NSW:Customs warns against smuggling animals after spiders found

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2004
NSW:Customs warns against smuggling animals after spiders found

SYDNEY, Aug 4 AAP - Customs today issued a warning about the dangers of sending wildlife
through the post after an officer in Sydney found 26 live spiders hidden inside a parcel
sent from South America.

An inspector checking international parcel mail found one adult spider and 25 babies
hidden inside two photo film canisters last Wednesday, a Customs spokesman said.

The package had been sent from Bogota, Colombia and was destined for an address in
Austria, but was shipped to Australia by mistake.

The spiders had died since arriving here and were yet to be fully identified, the spokesman said.

Customs NSW regional director David Collins said wildlife smuggling was cruel because
it ignored the well-being of animals.

"It is a callous act to try to smuggle animals across continents as, more often than
not, they perish because of inadequate air, food and water," Mr Collins said.

Penalties for breaching Australia's wildlife protection laws included fines of up to
$110,000 and/or 10 years in jail, Mr Collins said.

AAP smb/drp/bwl

KEYWORD: SPIDERS

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