Welcome to boelenspythons.com!
A website dedicated to providing and communicating as much information
about Morelia boeleni as possible. Boelen’s Pythons have a
reputation as being difficult to maintain in captivity and I hope
to change this by providing the necessary data and techniques to
assure success with this species. I also hope that this website
will help to develop a much needed relationship between the zoological
community and those individuals who are privately working with this
species. This relationship will play an important role in the future
of captive Morelia boeleni, if and when captive bred populations
are established.
Since 1980 ISIS records indicate
that 110 legal Morelia boeleni have entered institutions within
the United States. Currently there are 34 (18.16) living specimens
registered in zoological institutions. At the time of writing (2006)
I am aware of 102 (38.64) living specimens located in private ownership
within the United States, Canada, and Spain. The combined total
is seemingly low compared to other python species.
Morelia boeleni is currently listed
as an C.I.T.E.S. appendix II species: protected but not endangered,
exportation allowed with legal documents, and is the most protected
reptile in Papua New Guinea. With limited captive reproductions
and a high mortality rate this snake should be considered a target
species in need of a strong captive program. It is possible that
what we have in captivity today could very well be all we ever have
based on the recent decline of imported animals and the limited
exportation quotas granted by the Indonesian Government each year.
Throughout New Guinea there is an ever growing human population
as well as an abundance of habitat destruction that could possibly
effect wild populations in the future.
A registration form can be found
on this website for those currently working with Boelen’s
Pythons. The information from this form will serve as a data base
for all captive Boelen’s Pythons. The compiled data will allow
all of those who participate to see how others are managing this
species and will also serve the purpose for those who would like
to set up breeding loans to expand their current bloodlines. By
keeping genetic diversity we are assured that the few living specimens
in captivity have a fighting chance for generations to follow.
The information provided on this
website has been compiled from those lucky enough to be working
with or have worked with this species. Currently no one is an “expert”
on Morelia boeleni, very few people have had experience working
with large numbers of these animals and only a handful of reproductions
have occurred in captivity. This is the very reason this website
has been established. I invite all of those interested, worldwide,
to please participate in the forums as much as possible and help
establish the Boelen’s Python Group, so that a meeting of
the minds will further our knowledge, and progress can be made to
help unlock the secrets to this amazing animal. Thank you for stopping
by!

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