AFP is reporting:
Brazilian police arrested a German scientist suspected of illegally collecting hundreds of spiders, but the accused “biopirate” was released because Brazil lacks laws against such crimes, police said today.
The scientist, Carsten Hermann Richard Roloff, was arrested Saturday and released Sunday, but police confiscated hundreds of spiders contained in plastic cups and over 500 spider eggs.
Since there are no laws against biopiracy, Roloff was arrested on suspicion of trafficking wild animals, police said. Biopiracy involves the appropriation and patenting of native biological resources without the consent of indigenous communities.
Well that’s got me worried. If collecting hundreds of spiders is a crime I’m a little concerned that my back yard shed may well be arrested very soon.
Posted by Rodney Olsen
Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Spiderman? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.