Wildlife smuggling

Hopefully, the incident where Manfred Bachmann was caught in Christchurch this week with 16 rare jewelled geckos inside plastic pipes in his backpack is itself a rare case of wildlife smuggling.

Hopefully, the New Zealand leg of the several-billion-dollars-a-year trade in protected and endangered species is minuscule.

And hopefully New Zealand authorities can stamp out any incipient trafficking.

Smugglers plundering our wildlife causes community anger, distress and disappointment.

New Zealanders are proud of their fauna and flora and feel violated when it is stolen. We also know that thefts, like that from the Otago Peninsula, can threaten endangered populations.

While the geckos, including nine pregnant females, have had a price of $192,000 put on them, other estimates put their selling figure much higher.

With an incentive of that magnitude, it is little wonder that those in the business consider it worthwhile to come to this country to capture and collect the contraband.

Bachmann has been remanded in custody until March 3 for sentence, and - given the potential rewards from this scarce species of gecko - a strong sentencing signal is required.

In January, another German, Hans Kubus, was jailed for 14 weeks and fined $5000 under the Trade in Endangered Species Act when he was caught at Christchurch Airport with 24 geckos and 20 skinks.

The brown geckos were less valuable, perhaps $2000 to $4000 each, but being caught at the airport allowed him to be charged under a potentially more punitive Act.

Bachmann was caught in a Christchurch street and has pleaded guilty under two Wildlife Act charges.

Aware of the challenges, New Zealand set up the Wildlife Enforcement Group in 2003.

It is based in the Customs Service with its staff and those from the Department of Conservation and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry co-operating in the war against the trade in endangered species.

The group relies on tip-offs and on working with other agencies in other countries and will be pleased to have caught Bachmann.

This week in Christchurch, too, a stockbroker from Switzerland and a chef from Mexico have been charged with hunting and possessing the geckos.

They are yet to plead.

Rare geckos are sought keenly by reptile collectors around the world and more common geckos are often kept as pets in many places, including the United States.

Geckos, with their baggy velvety skin and broad heads, come in an array of colours and New Zealand has at least 39 species.

They are fully protected here and can only be handled, collected or kept in captivity under a permit.

Although prosecutions remain rare, several groups a year might come to this country illegally to exploit and export wildlife.

It is important that the enforcement group's successes, combined with stiff penalties, deter such raids.