Arachnaphobes should consider turning away for a moment. Researchers have exposed a widespread trade of live bugs on the internet. Spiders and scorpions are being delivered by mail, which Australia post says is against its rules.
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00:00 These orb weaver spiders arrive via express post.
00:06 Chantelle Mitchell bought four for $30 each.
00:09 They came down from Queensland in this box and these individual containers, one for each
00:15 spider.
00:16 More than 260 invertebrates can be bought online in Australia.
00:21 The top breeds include barking tarantulas, giant stick insects, centipedes and scorpions.
00:28 They go for quite a lot of money as well, some of them over $300.
00:34 The bug lover is worried that some species are biosecurity risks and that others are
00:39 being taken from the wild to be sold as pets.
00:43 Queensland clamped down on the trade after estimates that 10,000 tarantulas were being
00:48 captured every year.
00:50 I think I just want people to be educated on where they're getting their invertebrates
00:55 from so that they are doing it sustainably.
00:58 Her research is now prompting a fresh crackdown.
01:02 Australia Post says that it's contacting live bug sellers to remind them that its terms
01:07 and conditions have never allowed the postage of live animals, with a few exceptions like
01:12 leeches and bees.
01:14 If we couldn't use Australia Post, we'd have to look at courier services or some other
01:19 method of transit.
01:20 It would make things very difficult.
01:22 The company breeds its bugs at this facility near Cairns.
01:26 We're looking after their wellbeing, so that means their needs are met while they're in
01:30 transit.
01:31 A curious industry that has been using snail mail until now.
01:35 [BLANK_AUDIO]