A MELBOURNE man allegedly caught hiding three native geckos in his socks will be charged with wildlife offences. The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) says the man caught the protected native lizards then hid them in socks while transporting them through central Victoria. DSE north west region wildlife officer Shaun Burke said the Marble-velvet Gecko, an Eastern Spiny-tailed Gecko and a Three-spot Knob-tailed Gecko are believed to have been taken from the wild in New South Wales and brought into Victoria. Police from Heathcote, near Bendigo, found the lizards during a search of the man's car and alerted wildlife authorities a week ago. Mr Burke said the man's home was searched but no other protected wildlife was found. Mr Burke said some species of geckos were popular pets and could fetch high prices on the black market but removing them from the wild had serious consequences. "The removal of animals like these can heavily affect the local populations from which they were taken, and potentially transmit diseases into other reptile communities," he said. Unlawfully taking wildlife can attract fines of up to $24,000 or two years' jail or both under the Wildlife Act 1975. Unlawfully importing wildlife into Victoria attracts a penalty of up to $10,000. Goosey's Gabbings... Well, he may be penalized 10,000 eventually for his actions, but he saved much more on his car insurance.
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