Are you sure this is economy seating for geckos?
Having just returned from another flight, the joy (or lack thereof) of flying is fresh in my mind. Sure it gets you to and from your destination quickly…most times, but the industry is nickel and diming us to no end. I had to pay $40 extra to get my bag to and from Las Vegas and don’t even ask me about the sandwich I had the option to purchase. I noticed most folks these days are going the carry-on way. It’s gotten so bad that a recent German traveler was stopped in New Zealand after “carefully” packing to avoid excessive baggage or overweight fees.
It seems as if 58-year-old Hans Kurt Kubus made a mistake though. Sure he was trying to save himself an extra buck by carefully preparing, planning and packing, but he may have went overboard. The traveler was stopped on South Island at the airport with not one, but 44 gecko and skink lizards stuffed in his underwear. Now I could see accidentally having one rogue lizard roaming around in your garments, but 44? At least it wasn’t a bomb in his underwear like another infamous traveler’s bright idea.
Actually Mr. Kubus admitted to trading an exploited species without a permit and hunting “absolutely protected wildlife” without authority as reported on Fox News. The traveler could face potential fines of $355,000 and six months in prison.
The geckos are reportedly worth nearly $3,000 in European markets making the uncomfortable overseas flight potentially worth it if you have a habit of breaking the law. This whole fiasco serves as a reminder to me. I need to check into the price of Geico car insurance and make sure no stowaway amphibians are taking refuge in my travel attire.
Mark Kayser
Comments on this entry are closed.