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Talk to them ? I did.: |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416  View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 16 Jun 2003 Returning to our previous discussion over Warning signs, I decide to take your advice Tony , and I talked to them nice. Them being dog walkers btw. I watched yesterday evening as two women allowed six dogs to bound and defecate in the heather. "Eeeer 'scuse me" I said , "I thought it might be a good idea to warn you about adders in those heathers" . "UUUH?!" The women replied , eyes popping out of their heads,"Adders?!". I pointed to my camera bag over my shoulder , "You see, I've been out here the last few weeks taking pics , and I thought it only fair to let you know. Not only would I hate to think of your dogs being bitten , But I'd also hate to see the hurt or disturbed , you see... alot of the females are pregnant right now "(Didn't bother to say Gravid , there's no point in going into that). "Oh , I thought it'd be ok around this time of day " Said one lady looking concerned. I went on to explain the favoured times of day for adders depending on weather, temp etc. "In that case " She said , "I'll go back to walking my dogs around the lake , I've only seen grass snakes there , and she ,(She pointed to one of her terriers), She's not worried about those . Infact ,she picks them up and shakes them to death " The women then looked at me expecting me to be ammused. "Well ... " I said stoney faced, "All these snakes are protected species , did you know that? And you could find yourself recieving a rather large fine if you deliberately harm them , did you know that?". She looked horrified , her friend just remained silent, and I went on to explain the plus side of our native snakes . by the end of our conversation I think I'd convinced them that it would be best to try and keep their dogs away from snakes whenever possible . Who knows? Alan O-> O+> |
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-LAF Senior Member Joined: 03 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 317 View other posts by -LAF |
Posted: 17 Jun 2003 Just as a thought, how many British people actually know that our reptiles are protected? I would imagine VERY few. Of course there is a huge logistic problem in getting people to know. Perhaps a few high profile prosecutions wouldn't go amiss. Maybe coupled with good TV PR for the 'endangered British reptiles'. Well, that's my least sociopathic view on the matter. But it's funny, someone kills a peregrine, see's an Otter in a town, or the Puffin population changes a bit, and I find out from Trevor McDonald himself. But did anyone see any national news coverage for British reptile day? I certainly didn't. Cheers, Lee.
Lee Fairclough |
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Martin Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 87 View other posts by Martin |
Posted: 19 Jun 2003 That's because reptiles are nasty, slimy, horrible, dangerous things you ignorant man! (Typed with humour, sorry.) |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 19 Jun 2003 Hi Lee, Martin You know Martin , you're quite right As they say in Greece and Turkey when told that you've seen a snake-- "Did you kill it?" Alan ( O-> O+> |
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Gemma Fairchild Krag Committee Joined: 14 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 193 View other posts by Gemma Fairchild |
Posted: 20 Jun 2003 Glad to say the next generation don't seem so bad, did talks today with groups of London 10 year olds they knew slow-worms are lizards, that grassies are harmless, that adders should be left alone, they even know whats happening to habitat in the wider countryside.. there's some hope yet. ----RAUK e-Forum---- 
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Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 20 Jun 2003 Hi Gemma, Perhaps those 10yr olds should talk to a few adults that I know.
Tony |
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Gemma Fairchild Krag Committee Joined: 14 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 193 View other posts by Gemma Fairchild |
Posted: 20 Jun 2003 Could be Tony, of course when it came to meet Merlin (star of the common toad page) the kids all lined up... the teachers all hid at the back making eeeeer type noises, typical - makes me wonder why some of us always did see herps in a different light, for me it was being shown a smooth newt when I was very very tiny by my father, hooked from then on ----RAUK e-Forum----
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 24 Jun 2003 Well, Many people dislike him because of his methods but, I think Steve Irwin has won over many Adults and Children. He's Warm and comical(ish) ,and has the kind of enthusiasm many children can relate to. My children get up and walk away when I watch Mark Oshea , but they remain glued to the television all the time steve is on. Scientific Herpetologists are fascinating to the likes of you and me , because we already have the interest , But I fear they may make MR & Mrs puppy /Kitten lover and the children reach for the remote. Alan O-> O+> |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 22 Jul 2003 My apologies to Mark Oshea. My 9 year old son (And I) , absolutely loved his programme on the king cobra last night. But I'm sure you know the point I was making. Alan O-> O+> |
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Matt Harris Senior Member Joined: 03 Jun 2003 No. of posts: 196 View other posts by Matt Harris |
Posted: 22 Jul 2003 Something that still makes me chuckle from my zoo-keeping days was the feeling of animosity towards MO'S by the keepers. A lot thought he was a bit of a pratt the way he dives after stuff and acts up for the cameras, but I think it was mostly jealousy that he's rich and famous and they, er, aren't. If you offered your average keeper the money he earns for doing what he does, they'd bite your hand off, and who wouldn't?! "He knows a lot abot reptiles in the same way that a trainspotter knows a lot about trains" was one comment! I've noticed on a few shows that some of the researchers he tags along with seemed a bit fed up with his antics, but then, it's all for the cameras. BTW Steve Irwin holding on to everything by the tail - doesn't that damage them? Gwent Amphibian and Reptile Group (GARG) |
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Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 22 Jul 2003 Sorry, have to say something about TV herp people. I have worked with most, including Steve, Mark, and Nigel Marven, as a herpetologist and as a Director cameraman. Steve is very good TV, but if you listen to him, apart from his very over the top enthusiasm he doesn't really tell you a lot. I have known Mark since his avid Black Sabbath fan days when he attended my reptile field courses in Purbeck during the 1970's. He is knowledgable but he can be difficult to work with, not me, but some of the producers he has worked with do not understand the needs of the animals, so I can understand why he gets upset. I worked on the black mamba film and I got cross just because all was rushed, and that is how accidents happen, and we did have a guy tagged during the making of that programme, I know I was standing next to him. But Mark's programmes are not set up, he either finds the animal or he does not. The best in this series is the russells viper/Sri Lanka programme, others have been a bit tongue in cheek, but then again goodt TV, and Mark does not always get to dictate content. By the way, TV work does not make you rich and you don't get repeat fees, otherwise I would be very very rich. Am working with the lovely Michaela Strachan tomorrow, adders and smooth snakes, looking forward to that. Tony |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 22 Jul 2003 Hi Tony , Thanks for your thoughts on this . I'm sure you understand the point i was trying to make Though. I thoroughly enjoy most herp TV, But as I said ,I already have the interest there. Do you know when your programme will be screened? Cheers, Alan O-> O+> |
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Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 22 Jul 2003 Hi Alan, Don't know when it will be screened but will let you know. Tony |
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David Bird Forum Specialist Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 515 View other posts by David Bird |
Posted: 22 Jul 2003 Dont want to offend anyone but not everyone wants to work in the media eye most zookeepers do not want to do talks to herp societies let alone appear on TV. And all the reptile keepers I know do not do the work for the money. I have worked with various TV programs and companies as Tony knows from my time at Poole and I think without exception they are a pain some of the film they made turns up in the weirdest places and is edited in so that it looks like "in the wild" shots exactly what I hate. I n the last few years we refused to have anything to do with filming and just allowed people writing educational or serious books to come and photograph animals without our help. Most of this has put me off watching Natural History programs I am afraid. British Herpetological Society Librarian and member of B.H.S Conservation Committee. Self employed Herpetological Consultant and Field Worker. |
- Talk to them ? I did. |
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, and not only that they have huuuuge fangs top and bottom ,(I've seen the rubber ones). These fangs ooooooze with venom, and they sting with the tongue.![[:)]](http://www.gjscenics.co.uk/forum/forum/smileys/smiley1.gif){kind=small}