Japan Post will not deliver live reptiles starting from April on animal welfare grounds, a company spokeswoman said Wednesday. Customers had raised concerns and animal rights activists had criticized the service online, the spokeswoman for the nationwide postal service told AFP.

“After consulting with the government... we came to realize that shipping animals in an environment where temperature control and food are unavailable can amount to animal abuse,” she said. From April 1, Japan Post -- which already does not allow mammals or birds to be sent by mail -- will not deliver reptiles through any parcel or other postal services, the spokeswoman added. — AFP