Brazen theft at wildlife reptile park

• Owner Bec Bolton.

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Animals were stolen from the Discover Deadly Naturaliste Reptile Park in Carbunup River last week leaving owners of the park gutted.

When Ms Bolton arrived at work on Thursday she noticed hay in one of the reptile enclosures had been flicked around and looked unusual.

She jumped in to look around for the animals and realised they had gone, on further inspection Ms Bolton said it was evident it was not another animal which had taken them.

“We thought it had to be a human who came in and did this targetting our animals, we looked in the next enclosure the hay wasnt disturbed, but again the animals were gone,” she said.

“Normally you cannot go in the garden without seeing or hearing king skinks running around, it was deathly silent.”

Ms Bolton said they also had a number of free range animals which normally ran around but had been cleaned out by the thief.

Later in the day they discovered a hole had been cut into a wire fence which bordered the park.

“Some of the lizards had been in the park since we first opened 11 years ago, its like someone has broken into our house and stolen our pets,” she said.

“It is nasty and we know it wont end well for them. It is not like they are going somewhere nice around the corner, they will either be exported out of the country and be lucky to survive, or be traded.

“It is gutting.”

Ms Bolton said they had lost all their western blue tongue lizards, eight bobtails and could not say how many king skinks because they were free ranging.

“We had four babies born this year there was only one we found, so the other three are gone, they were only about a month old they will not survive.”

It was the first time the reptile park has been targetted by thieves and the owners are now upgrading their security around the premises.

“It is sad, unfortunately trade of Australian animals are like the third biggest illegal export of wildlife.”

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Margaret River Mail

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