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Taxidermy - ordering online from Thailand

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ruthandsam | 18:16 Sat 02nd Jun 2012 | Law
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Will I have any problems receiving something that I have ordered from ebay which comes from Thailand? It is a set of mounted butterflies.

Are there any regulations or species protected by law that I have to watch out for or licences that need buying?

Many thanks
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If you don't know if there are restrictions, then you really need to do homework before you buy
http://www.defra.gov.uk/ to start
I bought a display case of Far Eastern butterflies a few years ago Ruth (from a shop in town) and I put them on the wall. I thought at the time they would be attractive and a good idea. However, many of our visitors found them unsettling or even unpleasant and my sister-in-law was plain spooked by them - she said they were dead bodies on the wall! In the end we realised they were a bit distasteful and got rid of them.

Are you sure you want dead butterflies on your wall Ruth? I think many of your visitors will probably react in the same way. Besides, I think the butterflies are actually hunted in the wild for export or for sale to tourists and we came to think it wasn't good to encourage the practice.
Just to reinforce what others have said - there are international agreements that UK supports concerning the trade in wildlife and wildlife products and you need to check whether your purchases need a licence, or indeed are banned from being traded and so might be impounded.
In addition, in the UK licenced taxidermy specimens are from approved culls or natural deaths, from roadkill, or have been ethically gathered humanely killed. In developing countries animals are likely to be treated as commodities and killed to order.
Below is a quote from a US company but I expect UK has something similar. A reputable seller on e-bay should list the legalities and licences required if any and confirm no endangered species are included. I tend to agree with above, a beautiful thing like a butterly killed and pinned to a board because of its colours is not my idea of living room decor. I don't even like to see them in museums. Just my opinion.

11. Are there any permits required to buy butterflies? Do you ship outside the U.S.?

If you live in the United States you can freely purchase butterflies from us with no need to own a permit or license. To import or export butterflies (dead or alive) into or out of the United States you must have a U.S. Fish & Wildlife License AND you must declare each package and pay a fairly substantional fee for each package declaration. Be sure that you don't purchase any butterflies from companies or websites residing outside the U.S. without a license, as your package may be confiscated and you may be fined. If purchasing from a company within the U.S., make sure they imported their specimens legally via U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (not customs). Many U.S. sellers illegally import their butterflies into the U.S. without clearance from U.S. Fish and Wildlife.
This might answer your questions on the licence part, from what i have read it may be the case that you need a licence http://www.defra.gov....-eu/general-licences/

But i also agree with whether they have been caught and killed humanely or just as tourist souvenirs this would put me off anything like this for art on my walls.
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Thank you for your responses. Looks like I have some studying to do before I go ahead!!
I don't see how having dead butterflies on the wall is any more distasteful than having the dismembered genitalia of plants stuck in a vase.
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Brilliant jomifl!
I remember watching one of those antique based programmes recently where 'experts' compete to seek out bargains at local antique shops/fairs/car boot sales to sell at auction. One item bought was a glass case full of mounted butterflies etc. It could not go to auction as some of the insects were protected species.
Beware.
Blimey, that's put me off my lilies.
Wouldn't they be happier flying about, instead of pinned to a wall!
Messi, they are dead, they can't fly.

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