These ball pythons, Python regius, were produced at Reptilia. This species typically will only breed once every two years and females lay between 4 and 8 eggs per clutch. It is still easier and less expensive, monetarily speaking, to import ball pythons from Africa which explains why they are still being imported. From 1985-1995, a total of 627,718 ball pythons were imported into the U.S. Most logical people would agree that an animal that reproduces slowly cannot withstand intensive harvesting from wild populations. However, some seemingly logical people still argue that the importation of these animals at this rate is not detrimental to wild populations! (Photo: Joshua V. Feltham)