Brasília, December 3, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Brazilian Institute of Environment reports that permission for, and rules on, the use of certain wild animals as domestic pets, and their sale, should be ready at the beginning of next year. The animals are the jabutis (a turtle) (Geochelone carbonaria and G. denticulata), iguanas (Iguana iguana) and jibóias (a snake) (subespecies Boa constrictor constrictor and Boa constrictor amarali). According to José de Anchieta dos Santos, an Ibama director, the animals are not threatened with extinction and, in fact, are found in great numbers in zoos and Ibama-recognized breeding institutions. The decision to permit them to be sold and used as pets was made by an Ibama panel of experts who have established rigid rules for their care and commercialization. (AB)