Daily Reptile News

Melton and Moorabool residents told to call licensed snake catcher

THE arrival of spring has brought the snakes out.

Any Melton or Moorabool resident who encounters a snake has been urged to look – but don’t touch.

Melton resident and licensed snake catcher Jason Blainey said snakes were now starting to wake from their winter hibernation.

He said people needed to be careful as snakes now have a good supply of venom built up.

Mr Blainey, who has been catching snakes for eight years, said the top four most deadly snakes found in the region were the eastern brown, eastern tiger, red-bellied black and copperhead. “The best thing to do is keep a safe distance and call a licensed snake catcher such as myself,” he said.

“It’s true to say that snakes are more afraid of humans than we are of them – and they will defend themselves.”

Mr Blainey said it was illegal to kill snakes and all snakes caught were relocated safely.

People can help prevent snakes slithering on to their properties by keeping grass and vegetation short and tidy.

Snakes found on private land are the responsibility of the owner to contact a snake catcher to collect the reptile.

Both Melton and Moorabool Council compliance officers are not qualified to collect snakes, dead or alive.

People should note that the collection of reptiles may incur a fee. Anyone sighting a snake in Melton or Moorabool can call Mr Blainey on 0413 676 751.

Windsor couple rescue giant iguana from Ganatchio Trail

WINDSOR, Ont. — A big, green, scaly surprise landed Saturday in Marcel and Maryann Morin’s bathtub.

The east-end couple were thunderstruck when they happened upon the creature — a massive iguana — as they biked down the Ganatchio Trail. The couple took the creature, which they say was near death, home to nurse it back to health.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Marcel. “It’s huge.” He said he measured the giant lizard and it came close to six feet long.

“It’s pretty scary to look at.”

Maryann said she thought the iguana was a snake when she and her husband first spotted it. But when Marcel went to pick it up, they saw what it really was.

“It was on its back and it was white,” she said. “The poor thing. I thought that it was dead.”

Bundling it up in a pair of jackets, the Morins took the iguana home and placed it in their bathtub, warming it with a heating lamp normally used for their daughter’s hermit crabs. Maryann said the iguana’s green colour returned under the light.

“I have a feeling someone left it there to die because they didn’t want to care for it,” she said.

But finding someone to take the lizard off their hands wasn’t easy. She said Erie Wildlife Rescue and the Humane Society wouldn’t take it. She said it would be turned over to animal outreach program Zoo 2 You.

But humane society executive director Melanie Coulter said she didn’t believe her organization had been called.

“We would’ve taken it,” she said Sunday. And it wouldn’t have been the first time: the humane society has handled lost iguanas before, though finding them homes is tough.

Many people buy them when they’re small, Coulter said, but “unfortunately they keep growing and growing. You need a lot of space to care for them properly.”

Coulter said next time someone stumbles across a stray iguana they should call the humane society.

Elvis the King Cobra Confirmed to be Living at the Singapore Zoo

Singapore – Singapore Zoo, the world’s only rainforest-themed zoo, has a new king cobra which has been absorbed into the park’s collection after being rescued by Wildlife Reserves Singapore’s (WRS) wildlife rescue experts. The 4.3 metre long snake, named Elvis, after the King of Rock and Roll, underwent quarantine and health evaluations by the park’s vets, and is now the star of the Singapore Zoo’s Reptile Garden. King cobras are the world’s largest venomous snakes and males average 4 metres in length.

First spotted in a drain along Thomson Road, WRS’ wildlife rescue experts were contacted by NParks officials, who feared that Elvis’ great size may put him in danger from frightened residents. WRS wildlife rescue experts arrived on the scene shortly and brought Elvis back to the wildlife rescue centre for evaluation and review. Because of the animal’s large size, WRS decided to absorb the animal into its collection amid worries that it may encroach on populated areas in the future, and be injured or killed.

“Wild animals such as king cobras are magnificent but they can also be dangerous,” said Biswajit Guha, Director, Zoology, Singapore Zoo. “Even though Singapore is heavily urbanised, we retain a vibrant native biodiversity and it is important that Singaporeans respect wildlife when we come across them outside of their forest homes.”

He added, “Members of the public should not attempt to approach wild animals particularly if they appear to be weak, injured or disorientated. Occasionally wild animals such as the king cobra may enter populated areas and are unable to return to the forest. They will likely be stressed and may react in unpredictable ways. Considering that the venom of a king cobra is extremely potent, people should leave the handling of these beautiful reptiles to experts.”

WRS operates Singapore’s only designated rescued wildlife centres and provides snake handling training upon request to relevant agencies and organisations.

ABOUT KING COBRAS

King cobras are the world’s largest venomous snake, with lengths that reach up to six metres. Male snakes average three to four metres, and female king cobras reach 3 metres. The only member of the genus Ophiophagus, which means snake-eater, the king cobra primarily preys on other snakes, including smaller king cobras. Highly aggressive and poisonous, the king cobra pumps enough venom in a single bite to kill a full-grown elephant or 20 men! A person bitten by a king cobra is likely to die within 30 to 45 minutes, but can be killed in as quickly as 15 minutes. Mortality rates reach 75% when untreated, and 33% when treated, making the king cobra one of the world’s deadliest snakes.

Though extremely dangerous, king cobras have coexisted with humans for a long time. A preferred prey is the rat snake which is often found near paddy fields and villages where rats abound. People who see a king cobra should avoid it and call NParks or WRS to report the reptile. Without proper training, a person who seeks to move the snake may be bitten, resulting in fatality. The king cobra can strike up at targets within 2.5m, making it extremely easy to misjudge safe distances.

King cobras, like other cobras, are easily recognised when it rears up, flattening its neck to form a hood, and exposing its fangs.

ABOUT WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE RESCUED WILDLIFE CENTRES & WILDLIFE HEALTHCARE RESEARCH CENTRE (WHRC)

All WRS parks are designated rescued wildlife centres by the governing authority. Since 2006, WRS has received an average of between 300 to 400 animals every year through animal rescue, confiscations by Agri-Food Veterinary Authority (AVA) and the police, as well as public donations. All animals received by WRS are quarantined upon arrival to prevent the potential spread of diseases to the rest of the animals in the park. During the quarantine period, animals are cared for and administered by the park’s team of vets and keepers. The team observes the animals for signs of injury and illness, and will provide treatment and medication, if necessary.

The Wildlife Healthcare Research Centre (WHRC) is Singapore’s most sophisticated wildlife healthcare centre, featuring cutting edge medical technologies. Facilities include a digital x-ray machine, an extensive pharmacy of animal medicines, animal wards and treatment rooms, a fully equipped surgery room with top-of-the-line surgical equipment for invasive procedures, and a post-mortem room that can be completely isolated to contain biohazard dangers.

The WHRC and its sister centre, the Avian Hospital which has similar facilities dedicated to the treatment of birds, have always supported the conservation goals of local organisations. In recent years, WRS has provided complimentary medical care to wildlife brought to them by government agencies such as Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), private organisations such as Underwater World, and NGOs such as Animal Concerns and Research and Education Society (ACRES).

ABOUT SINGAPORE ZOO

Set in a rainforest environment, Singapore Zoo’s world famous “Open Concept” offers the opportunity to experience and be inspired by the wonders of nature. Home to over 2,500 specimens from 315 species, 29% of which are threatened, the Zoo has attained a strong reputation internationally for its conservation initiatives and breeding programmes. To better meet the healthcare needs of its animals and working towards its aspiration to become a leading global centre of excellence for veterinary healthcare and research, a purpose-built Wildlife Healthcare and Research Centre was set up in March 2006. In 2009, 1.6 million visitors enjoyed the experiential learning experience at the 28-hectare award-winning Zoo. Singapore Zoo is part of Wildlife Reserves Singapore. The Zoo is a designated rescued wildlife centre by the governing authority.

Singapore Zoo is located at 80 Mandai Lake Road Singapore 729826. More information can be found at www.zoo.com.sg

ABOUT WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE

Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) is the parent company of award-winning attractions Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, Singapore Zoo and the upcoming River Safari. WRS parks strive to be world-class leisure attractions, providing excellent exhibits of animals presented in their natural environment for the purpose of conservation, education and recreation.

In the areas of conservation and research, WRS parks have undertaken multiple projects through collaborations with various organizations and institutions on the oriental pied hornbill, pangolin and orang utan. Highly popular with tourists and locals, Jurong Bird Park welcomed 900,000 visitors, the Night Safari, more than 1.1 million, and Singapore Zoo over 1.6 million visitors in 2009.

More information can be found at www.wrs.com.sg

To view Singapore Zoo’s web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-1378-Singapore_Zoo

Kids get up close, personal with snakes

Scar, a rat snake, curled down Steve O’Neil’s arm on Friday, flicking his tongue at the group of awed students at Covenant Presbyterian Church. The kids reached out and touched its black scales, as O’Neil explained how rat snakes help keep down the rodent population.



Click to enlarge

Steve O’Neil, with Earthshine Nature Center, holds a king snake as he talks about different types of reptiles to children in the Henderson County Homeschool Association at Covenant Presbyterian Church on Friday.

“They can eat a lot of mice and rats. He’s better than any cat,” O’Neil said.

He cautioned the students not to touch snakes in the wild. Scar, however, is not dangerous to humans.

“He’s harmless,” O’Neil said. “He’s a harmless animal.”

O’Neil, who works with Earthshine Nature Programs in Lake Toxaway, brought 10 of his reptilian friends to visit with students of the Henderson County Homeschool Association. The program was sponsored by Wild South, a North Carolina organization dedicated to bringing knowledge to people to protect natural resources.

As O’Neil worked to unravel Scar from his arm, he stretched the snake out to his full length, about 6 feet.

“Whoa!” came the exclaim from the crowd of kids.

King, an eastern king snake, also made an appearance. O’Neil gave the kids the lowdown on King, too.

“They can eat rattlesnakes and copperheads and other venomous snakes,” O’Neil said. “They’re not affected by the venom.”

Lizards and other snakes were also part of O’Neil’s crew. Some of the reptiles were rare, like Xavier, an albino rat snake, and Indigo, the blue-tongued skink, native to Australia.

“He is a big lizard,” O’Neil said. “He has a blue tongue and if you watch, his tongue will flick out.”

O’Neil told the children about his Eastern box turtle conservation project and how he tracks the turtles in North Carolina. According to his website, the project involves “following several wild eastern box turtles with mark-recapture and radio telemetry techniques in order to learn more about their habits, habitats and interactions with humans and our domestic animals.”

Through Friday’s program, O’Neil hoped to teach students the importance of wildlife to the ecosystem and about conservation. It helps children learn when they can come face-to-face with live critters they usually only see in textbooks, he said.

Unfortunately, O’Neil increasingly sees more and more children suffering from what’s known as “Nature Deficit Disorder,” a term coined by Richard Louv in his book “Last Child in the Woods.”

“There’s a horrible disconnect between us and nature,” O’Neil said. “I see it all the time. We go outdoors less. So I’m taking the outside world to the inside.”

Burlington classroom snake survives 45 years

A snake that called a Burlington classroom home for several decades has died.
Naja, a corn snake, belonged to science teacher Joe Desy at Horace Mann Middle School.

The snake died of natural causes Oct. 6. Desy estimated Naja was about 45 years old, which he said is old by reptile standards.

Desy wrote in an obituary that Naja’s early years were spent ridding Iowa farmlands of small rodents. At about the age of 8, the snake came to the school and was “resident reptile and teacher of all things good and true about snakes.”

Naja lived in the classroom from 1972 until 2002 when Desy retired.

Chapter ends in turtle killing case

ALBANY — A 23-year-old man charged in the videotaped torture killing of a turtle in Knox will avoid jail time under a plea deal reached Friday.

Michael Robert of Knox pleaded guilty to fifth-degree conspiracy, a misdemeanor, during an appearance before acting Supreme Court Justice Dan Lamont. Robert faces three years of probation and must perform 75 hours of community service.

He was the last of five defendants — involving two sets of brothers — charged in the case. He faced a possible 2 1/3 to 7 years in state prison if convicted of third-degree weapon possession, a felony.

All charges against his brother, Jeffrey Robert, 24, who had cases before two judges in Albany, were later dropped. On Aug. 27, brothers Tyson Pincher, 27; James Pincher, 22; and Seth Pincher, 18, all pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct before Lamont. The non-criminal violation is akin to a speeding ticket.

That left the sole case of Michael Robert. But according to his defense attorney, Jeffrey Lapham, his client could not wage the same defense as the others, who had arguments to object to police search warrants. He said Michael Robert was not in a position to object to the discovery of the incriminating video in the car of his brother.

As a result, Lapham said, his client accepted the plea bargain.

The initial arrests came after Albany County sheriff’s department investigators searched the home of Jeffrey Robert in an unrelated case in September 2009. The police found the video showed a snapping turtle being tortured and killed in an explosion.

The defendants initially faced misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. But because the video of the torture dated from 2007, the statute of limitations for the crime had expired; the charges were tossed.

Investigators said the defendants tortured the reptile on Knox Cave Road, placed a pipe bomb on its back and watched the reptile explode.

A person with knowledge of the case said they nicknamed the turtle “Victim,” and one of them said, “Do you think he knows he’s about to die?” Police alleged the group had been experimenting with explosives and downloaded information from the Internet about bomb-making.

On Friday, Lapham emphatically said his client never produced or manufactured any bombs.

Robert will be sentenced on Oct. 29.

Reptile exhibit comes to Natural History Museum

Good thing for plexiglass. Thick plexiglass.

Because the Eastern green mamba was looking anything but warm and fuzzy.

It’s a snake. It’s a deadly snake.

Same with its buddy, the Gaboon viper, which was in the same enclosure at a new exhibit at the San Diego Natural History Museum.

Opening on Saturday, it’s aptly called, “Lizards & Snakes: Alive!”

Yep.

They’re alive all right.

The snakes slither. They coil. They do that thing with their tongues. Voldemort would love it here.

Indiana Jones, not so much.

“They’re visually stunning,” said Brad Hollingsworth, the museum’s curator of herpetology.

The red spitting cobra? It’s an amazing creature. It spits venom at anybody who comes too close. It’s pretty good at it. According to the exhibit, in one experiment, a snake hit the goggle-covered eyes of a researcher 10 time straight.

As said, good thing for plexiglass…

This is the first time the exhibit has been on the West Coast. The American Museum of Natural History in New York organized it three years ago with help from this museum.

It features more than 60 creatures from throughout the world.

The museum doesn’t think it will be a blockbuster draw on par with the Dead Sea Scrolls, which dramatically bumped attendance a few years ago. But the museum could always use help and new exhibits don’t hurt.

The Balboa Park museum laid off 10 percent of its workforce in a restructuring move in late summer. The sour economy also played a role in the downsizing.

Snakes and lizards do have their following, no question. “Many people today have snakes as pets,” Hollingsworth noted.

The exhibit is unique because it allows for people to experience snakes and lizards in an “intimate setting,” he said.

(Just need candlelight…)

There’s also a significant focus on education, he added. All the enclosures include a number of facts and features about each reptile.

For instance, the Gila monster while “shy and beautiful” is also highly venomous.

Um, good thing for plexiglass…

Keaton Massie is responsible for the care of the creatures. He’s an employee with the Pennsylvania-based Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland, which provides the snakes and lizards.

He swears he’s never lost one.

He uses a snake hook to get them out of the enclosures when it’s cleaning time. That keeps them a few feet away from him. He then puts them in a covered can.

He swears he’s never been bitten.

Dinnertime? Well, that depends on the snake. The Burmese python, for instance, gets fed every two to three weeks. She enjoys a thawed frozen rabbit.

None of the snakes get live food. Live food, such as rats, fight back. They could injure the snakes, all of which are captive born, Massie said.

The exhibit will remain on view until April of next year. It’s included in the price of admission, which ranges between $11 and $17.

And even people who are a little gun-shy when it comes to snakes say they might be enticed to check it out.

Take Julia Gulliver, 14 and Dani Jo Cooney, 15, both of Escondido. Students at High Tech High, they were at the museum on Friday.

“It sounds cool,” Gulliver said of the exhibit.

“It’d be neat,” Cooney added.

As long as there is plexiglass between them, of course.

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