Can something like what happened in Hondarribia with the viper happen?
Yes, and in recent years there have been similar cases. A couple of years ago, he appeared in Madrid, supposedly, a cascabel snake in a park. A man went to the hospital and said he had been bitten by a cascabel snake. When he came to the emergency room he explained what kind of snake he was. Then it was known that the man had the snake in his house and, as he had illegality, he had to say that it had happened in the park.

Is the culture of terrariophilia responsible for the necessary permits and regulations for the holding of animals?
No. In any case, there is everything, as everywhere. There are some terrariophils who are very responsible and lovers of exotic animals who behave with respect. But there are a lot of people who don't. Furthermore, as far as exotic animals are concerned, there has always been a black market of very bad odor, which has been booming in recent years.

And what are the risks of intentional release or involuntary leakage of alien species?
In general, the release of an exotic animal always has ecological consequences. Not necessarily, but these animals can be invaders. This causes changes in nature and harms native species.

In the case of the Hondarribia viper, a lot was said about the damage it could cause to people, but what effects can an exotic species have in other areas?
In the case of Hondarribia there was not much danger, since it is a tropical exotic species and tropical species rarely adapt to our climate. It would certainly not have a major ecological impact, but it would have an impact on other species. Many scientists claim to make white lists of species, and I too am in favour of that. In fact, so far there are only black lists. The black list contains invasive species that cannot be placed on the market. To be named an invader, they have to invade something previously, and today they are potentially invasive animals, because they are not banned because they have not invaded anything. So I say that doing the opposite would bring benefits: making a white list of species that can only be marketed.

Is terrariophil aware of the risks of the release or escape of these species?
It's hard to know. The current problem is that everything becomes fashion. The Terrariophilia was once a hobby of a few, of some frikis that at home had reptiles and amphibians as pets. They had a lot of information about these hobbies and animals. It is now in the mouthpiece and sold in any capital, everyone has access to it. For this reason, many do not know what the risks of having these animals at home are, nor what the work that their care requires. Exotic species aren't like having a dog or a cat, they don't relate to us. A lot of people buy them just because they're nice and then they get bored right away.

As far as liberated animals are concerned, what have been the most significant cases so far and where have they happened?
The case of Madrid to which I have referred is noteworthy, because it was a venomous snake, but there have been many releases of animals, although most of them have died because they do not fit well into the climate. One of the most notable cases, for example, is that of turtles. These are animals that have been released many times and still are released many times. The damage that has occurred has been considerable. The same is true of many fish species. In the Canary Islands, for example, it is common for exotic fish to grow in water wells to be sold later. Another issue of great concern to me is that of collectors.

What measures can be taken to minimise the damage that can be caused by terrariophils and collectors?The first step would be
to regulate the white list, one more step, as it is essential to predict who the animals with potential invading are and to ban their trade.

How would terrariophil take the measure?
I think that to some extent I would appreciate it. As far as collectors are concerned, I think it is often not a healthy hobby, but rather a utilitarian one. In fact, the landlord collector doesn't like to see the animal in its habitat, what he likes is to have it himself. And I have doubts about the potential benefits. There may be some unique benefit, for example, for people to be able to overcome phobias by seeing these animals in front. However, I do not know whether the benefits have as much weight as the damages.

He has stated that Terrariophilia has increased.
Yes, it's grown a lot since the age of the Internet came. Today it is much easier to buy and sell and get information. On the Internet, you can find in one click the most exotic animal care process.

From which countries of the world are the most exotic species brought?
Most of them are tropical. The exception would be Australia, where the regulations are particularly demanding, both for the departure and entry of animals from the country. In most of the remaining countries, there are two options: getting stuck in nature or growing in captivity. The latter would be the most sustainable. It is banned in Europe, but it is allowed in South America, some countries in Asia or Africa. And in those countries, many animals are slaughtered here by people to buy some of those animals. The proportion is huge: Only ten of the 100 animals that are caught in Africa for purchase and sale come alive.

And in the Basque Country is animal trafficking?In the Spanish State I
would not say that Hego Euskal Herria is the place where there is the greatest hobby. However, in Irun, for example, there are too many hobbies. There are a couple of animal shops selling exotic species and there's also a partnership. That is why, among other things, we were credible with the Hondarribia viper. However, in hot countries, hobby is usually higher, as tropical species survive better.