requires proper documentation when Zebras cross borders between CITES countries thereby making it difficult to smuggle.

Would be interesting to hear the expert opinions of WC Zebra importers in this forum.

Ya I read the article a while ago, but I'm pretty sure it was legal to export and for us to get them. Everyone had them (LFS and importers) and at good prices so don't think they were all smuggled. There is one direct importer on the forum that could shed some light on this....

Zebras that you see at LFS have been legally obtained.......they can not enter the country without proper documentation.

 

Any animals/fish placed on CITES does not mean you cant obtain them. You just need the proper documentation to do so...

 

Proper documentation means more paper work which equals to more man hours which equals to more $.

Thanks fir your respobse Lukan.

I understand clearly the CITES appendix 3 listing and the requirements that came into effect as of January 1, 2017.

The issue is as per my understanding from this article and others I have read, there has been a ban in effect on Zebra exports out of Brazil from January 1st 2005. It is not a secret that Zebras have been smuggled out of Brazil using its neighbouring countries. I don't think that there was any other way to obtain WC Zebras post January 1, 2005. I am yet to find an authoritative source stating that this 2005 export ban on Zebras that Brazil put in place has ever been lifted.

CITES listing that came into effect as of January 1st, 2017 makes smuggling from the neighbouring countries to other countries that much more difficult via the stringent paperwork requirements. The 2 issues are quote different.

Have we been supporting the smuggling chain by trading in WC Zebras since January 2005? May a question for CITES authority in Canada or Brazil to respond to so that it is absolutely clear.