A 27-year-old man who was caught trying to smuggle 12 pythons out of WA has been fined $4000.

Mathew Price of New South Wales was also ordered to pay $114 in court costs yesterday after pleading guilty to two counts of fauna related charges in the Kalgoorlie Magistrate's Court, the Department of Environment and Conservation said in a press release.

The reptiles were discovered inside cloth bags in a vehicle that was stopped by police on the Eyre Highway at Eucla in March.

Department of Environment and Conservation senior investigator Rick Dawson said wildlife trafficking was an ongoing problem, with some pythons fetching up to $2000 each on the black market.

"We take the unlawful possession of protected reptiles and reptile trafficking very seriously and will investigate and prosecute the capture and trafficking of wildlife in WA in a bid to end this cruel practice," Mr Dawson said.

"Every time you remove a native reptile from the environment it may interfere with the natural ecosystem in that area and can have detrimental repercussions for that species further down the track."

The illegal consignment, which included six pygmy pythons, four Stimson's pythons, a Pilbara olive python and a black-headed python, was estimated to be worth between $10,000 and $15,000 on the black market.

"The pygmy and Pilbara olive pythons are endemic to the Pilbara, while the other reptiles are found in other parts of Australia including the Kimberley region," Mr Dawson said.

"Of the four species seized, only two may be kept under licence as pets: the Stimson's python and the black-headed python, provided they are obtained from a licensed dealer."

Anyone who has information about the illegal removal of reptiles or notices any suspicious activity suggesting that reptiles are being illegally removed should call DEC's Wildcare hotline 9474 9055.

PERTH LEE RONDGANGER