Reptile Related News

More Than 1,000 Snakes and Rare Turtles Seized at Airport

2008-06-25T11:54:00.000-04:00

Article from The Bangkok Post
Turtle photo by Tim McCormack
Two wildlife smugglers were arrested at Suvarnabhumi airport Monday as police intercepted an illegal shipment of more than 1,000 snakes and turtles. Police said it was the biggest wildlife seizure this year. They received an anonymous tip-off yesterday morning that smugglers would be sending the shipment through the airport's cargo section. "We immediately contacted customs officers and asked them to carefully monitor shipments being sent to China, Taiwan and Vietnam," said Pol Col Subsak Chavalviwat, senior liaison officer with the Asean Wildlife Enforcement Network [pdf] (Asean-Wen) Programme Coordination Unit.

Two men arrived at the airport in separate pick-up trucks, parked the vehicles in the cargo area and began unloading 180 foam boxes for shipment. Within minutes, police arrived and examined the cargo. "They told us that the boxes contained fish and mantis shrimps, but fish and shrimps were found in only 62 of them. The rest of the boxes were full of turtles and snakes," Pol Col Subsak said. "There were 379 turtles and 660 snakes, altogether weighing 555 kilogrammes."

The animals recovered were rat snakes, Malayan box turtles, yellow-headed temple turtles and snail-eating turtles. The three turtle species are protected. The suspects were charged with possessing wildlife without a permit and attempting to illegally export wildlife. Under the Wildlife Act, they could face up to four years imprisonment and/or a 40,000 baht fine.

A source at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation said the shipment was due to be sent to China on Cathay Pacific Airlines. He rejected a claim by the two suspects the animals were raised in a breeding farm. "On the contrary, we are certain that they are from the wild," he said. The official said the shipment was the work of professionals, who had placed cold bottled water wrapped in newspapers in each box to keep it cool. "Turtles are resilient and they had a higher chance of survival, but snakes are highly vulnerable and too many had been crammed together with little oxygen. Many were found dead," said the source. The surviving animals will be cared for by wildlife breeding centres until the completion of legal proceedings.

Baby Crocodiles Talk to Each Other in Their Eggs

2008-06-24T08:37:00.003-04:00

Article from The UK Telegraph
Baby crocodiles "talk" to their mothers and their unborn siblings even before they hatch, perhaps indicating that they are ready to leave the egg, according to new research.

French scientists Amelie Vergne and Nicolas Mathevon of Universite Jean Monnet in Saint-Etienne noticed that the young reptiles make a noise, described as sounding like "umph, umph", in the moments immediately before they hatch. The researchers tested ten batches of crocodile eggs, dividing them in to three groups. One was played actual recordings of the juveniles' pre-hatching calls, one was played random noises, and one was left in silence. Eggs played the real recordings all hatched within ten minutes, while the other two groups stayed in their shells for another five hours at least.

Similarly, the mothers responded to the real calls. Without their knowing, the scientists dug up the eggs and put them in an incubator, replacing them with speakers. Mothers played the real sounds attempted to dig up the eggs, while those who heard random sounds did not. Writing in the journal Current Biology, Mathevon said many baby reptiles are eaten right after birth, so it may be important for them all to hatch together and for the mother to be there when they do. "In this sense, it is important for all embryos in the nest to be ready for hatching at the same time so that they all receive adult care and protection," he said in a statement.

Wild Chinese Alligator, "Living fossil," Found in East China

2008-06-23T12:00:00.004-04:00

Article from xinhuanet.com

Fishermen in the eastern province of Anhui have found a wild Chinese alligator, which is being called a living fossil, and tracks of another, local authorities said on Monday. The 20-kilogram reptile was discovered last week in a pond in Wanshou Village, Wuhu County while villagers were fishing. It was believed to have been living in the village for more than 40 years, said experts with the national nature reserve for the Chinese alligators. The alligator was released to the pond after an investigation, experts said.

Villagers also saw what appeared to be the tracks of another, larger specimen in neighboring Gangshan Village, said Hong Ning, Wuhu Forestry Administration director. In Wuhu, once a major habitat of the reptile, not one animal has been sighted for nearly 30 years due to human activities, he said. The Chinese alligator, also known as the Yangtze alligator, was very plentiful, particularly on the eastern seaboard. But now, with a population of no more than 150 in the wild, it is listed one of the world's most endangered creatures.

China has put the Chinese alligator at the top level of its protection list. In 1979, the Chinese Alligator Breeding Research Center was set up in Anhui. Since then, the number of alligators at the center has risen from about 200 to more than 10,000.

Man Sues After 60+ of His Snakes Died in State Custody

2008-06-16T08:30:00.002-04:00

Article from The Salt Lake Tribune
A Utah man convicted of importing snakes without a permit says authorities let 62 of his rubber boas die in state custody. Only three others survived.

Ryan Hoyer is suing the Division of Wildlife Resources for failing to take care of his snakes. He says they are picky eaters, sensitive to temperature changes and need to bathe constantly in water. ''If these snakes had simply been provided water and shelter for a year, the vast majority would have been fine. Instead, within eight or nine months, half were dead,'' Hoyer said. ''It is easy to overheat reptiles.''

"Suppose that your property was stolen by a thief ... then the state seized it and held it as evidence for trial, then destroyed it due to negligence. ... Regardless of whether that's jewelry, cash, rare paintings, family heirlooms, musical instruments, snakes, whatever -- (the state) is saying 'We don't owe you any duty of care for your property.' " It's precisely that legal concept that sunk Hoyer's civil suit at the district level, attorney Stephen Spencer admits. The courts have found that a state agency is usually immune from negligence suits if the damaged property in question was taken as a part of a judicial action like a search warrant.

Hoyer and Spencer have appealed that decision, hoping to convince the courts that this type of situation should be viewed differently.

The wildlife division referred all questions to Attorney General Mark Shurtleff's Office, which says citizens can't sue government for ordinary negligence. Assistant Attorney General Matthew Bates confirmed Sunday that about 60 of the snakes died in state captivity over the years. He said they were difficult to care for. Bates wanted millions of dollars for the research value of the dead snakes, rejecting the state's offer of paying street value, Bates said. The state eventually got the lawsuit dismissed, but Bates is appealing to the Utah Supreme Court.

Biologists: Lake Erie Snakes No Longer Threatened

2008-06-12T09:25:00.005-04:00

Article from AP

The nonpoisonous Lake Erie water snake — deemed endangered by the state and threatened by the federal government almost a decade ago — has rebounded in recent years, and biologists predict that it will soon be removed from the lists.

The water snake [Nerodia sipedon insularum] once inhabited 22 islands and rock outcrops of western Lake Erie, part of the Ontario mainland and shorelines of Ohio's Catawba/Marblehead peninsula. But the species fell victim to development and, more specifically, hogs, which were brought to the islands in the early 20th century to kill the snakes. As vacationers crowded the resort communities on South Bass, Middle Bass and Kelleys islands each summer, more of the snakes — which are known to bite — were eliminated. Just 1,200 adult water snakes were left about 20 years ago, Northern Illinois University researcher Richard King said.

Now there are about 12,000. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing the snake's status. The service declared the snake threatened in 1999, meaning it was in danger of extinction in some areas. The listing made it illegal to kill or harm the snakes or destroy their habitats. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources designated the water snake as an endangered species in 2000. It also received legally protected status in Canada by Ontario's provincial Endangered Species Act. In Ohio, the snakes have benefited from several hundred acres of protected habitat. Additionally, islanders have been told they can't build docks or breakwalls with sheet metal at water level. Property owners have been building docks from wire mesh, wood and rock, which make it easier for snakes to pass through and nest.

Tortoise Comes Out of His Shell

2008-06-11T08:30:00.004-04:00

Article & photo from BBC News
A tortoise has come out of his shell to become a confident street walker, BBC Scotland can reveal. Stormin' Norman is a 10-year-old African sulcata tortoise who is turning heads by wandering through the streets of Aberdeen. Owner Dianne Melville - who runs a reptile shop - walks with him, but she said Stormin' Norman decides his route. He goes out several times a day, and is photographed by bemused locals and tourists who see him.

'No fear'
Ms Melville said: "Stormin' Norman is non-stop, a Nomad, he would walk the streets all day if he could. He has no fear of anyone or anything, people have to move out the way, he has no manners - that's why he's called Stormin' Norman. He is always supervised but he decided where he wants to go." She added: "There has been a lot of interest in Stormin' Norman." It is expected the tortoise will have to be found a new home when he gets larger. John Carle, of the Scottish SPCA, said there was nothing wrong with Stormin' Norman or what he was doing, but added they did not want to encourage copycat actions among owners of exotic pets.

4th Grade Student Names New Species of Gecko

2008-06-03T07:16:00.001-04:00

Article from BusinessWire.com
Photo from Philly.com
After its discovery by Dr. Aaron Bauer on the South Pacific island of New Caledonia, a new gecko species remained nameless, until now. New Jersey fourth grader, Gemma Farquhar (pictured at right) has given the once nameless species of gecko an identity. As the grand prize winner of the nationwide contest, Project Gecko presented by Zilla, Farquhar’s name Bavayia periclitata will be given to the new species. “Bavayia periclitata was chosen for its accurate and artistic description. Gemma was able to combine scientific language with creative intellect forming a name that depicts the importance of taking care of the animals that share our world with us,” said Dr. Aaron Bauer, Villanova professor of biology.

In her contest submission, Farquhar, a student at Oaklyn Elementary School in Oaklyn, NJ, dared to be different and strayed away from using typical Latin names that describe the gecko’s habitat or physical features. Bavayia periclitata means “endangered” in Latin. Farquhar says she chose this name to help emphasize the importance of taking care of geckos, other endangered species as well as our environment in general. “I chose this name because it means endangered and it will make people think about how our geckos are disappearing and are on the endangered list. I hope people will try harder to protect our geckos,” said Farquhar. “Winning Project Gecko means a lot to me because I named a whole new species of gecko for eternity and giving the gecko this name may mean there’s a better chance to help other species.”

The contest organizers Zilla, manufacturer of reptile products, believe Farquhar’s name is perfect for the new species. “We were thrilled to read about why Gemma chose this name for the gecko,” said Daniel Lorica, Zilla brand manager. “She recognizes that we all have a responsibility to preserve the endangered species of animals with whom we share our world. And her appreciation for the environment is what made her entry stand out from the others.”

Goal: Turn Fear of Snakes into Respect

2008-06-02T10:07:00.005-04:00

Article from Clarion Ledger
They slither. That in itself is enough to cause most adults to come unglued at the first sight of a snake in their vicinity. Doesn't matter what kind of snake it is, since most people don't know the difference. They just go nuts.

It is the mystique of the shoulder-less that the Museum of Natural Science hopes to eliminate Tuesday during its annual "Snake Day, Mississippi Style" program. By teaching the public, adults and children alike, about the positive role that snakes play in nature, biologist Terry Majure will try to turn fear into respect with two one-hour seminars. "Actually my goal is to educate, to teach people that snakes are our friends and simply deserve our respect," Majure said. "My messages are No. 1, stay out of harm's way, and No. 2, get an understanding that snakes are not out to get us and they are beneficial."

Majure's two seminars cover the natural history of snakes in Mississippi, the role they play in the ecosystem and identifying different species, including recognizing the six venomous snakes native to the state from the 55 non-venomous species.

Tourist Bitten on Penis by Deadly Brown Snake

2008-05-30T09:07:00.003-04:00

Story from the Cairns.au
A roadside toilet stop ended in pain, embarrassment and almost death for a tourist when a highly venomous snake bit the end of his penis. The deadly brown snake slithered between his legs and lunged at his manhood as he crouched on a roadside near Laura, 300km northwest of Cairns, about a month ago.

Details of the incident only came to light yesterday after they were confirmed by a paramedic. "It certainly had a swipe at him," an ambulance spokesman said yesterday. "But it didn’t envenomate him. As it came through it must have got a bit of a shock. ." The snake beat a hasty retreat, leaving its victim with a scratch, vomiting and abdomen pain. Emergency workers raced to the scene to treat the man.

The wound was wrapped in plastic in case poison had penetrated the skin but medical staff gave the man the all-clear after conducting tests. He was taken to Cooktown Hospital where he spent a night recovering. The ambulance spokesman described him as "lucky", given his near encounter with one of Australia’s most poisonous snakes. "I think he was a bit shocked and embarrassed," he said.

Snakes Alive! Reptile Cause of Outage

2008-05-29T11:31:00.003-04:00

Article from Murray Ledger & Times
An electrical darkness blanketed Murray (Kentucky) and portions of Calloway County Tuesday morning, stalling every aspect of life that requires a current. Stoplights were blank, bank signs registered nothing and morning coffee hotspots were still. Much of the city of Murray and 6,000 West Kentucky Rural Electric Co-op customers have a large snake to thank for their morning inconveniences.

According to Tony Thompson, general manager at Murray Electric System, the snake knocked out the main substation located off of South Fourth Street sometime between 6:00 or 6:15am. About an hour later, power was restored. “The first place we started looking was there,” Thompson said. Once the problem was found, he said it didn't take long to get the city back online. The MES website notes, "Power was knocked out to a good portion of Tuesday morning when a snake crawled into high voltage equipment at one of our substations. Mother Nature can be one of the biggest enemies of electric power!"

The snake also affected the eastern portion of Calloway County whose West Kentucky Rural Electric power supply comes from the Fourth Street substation. Jeremy Greer, construction foreman for West Kentucky RECC, said the reach of the outage stretched along Ky. 94 East to Highway 1346. The Calloway County Sheriff's Department reportedly received several calls from that area and also along Ky. 121 South. A Murray Police Department dispatcher reported it was a “hectic” morning, but there were no “major problems.”

The fire department responded to fire alarms, which the dispatcher said is common when the power goes out. Traffic signals were also out all over town. “It happens every now and then,” said Greer of an animal causing such an outage. He added that it's difficult to stop a snake from entering a substation.

Scientists Announce Top 10 New Species In Last Year

2008-05-28T07:54:00.000-04:00

Article & photo from ScienceDaily.com

The International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University and an international committee of taxonomists -- scientists responsible for species exploration and classification -- recently announced the top 10 new species described in 2007. On the list are an ornate sleeper ray, with a name that sucks: Electrolux; a giant duck-billed dinosaur; a shocking pink millipede; a rare, off-the-shelf frog; one of the most venomous snakes in the world; a fruit bat; a mushroom; a jellyfish named after its victim; a life-imitates-art "Dim" rhinoceros beetle; and the "Michelin Man" plant.

The taxonomists are also issuing a SOS -- State of Observed Species [PDF] report card on human knowledge of Earth's species. In it, they report that 16,969 species new to science were discovered and described in 2006. Among the top 10 picks is an ornate sleeper ray -- Electrolux addisoni -- whose name reflects "the vigorous sucking action displayed on the videotape of the feeding ray" from the east coast of South Africa that "may rival a well-known electrical device used to suck the detritus from carpets." Also on the list is a giant duck-billed dinosaur -- Gryposaurus monumentensis -- discovered in southern Utah by a team from Alf Museum, a California-based paleontology museum on a high school campus.

From the plant kingdom is the "Michelin Man™" plant -- Tecticornia bibenda -- a succulent plant in Western Australia that resembles the Michelin® tire man. And, in the category of life imitating art is a "Dim" rhinoceros beetle -- Megaceras briansaltini -- which, according to the author, looks like the Dim character from the Disney film "A Bug's Life."

"The international committee of taxon experts who made the selection of the top 10 from the thousands of species described in calendar year 2007 is helping draw attention to biodiversity, the field of taxonomy, and the importance of natural history museums and botanical gardens in a fun-filled way," says Professor Quentin Wheeler, an entomologist and director of ASU's International Institute for Species Exploration. "We live in an exciting time. A new generation of tools are coming online that will vastly accelerate the rate at which we are able to discover and describe species," says Wheeler. "Most people do not realize just how incomplete our knowledge of Earth's species is or the steady rate at which taxonomists are exploring that diversity. In 2006, for example, an average of nearly 50 species per day were discovered and named."

"We are surrounded by such an exuberance of species diversity that we too often take it for granted. Charting the species of the world and their unique attributes are essential parts of understanding the history of life and is in our own self-interest as we face the challenges of living on a rapidly changing planet," Wheeler says.

Scientists estimate there are between 2 million and 100 million species on Earth, though most set the number closer to 10 million. According to the authors of the SOS report: "There are many reasons that scientists explore Earth's species: to discover and document the results of history; to learn the species that comprise the ecosystems upon which life on our planet depends; to establish baseline knowledge of the planet's species and their distribution so that non-native pests and vectors of disease may be detected; to inform and enable conservation biology and resource management. Perhaps most compelling is curiosity about the diversity of life analogous to our quest to map the stars of the Milky Way and the contours of the ocean floor."

Another element of the institute's public awareness campaign is the co-production of a humorous video on biodiversity titled "Planet Bob," launched on YouTube last October. The video, produced with Media Alchemy of Seattle, combines live action, state-of-the-art animation, and the vocal talents of venerable TV host Hugh Downs and others. "The Web site http://www.PlanetBob.asu.edu and the video 'Planet Bob' represent new ways to present taxonomy and biodiversity, in a creative fusion between academia and popular technology," says Wheeler, who also is ASU vice president and dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

An international committee of experts, chaired by Janine Caira of the University of Connecticut, selected the top 10 new species for this year's list.

Read the full article here.

Gatorland Unveils New Digs Today

2008-05-27T08:46:00.004-04:00

Article & photo from WESH.com
It was 18 months ago when flames tore through a Central Florida tourist attaction, leaving park owners with months of hard work ahead. They're celebrating the end of that work on Tuesday at Gatorland. The only thing left standing after the blaze was the park's signature gator mouth. Everything else is brand new and part of a $4 million expansion project, including a new gift shop, offices and pavilion.

Gatorland has been around for 60 years, and park officials said the fire in 2006 was one of their toughest times. "The whole building was burned to the ground. We had a small piece left on the north end for some administrative offices that we've been using temporarily during the last year. Everything was rebuilt brand new," Gatorland President Mark McHugh said. Officials said a faulty reptile heater ignited the fire. The park never officially closed after the fire, but they're still calling Tuesday's festivities a grand reopening.

See more of Gatorland's new facilities in WESH2's special report.

Big Reptiles, Alien Trees Hamper Everglades Fire Fight

2008-05-25T07:20:00.000-04:00

Excerpt from National Geographic
Firefighters in Florida's Everglades National Park are encountering large, dangerous reptiles and poisonous trees as they battle a fire that has consumed about 39,000 acres since last week. Fighting the Mustang Corners blaze in the remote, trackless Everglades has "posed a lot of challenges," said Mike Dueitt, a firefighter from Florence, Mississippi. "We're seeing everything from boa constrictors and pythons to iguanas and a few alligators." When they cross paths with a large reptile, firefighters "do the best we can to work around it and move on, and wait until it clears the area before we go in," Dueitt said.

Poisonwood trees, whose effect Dueitt described as "poison ivy on steroids," also pose a hazard. At the same time crews are struggling to keep the flames away from stands of invasive melaleuca trees, which can grow more than 60 feet (18 meters) tall. "Melaleuca does create a challenge because of the very flammable, papery bark that it has," said David Hallac, chief biologist for Everglades National Park. Firefighters fear that melaleuca stands near the park's northeastern boundary could help the fire spread into the area near Fort Lauderdale and Miami, where about six million people live.

Native Species Safe?
So far experts are optimistic that the fire will have a minimal impact on the roughly 20 species of native endangered wildlife that live in the Everglades. For example, the flames have not done much damage to the habitat of the endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow, Everglades biologist Hallac said. About 3,000 of the birds, which live only in the swamp, are left in the wild. "Overall, we've been extremely lucky, I guess, because the more important areas where the birds are nesting have been relatively unaffected," Hallac said. "Some of that was luck, but it's also due to the really hard work of the firefighters, who fought very hard to keep the fire out of those areas."

In addition, rare Florida panthers probably would move away from the fire, and crocodiles live in an area that is not threatened by the blaze, Hallac said. The park's alligators could lose some habitat, but Hallec said he didn't think there would be population declines because of the fire.

Park service and firefighting officials think the blaze was caused by human carelessness or arson.

Brunei National Museum Launches Book on Amphibians, Reptiles

2008-05-24T07:09:00.000-04:00

Article from Brunei-Online.com
A newly published book on 'Amphibians and Reptiles of Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park, Brunei Darussalam' by Brunei Museum Department is currently available for purchase. The Museum Department is also hosting an exhibition called "Kenali muzium kitani", in conjunction with the International Museum Day.

The book is a detailed guide to the amphibians and reptiles found in Tasek Merimbun. The book is a result of the inventory and training workshop on 'Herpatological Research and Management Techniques' organised at Tasek Merimbun two years ago. The editors are Indraneil, Samhan Nyawa and Joseph K Charles. Together with a detailed description of the many habitats in Tasek Merimbun, the book also boasts of pictures of the species. There are some 25 species of amphibians and 30 species of reptiles detailed in the book, which include crested toad, four-ridged toad, seep frog, rufous-sided sticky frog, copper-checked frog, saltwater crocodile, Malayan box turtle, black bearded flying lizard, Asian house gecko, Borneo striped tree skink and water monitor.

Deadly Snakes May Have Been Deliberately Dumped In Onslow County

2008-05-23T09:01:00.005-04:00

Article from WITN TV
Officials say the two Monocled Cobras on the loose in Onslow County, North Carolina may have been dumped there by an animal rights group pushing for a ban on exotic animals. The two cobras are believed to be near Mill Farms Road off Piney Green Road in Onslow County.

Officials say they found a flyer indicating someone lost the two cobras. They believe the snakes were placed there by the group Animal Protection Institute. The group wants to make it illegal for people to own exotic animals and uses such tactics to raise awareness. Officials warn these snakes can be deadly with one bite. They urge you to stay away if you see these snakes and immediately call authorities.

According to National Geographic, the most deadly serpent aboard fictional Pacific Air Flight 121 is the Monocled cobra. Like many venomous snakes, the cobra's poison affects its victim's central nervous system. But Monocled cobra venom is so powerful that the victim's immune system goes into hyperdrive and actually begins to break down organs and muscles. Death is almost instantaneous. The Monocled cobra is named for the conspicuous design on its hood that can feature either one or two "eyes." The snake can grow up to 6.5 feet long and hunts mostly at night.

EDITORIAL: This is a heinous act. If API dumped the two cobras, their members should be charged with attempted murder. It's one thing to protest, but to put people's lives in danger as a way of making a point, is totally unacceptable.

12-year-old Girl Caged During PETA Protest

2008-05-22T12:49:00.002-04:00

Article from WCNC.com
Some parents say a PETA protest at a Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus in Cabarrus County went too far by including a 12-year-old girl in a cage. The girl volunteered and her mother gave permission. PETA says it represents the suffering animals encounter traveling with the circus.

Circus production manager Jason Gibson says he’s seen hundreds of PETA protests in his 11 years with the circus. "This is the first time I've seen anything like this,” Gibson said. "It's very disturbing to see it like that." The 12-year-old behind the mask is Bella Jenkins. "I thought it was a really good idea,” she said. Her mother was by her side. "She doesn't see why not,” she said.

PETA alleges animal maltreatment by Ringling Brothers. "We have the utmost care for those animals 24-7,” Gibson said. Some circus-goers say the cage act outdoors is offensive compared to the ring act inside the Cabarrus Arena Events Center. "As a parent, I probably wouldn't,” said parent Amy Eller. "A girl in a cage is extreme,” said parent Emily Ronemus.

We asked PETA organizer David Salisbury if using a 12-year-old goes too far. "Kids deserve to know there are animal-free alternatives to every fun thing they can do,” Salisbury said. PETA says circus animals lose their freedom for a lifetime of cheap tricks. We asked if this was a cheap trick on PETA’s behalf. "We often have to do eye-catching demonstrations to get the attention that the animals deserve,” Salisbury said. Parents say there are plenty of ways to get a message across without including a child as a main attraction. "I don't know if that's really setting the right example for making a protest,” Gibson said.

Celebrate World Turtle Day: May 23

2008-05-21T07:33:00.000-04:00

Article from The Humane Society
Turtles are one of the most endearing and symbolic of America's native wildlife. Turtles not only fascinate each passing generation of children, who find endless wonders under those hard shells, but they also continue to serve as a timeless role model in children's literature: the slow and steady turtle, whose patient progress always wins out against his fast but feckless competitor.

Yet the turtles' lofty status hasn't prevented humans from abusing the creature. In fact, all land, freshwater, and sea turtles are facing imminent threats to their survival, simply because of human activities. Turtles are the reptile most affected by the pet trade, not to mention the food and traditional medicine industries. Many turtle species also suffer from the effects of pollution as well as from the destructive effects of industrial fishing operations.

Despite these hardships, May is a busy month for turtles. Many have recently emerged from winter hibernation and are beginning their search for mates and nesting areas. For this reason, May 23 was designated World Turtle Day.

World Turtle Day was initiated in 2000 by the American Tortoise Rescue, a turtle and tortoise rescue organization founded in 1990 in Malibu, California. The group brings attention to turtle conservation issues and highlights ways each of us can help protect these gentle but jeopardized animals. In the spirit of World Turtle Day, we at The HSUS also have suggested actions you can take to honor these fascinating creatures.

Make sure to read the entire article here.

Scotland: Build A Pond to Help Save Threatened Newt

2008-05-20T08:23:00.004-04:00

Article from Scotsman.com
The decline in numbers of farm ponds has left the threatened great crested newt with fewer places to breed and struggling to survive in Scotland.
Now Scottish Natural Heritage is calling on individuals to help out, through the simple act of helping to build a pond in their garden or community.

The great-crested newt, also called the warty newt due to the lumps on its skin, is the largest of Britain's three newt species and is dark in colour, with a vivid orange belly covered in black spots. The handsome creature has been put on SNH's Species Action List, as needing conservation action.

In the most recent survey, the newts were discovered in just 100 ponds across Scotland. Although they live most of their life on land, preferring rough grassland and woodland, they need ponds in which to breed. Before the advent of tractors and taps, farms used to be covered in ponds to provide water for animals, but today there is a shortage of places for the great crested newt to breed.

As part of Scottish Biodiversity Week, SNH is asking animal lovers to help out by getting involved in projects to build ponds for the newts in their town or village, or by simply building a pond in their own garden. John McKinnell, species management adviser at SNH, said: "They are threatened across Europe due to loss of habitat. A major thing is breeding sites. They breed in ponds rather than streams or lochs. They like farm ponds, but agricultural practices have changed over the last century and now there are not the same number of ponds as there used to be. People can help to a certain extent by building ponds in their gardens. The new ponds have got to be close enough to the places where newts live for them to commute."

He said one of the best ways to help out was by joining a local group such as those within an umbrella organisation called the Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK. They carry out survey work to discover the locations of the newts and build ponds nearby in time for them to breed in spring. The newts usually live within 250 metres of the breeding ponds.

Read the entire article here.

WWF: Wildlife Numbers Plummet Globally

2008-05-19T11:46:00.003-04:00

Article & photo from Discovery.com
The world's wildlife populations have reduced by around a quarter since the 1970s, according to a major report published Friday by the World Wildlife Fund.

Marine species have been particularly hard hit as the human population booms, while numbers of birds and, fish and animals have also gone down, said the WWF in a report.

The study comes ahead of next week's U.N. convention on biological diversity in the former West German capital Bonn, which will discuss aims to achieve a "significant reduction" in the current rate of biodiversity loss by 2010. The WWF, the world's largest independent conservation body, said it was "very unlikely" that the U.N. would meet its targets, despite the decline appearing to flatten off in recent years.

The WWF's Living Planet Index, which tracks the fortunes of nearly 4,000 populations of 1,477 vertebrate species from 1970 to 2005, showed an overall decline of 27 percent. Over-fishing and hunting, along with farming, pollution and urban expansion, were blamed.

WWF director general James Leape warned: "Reduced biodiversity means millions of people face a future where food supplies are more vulnerable to pests and disease and where water is in irregular or short supply. No one can escape the impact of biodiversity loss because reduced global diversity translates quite clearly into fewer new medicines, greater vulnerability to natural disasters and greater effects from global warming."

Read the entire article here!

Forty Baby Pythons Hatched in Entebbe

2008-05-16T08:37:00.004-04:00

Article from allAfrica.com
Photo from newvision.co.ug

Lutembe, a 30-year-old giant python that was rescued from Lutembe Beach Hotel last year, has become the proud mother of 40 babies. For Julius Abigaba, a reptile keeper at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, formerly known as Entebbe Zoo, the last two weeks were the most exciting of his life.

"It is the first time snakes are breeding at this centre," he said. "This is an achievement that gives us pride." Abigaba has been watching over the python as it was incubating a cluster of eggs slightly bigger than the size of chicken. After they lay their eggs, females will typically incubate them until they hatch. This is achieved by causing the muscles to "shiver", which raises the temperature of the body. During the incubation period, females will not eat and only leave to bask in order to raise their body temperature.

Lutembe spent the early hours of yesterday in the sun in her reptile house, which she shares with two other pythons, occasionally checking on her young ones. Her skin has started peeling off, exposing a new beautiful one. "She coils around the baby pythons most of the time," said Abigaba. "She is so protective. When caregivers go in to clean the reptile house, she hisses to scare them away."

Previously, Lutembe was living a miserable life inside a metallic cage at Lutembe Beach Hotel. Tourists used to pay sh500 to her captors. They would poke her with a metallic rod for her to turn, as part of the entertainment. "We intervened and rescued her, but she had broken some bones in the head," Abigaba explained. "This was discovered after an X-ray. She was treated and has now healed."

The centre keeps snakes and other wild animals for conservation purposes. The young ones will be relocated to a national park, according to Abigaba. "The number is too big for us to handle and wild animals belong to the wilderness."

Legless Lizard & Tiny Woodpecker Among New Species Discovered In Brazil

2008-05-14T06:49:00.000-04:00

Article from ScienceDaily.com
Researchers discovered a legless lizard and a tiny woodpecker along with 12 other suspected new species in Brazil's Cerrado, one of the world's 34 biodiversity conservation hotspots. The Cerrado's wooded grassland once covered an area half the size of Europe, but is now being converted to cropland and ranchland at twice the rate of the neighboring Amazon rainforest, resulting in the loss of native vegetation and unique species.

An expedition comprising scientists from Conservation International (CI) and Brazilian universities found 14 species believed new to science -- eight fish, three reptiles, one amphibian, one mammal, and one bird -- in and around the Serra Geral do Tocantins Ecological Station, a 716,000-hectare (1,769,274-acre) protected area that is the Cerrado's second largest.

The lizard, of the Bachia genus, resembles a snake due to its lack of legs and pointed snout, which help it move across the predominantly sandy soil formed by the natural erosion of the escarpments of the Serra Geral. Other suspected new species include a dwarf woodpecker (genus Picumnus) and horned toad (genus Proceratophrys). "It's very exciting to find new species and data on the richness, abundance, and distribution of wildlife in one of the most extensive, complex, and unknown regions of the Cerrado," said CI biologist Cristiano Nogueira, the expedition leader. "Protected areas such as the Ecological Station are home to some of the last remaining healthy ecosystems in a region increasingly threatened by urban growth and mechanized agriculture."

The team also recorded several threatened species such as the hyacinth macaw, marsh deer, three-banded armadillo (tatu-bola), the Brazilian merganser, and the dwarf tinamou among more than 440 species of vertebrates documented during the 29-day field expedition. Comprising 21 percent of Brazil, the Cerrado is the most extensive woodland-savanna in South America. Large mammals such as the giant anteater, giant armadillo, jaguar and maned wolf struggle to survive in the fast-changing habitat also know as Brazil's breadbasket.

The expedition included 26 researchers from the University of São Paulo and its Museum of Zoology; the federal universities of São Carlos and Tocantins; and CI-Brazil. It was funded by the O Boticário Foundation for Conservation of Nature, with the support of the NGO Pequi--Pesquisa e Conservação do Cerrado (Research & Conservation of the Cerrado).

Female Concave-eared Frogs Draw Mates With Ultrasonic Calls

2008-05-13T07:35:00.000-04:00

Excerpt from ScienceDaily.com

Most female frogs don't call; most lack or have only rudimentary vocal cords. A typical female selects a mate from a chorus of males and then --silently -- signals her beau. But the female concave-eared torrent frog, Odorrana tormota, has a more direct method of declaring her interest: She emits a high-pitched chirp that to the human ear sounds like that of a bird.

This is one of several unusual frog-related findings reported recently in the journal Nature. O. tormota lives in a noisy environment on the brushy edge of streams in the Huangshan Hot Springs, in central China, where waterfalls and rushing water provide a steady din. The frog has a recessed eardrum, said Albert Feng, a professor of molecular and integrative physiology at the University of Illinois and team leader on the new study. "In the world we know of only two species -- the other one in southeast Asia -- that have the concave ear," Feng said. "The others all have eardrums on the body surface."

Earlier studies, conducted by Feng, Jun-Xian Shen at the Institute of Biophysics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Peter Narins at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that O. tormota males emit -- and respond to -- unusual chirping calls from other males. These calls are audible, but also have energy in the ultrasonic range. The recessed ear structure protects an eardrum that is 1/30 the thickness of that of a normal frog, allowing it to detect very high frequency sounds. The unusual ear structure and the high-pitched calls are likely an adaptation to the noisy environment, Feng said.

The waterfalls and streams produce a steady racket predominantly in a lower frequency range than that used by the frogs. Laboratory experiments showed that the frogs could hear most of the audible and ultrasonic frequencies emitted by other O. tormota frogs. The only other animals known to use ultrasonic communication are bats, dolphins, whales and some insects. The calls are quite complex. A single O. tormota frog broadcasts its message over several frequencies at once, at harmonic intervals, like a chord strummed simultaneously on several strings.

The new analysis, conducted by Shen, Feng and Narins, found that female O. tormota frogs also emit a call that spans audible and ultrasonic frequencies. The team has not observed females vocalizing in the wild (these frogs are nocturnal and can leap up to 30 times their body length), but in laboratory settings the females emitted calls only when they were carrying eggs.

Prague Zoo Sets Out to Save Indian Gharial

2008-05-12T07:38:00.000-04:00

Article from Yahoo News

The Prague Zoo has launched a test programme to save the Indian crocodile-like gharial from the brink of extinction with a million-dollar pavilion for the animals to bask, and hopefully reproduce, in. There are only between 150 and 200 of this species, the Gavialis gangeticus also known as the gavial, living in the wild along India's rivers today. Another 20 or so are in captivity in India, Japan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and the United States, according to figures from the Prague zoo.

"All of the conservation plans launched in the world have failed up until now. The gharial is one of the most threatened species on the planet," said Petr Veselsky, in charge of reptiles at the zoo. The new gharial pavilion -- the first such programme in Europe -- contains three males and four females from a park in Madras in southern India. They are distinguishable from crocodiles by their especially long and thin jaws, which gives a terrifying appearance despite the fact they are fish-eating and present no threat to humans.

"The final goal is to see these gharials reproduce so as to send their young to other zoos or even to release them into their country of origin," said Veselsky. He predicts it will take another 10 years for this to take place, the time for the tank's new inhabitants to reach sexual maturity. Previously abundant along the banks of rivers in India, Myanmar and Nepal, gharials have paid a heavy price for the degradation of their habitat due to river pollution, agriculture and increased river traffic.

"Last year, we found hundreds of dead gharials near the Indian Chambal river. An investigation led by a group of international veterinarians was able to show that they had fed themselves on fish contaminated with toxins," said Veselsky. Along with his colleagues, he designed the new bamboo-decorated pavilion with deep waters, sandy beaches, waterfalls, and quiet hideaways. A powerful infrared lamp heats a little island lying only centimetres away from the massive window separating the creatures from the public. "That's their favourite spot, they love to heat themselves there like in sunshine. They bask there an hour, their skin heats up to 50 degrees and then they go into the water to cool down. It's exactly what they need."

The Prague zoo shelters 4,600 animals representing some 636 different species it hopes to see grow and multiply. The gharials are not the zoo's first conservation project: its experts played a key role in the survival of the wild Przewalski horse. The zoo, a modest 111 acres (44 hectares), has been rated by Forbes Magazine as the seventh best zoo in the world, according to the Prague city website. Much credit is said to go to the zoo's dynamic young director, Petr Fejk, the first non-zoologist to head the establishment who is credited since his appointment in 1997 with boosting visitors from 400,000 to 1.3 million last year.

Snakes Aren't The Monsters Some Think They Are

2008-05-11T15:07:00.005-04:00

Article from TimesDaily.com
Bryce Moore, 11, handles a corn snake at a program earlier in the week at Alabama Outdoors. When many people see a snake, they immediately think about trying to kill it. Others, such as 11-year-old Bryce Moore, watch the snake for a little while and then stand back as it slithers away. "Snakes are cool. You've just got to watch out for the venomous ones. There's no reason for people to kill them," said Moore, of Florence.

During a snake night program at Alabama Outdoors in Florence this week, Moore handled several of the snakes, including a 5-foot long corn snake. "I love these things," he said as the colorful reptile wrapped itself around Moore's arm.

Jack Paul, a self-professed reptile enthusiast from Killen who led the program, said snakes are killed because they are misunderstood. "When someone encounters a snake, all they need to do is step back for a moment to allow the snake to crawl away," Paul said. "Snakes are not as much of something to get excited about as people try to make them. Snakes are not out to get us."

Paul said when a snake encounters a person, the reptile will either freeze and attempt to use its camouflage to blend into the surroundings or attempt to escape by crawling away. As a last resort, a snake that feel it cannot escape will exhibit threatening behavior such as raising its head, hissing or striking at the person. He said most people bitten by snakes are attempting to catch or kill the animal. Some are bitten when they step on the snake or accidently place their hand near the animal.

"There are 7,000 to 8,000 venomous snake bites in the United States each year. On average, only five result in death," Paul said. "Fifty percent of people who are bitten by snakes had been drinking alcohol before being bitten." Fatal snake bites are rare in Alabama with an average of one death every 10 years, Paul said.

Mark Sasser, director of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' non-game wildlife division, said snakes play an important role in the environment by helping keep rat and mice populations under control. Small rodents are a favorite food of many snake species. Paul said many people who kill the snakes around their home wonder why they soon have an over population of rats and mice. "Snakes are unjustly persecuted," Sasser said. "If you don't mess with them, they won't bite you."

Sasser said the state agency is attempting to increase the awareness of the role snakes play in the environment. Its biologists present educational programs about snakes throughout the state in an attempt to change the mindset many people have that snakes are evil.

"There are only four species of venemous snakes in Alabama - rattlesnake, copperhead, water moccasin and coral snake," Sasser said. "If people will learn how to identify them and how to avoid them, they will know they do not have to worry about the 50 something other species that are nonvenomous. Paul said timber and pygmy rattlesnakes, copperhead and water moccasins - which are also called cotton mouths - are the only venemous species in the Tennessee Valley. Even when someone encounters a venemous snake, if they will just step back it's all over with and the situation is defused," he said.

Platypus Genome Reveals Links Between Reptiles, Mammals

2008-05-09T09:27:00.005-04:00

Article & photo from CBC.ca

Scientists still don't know what to make of the duck-billed platypus, a mammal that lays eggs, has a bill like a bird and can deliver venom like a reptile. But they say they are a little closer to understanding the oddball of the animal kingdom with the publication this week of its genome sequence. An international team of researchers says the draft genome sequence of Ornithorhynchus anatinus provides scientists with a valuable resource for comparing the platypus with other mammals, and may allow them to date the emergence of mammalian traits.

"At first glance, the platypus appears as if it was the result of an evolutionary accident. But as weird as this animal looks, its genome sequence is priceless for understanding how fundamental mammalian biological processes have evolved," Francis Collins, the director of the U.S.-based National Human Genome Research Institute, said in a statement. "Comparisons of the platypus genome to those of other mammals will provide new insights into the history, structure and function of our own genome," he said.

The team found the platypus genome contains about the same number protein-coding genes as other mammals — approximately 18,500 — and shares about 80 per cent of its genes with other mammals whose genes have been sequenced. But it was the differences that scientists were most interested in. Analysis of the genome enabled scientists to match many of the platypus's unusual features with genetic sequences found in other animals, revealing a mammal that was at the crossroads between early mammal-like reptiles and most of the mammals we see today. The genetic analysis revealed, for example, that the platypus had similar milk protein genes to other mammals that produced milk for their offspring, even though it lays eggs and harboured both mammalian and reptilian genes associated with egg fertilization.

Males of the species are also capable of delivering venom through hind leg spurs, and the scientists said they found that reptile and platypus venom proteins both developed similarly but independently. The findings were published in this week's issue of the journal Nature. The consortium of researchers included scientists from the United States, Australia, England, Germany, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and Spain.

Rare Blue Iguanas Found Butchered

2008-05-07T08:50:00.002-04:00

Story from National Geographic
Wildlife officials in the Cayman Islands are struggling to determine who killed six extremely rare blue iguanas found butchered in a nature preserve over the weekend. The reptiles were found Sunday at Queen Elizabeth II Botanical Park, a refuge for the iguanas and other wildlife on Grand Cayman Island.

The crime is a devastating blow to the species, which is found only on the small Caribbean island and is listed as critically endangered by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Most of the remaining blue iguanas live in Queen Elizabeth Park, where a breeding program was begun in 2001. Outside the park, as few as ten of the animals are thought to survive, according to IUCN.

The six dead iguanas were found with their bodies crushed, and some had also been lacerated and partially dismembered. "This is a despicable act that was carried out by cowardly and cruel individuals," Chief Inspector Richard Barrow told the Cayman News Service. "The community … is truly sickened by this incident, and we will not stop until we find who is responsible for this senseless act." No motives or suspects were known, he added, but officials are offering a thousand-Cayman-dollar reward for information leading to an arrest.

Biologists Study Snake Movement, Mortality

2008-05-06T11:12:00.006-04:00

From the Semissourian

Most people don't like snakes, regardless of their role in nature. For eons, tales have been spun that have given people a general disdain for and a bad impression of snakes. Fear and misunderstanding are prevalent, leading some people to kill any snake they see, by any and every means. That's a shame, said Jason Lewis, a wildlife biologist at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge near Puxico.

"Snakes serve a very important role in the ecosystem," he said. "Snakes are designed to control pest populations and they eat a lot of frogs, turtles [and] fish." Reptiles and amphibians, Lewis added, are "very sensitive to disturbance, and can be used as indicators of environmental change." Snake mortality has become a concern at the Mingo refuge because many are run over by vehicles, whether intentionally or not, during their spring and fall migration periods. The concern has grown to the point officials have begun a study to determine just how snake populations in the refuge are being affected.

Cost-share grant
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which operates the Mingo refuge, has teamed with the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri State University, the Mingo Swamp Friends and others on a challenge cost-share grant to study snake movement and mortality at Mingo. "We're concerned about the number of snakes being run over, and the whole idea behind the study is to minimize mortality," Lewis said. "We want to know, 'Are pregnant females being impacted more than males?'"If they are, he said, that could potentially harm the snake population, because the females produce the young. Lewis also said biologists want to find out what exactly triggers snake migrations.

The western cottonmouth, a venomous species native to the area, was chosen as the test subject "because we knew we had a healthy population," Lewis said. In early April, Lewis and Missouri State University herpetologist Dr. Brian Green captured five males and five females at their hibernaculum, or winter hibernation location, along the rocky bluffs on the refuge's western boundary. After the snakes were transported to a safe location, Green sedated eight of them and surgically implanted a flexible radio transmitter inside their bodies, near their tails. The remaining two were sent to the university later for the procedure. The transmitters will allow officials to use radio telemetry to track the snakes' movements over the course of the next year. Officials also plan to capture and implant transmitters in five cottonmouths during the summer at the adjacent Duck Creek Conservation Area to include in their study.

Read the reminder of the article here.

Reptiles: Not Buy and Release

2008-05-05T08:42:00.003-04:00

Article from Jacksonville.com
Throughout Florida, pet snakes, iguanas and other reptiles have found their way into public parks and wooded areas. Sometimes they escape. More often, owners set these animals free without considering the consequences. This has led to rising concern in South Florida that invasive species such as the Burmese python could endanger other animals.

In North Florida though, cold weather tends to stifle survival and reproduction, effectively heading off any ecological threats. "Generally, these species we're talking about are tropical species, so it's too cold in North Florida for them," said Kent Vliet, a University of Florida biologist. Even species who burrow, such as the African spur-thighed tortoise, can't survive in numbers, Vliet said. Green iguanas and ball pythons are the top two reptiles Jacksonville pet owners have been releasing, said Kathy Paul, owner of A Pet Lounge and Grooming in Atlantic Beach.

As the reptile industry has grown in the last decade, both have become popular pets because they're inexpensive and easy to buy, Paul said. But once at home, an aggressive iguana or a finicky python refusing food for weeks on end can find themselves out in the cold. "There are a lot of ignorant people out there who do the same thing with dogs," Paul said. "We have a reptile rescue center, so they could find them homes. Instead, they just turn them loose." Even though the reptiles being released in North Florida generally don't survive long enough to harm the area's ecosystem, Vliet said an influx of monitor lizards could pose concerns.

Their large size and damaging bite could harm humans. They could also affect other animals because of their taste for bird and alligator eggs, Vliet said. That's why he and Paul see the responsibility falling on pet owners to become educated about the reptiles they buy and avoid abandoning them. "We consider it a serious ecological pressure, people treating pets as wildlife," Vliet said. Aside from exposing the animal to suffering from extreme temperatures and a lack of food, the environment should be considered. "There could be the potential they might become established and pose threats."

2008-05-03T09:04:00.000-04:00

Article from the Aiken Standard

You don't get a name like cottonmouth without the chops to back it up. With its cotton-white mouth, the snake attempts to make itself look as large and fearsome as possible, like many animals. "They will give a threat display," said Dr. Whit Gibbons, ecologist at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory.

As with all of South Carolina's venomous snakes, the cottonmouth, or water moccasin, is not overtly aggressive. However, it will stand its ground and bite if it feels a grave threat. Adult snakes are generally a dark gray, olive or brown in color. A cross-banding pattern may be seen, especially on the sides. Adult cottonmouths are fairly thick and usually between three and four feet long, but snakes as large as six feet have been recorded. The young snakes are more distinctly patterned, resembling a dark copperhead without the reddish tint. A distinctive attribute of this snake are the pits between the eyes and the nostrils.

Gibbons said a keen eye should be able to identify these pits from several feet away. These heat-sensing pits consist of two cavities separated by a membrane. They are able to detect temperature differences of as little as 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit higher or lower than that of the background. They allow the snakes to strike very accurately at the source of heat - often a bird or mammal that is potential prey.

NYPD: Monkeys And Snakes Are Service Animals, Too

2008-05-02T10:54:00.005-04:00

Article from NewsDay
That monkey on the subway? Illegal in New York City, but not if the owner has a disability. The guy with the snake on the bus? Leave him alone. He needs it for emotional support. The New York Police Department Patrol Guide, a thick and getting thicker collection of rules and regulations, has been amended to let officers know that guide dogs for the blind are not the only creatures considered service animals -- and to give them a better understanding of which straphangers and bus riders are allowed to have members of the animal kingdom as riding partners.

Now, according to the Patrol Guide, it is not just the blind who can have service animals, but those afflicted with epilepsy, heart disease, lung disease and other medical conditions, namely those who say they need an animal to provide them psychological reassurance.

Service animals are capable of picking up items dropped by their owners, signaling for help if their owner suffers a seizure or collapses, and even working to calm those prone to panic attacks or afflicted with other forms of mental illness. Also allowed to have service animals in the transit system are professional trainers getting their animals ready for the day they will be assigned to someone with a disability, according to an internal NYPD memo. The Patrol Guide revision was made to "clarify the department's obligations under the Americans With Disabilities Act," the memo says.

The problem, however, is that under terms of the act, those with an animal on the subway or buses are not required to carry paperwork proving their disability or proving that their animal is, indeed, a service animal. That, in turn, has led to some cases of fraud, police sources say, with at least several officers reporting they've encountered riders who they suspected had no other reason for having an animal with them other than the fact they like having their animal with them. The NYPD would not elaborate on the Patrol Guide revision, a spokesman said, adding only that the guide is routinely updated. But Becky Barnes, a manager with Guiding Eyes For The Blind, a Westchester dog school that trains canines to work with the blind and visually impaired, said it is not uncommon for people to try to pass off exotic animals, such as pythons, as service animals. Typically, she says, such a claim is little more than a scam. "But," she says, "more and more doctors are writing prescriptions for people needing dogs or other animals for emotional support."

Rescued: 300 Cambodian Reptiles, Including Endangered Species

2008-05-01T21:50:00.006-04:00

Article from ABCNews.com
Photo from Getty Images

Hundreds of reptiles including some endangered species were rescued from traffickers and released into their natural habitat in Cambodia, a conservation group said Thursday. Twelve endangered yellow-headed temple turtles were among the nearly 300 reptiles — weighing a total of 925 pounds — that authorities confiscated this week in Cambodia's northwestern Battambang province, the Washington, D.C.-based Wildlife Alliance said.

It said the animals were freed Wednesday following their rescue Monday, when Wildlife Alliance members were with Cambodian forestry officials and police who stopped a pickup truck taking the animals to Vietnam. Cooperation between the Wildlife Alliance and various government conservation agencies is "making significant impacts on a multimillion-dollar illegal wildlife trade in Cambodia as various trade routes and wildlife stockpile locations have been exposed," the alliance said in a statement.

Two dozen reticulated and Burmese pythons were among the cargo, which also included yellow-headed temple turtles, which are significant in Cambodian folklore and legends, the statement said. "In stone carvings on the walls of Angkorian temples, they are depicted as divine creatures of royalty; yet their numbers steadily decrease each year due to habitat loss and the illegal wildlife trade," the alliance said.

Dany Chheang, deputy director of the wildlife protection office at Cambodia's Agriculture Ministry, called the seizure the biggest in recent memory. "It was very important that we broke this case of illegal trading. These animals are a national asset," he said. The statement said an army lieutenant, Hong Try, was held for questioning about the smuggling. It did not say if he was driving the truck — which bore military license plates — or what charge, if any, he might face. It said the animals had been illegally collected in three northwestern provinces, then moved to a large-scale holding facility in neighboring Thailand before being shipped back through Cambodia en route to Vietnam.

Authorities Looking for Home for Seized Animals Owned by Columbine Killer Wannabe

2008-04-30T08:58:00.003-04:00

Article from The Times
Animal control officials want a reptile rescue group to help find a home for seven snakes, a baboon spider and a Pac-Man frog seized from the home of a 16-year-old boy being detained after allegedly planning a Columbine-style attack at Penn High School.

The animals were seized last week after a search of the boy's home in South Bend, where he lives with his uncle. Except for a toad, which had a broken leg and has since died, the animals appeared to be well-cared for and healthy, said Gary Libbey, manager of South Bend Animal Care and Control.

The animals were seized because city code prohibits keeping wild animals in general, and venomous snakes in particular. Two of the snakes are timber rattlesnakes, which are venomous. They also are an endangered species. The other animals include two corn snakes, a king snake and a red-tailed boa constrictor. The Potawatomi Zoo's reptile expert, called in to help, has been unable to identify one snake, Libbey said.

Colossal Squid Thaw to Be Webcast Live

2008-04-29T11:51:00.005-04:00

Article from Discovery.com
Marine scientists in New Zealand on Tuesday were thawing the corpse of the largest squid ever caught to try to unlock the secrets of one of the ocean's most mysterious beasts. No one has ever seen a living, grown colossal squid in its natural deep ocean habitat, and scientists hope their examination of the 1,089-pound, 26-foot long colossal squid, set to begin Wednesday, will help determine how the creatures live. The thawing and examination are being broadcast live on the Internet.

The squid, which was caught accidentally by fishermen last year, was removed from its freezer Monday and put into a tank filled with saline solution. Ice was added to the tank Tuesday to slow the thawing process so the outer flesh wouldn't rot, said Carol Diebel, director of natural environment at New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa Tongarewa. The Discovery Channel is producing a new documentary about the squid, in cooperation with the museum.

After it is thawed, scientists will examine the squid's anatomical features, remove the stomach, beak and other mouth parts, take tissue samples for DNA analysis and determine its sex, Diebel said. "If we get ourselves a male it will be the first reported (scientific) description of the male of the species," Steve O'Shea, a squid expert at Auckland's University of Technology, told National Radio. He is one of the scientists conducting the examination.

The squid is believed to be the largest specimen of the rare deep-water species Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, or colossal squid, ever caught, O'Shea has said. Colossal squid, which have long been one of the most mysterious denizens of the deep ocean, can grow up to 46 feet long, descend to 6,500 feet into the ocean and are considered aggressive hunters.

At the time it was caught, O'Shea said it would make calamari rings the size of tractor tires if cut up -- but they would taste like ammonia, a compound found in the animals' flesh. Fishermen off the coast of Antarctica accidentally netted the squid in February, 2007 while catching Patagonian toothfish, which are sold under the name Chilean sea bass.

The previous largest colossal squid ever found was a 660 pound female squid discovered in 2003, the first ever landed. Researchers plan to eventually put the squid on display in a 1,800 gallon tank of formaldehyde at the museum in the capital, Wellington. Colossal squid are found in Antarctic waters and are not related to giant squid found round the coast of New Zealand. Giant squid grow up to 39 feet long, and are not as heavy as colossal squid.

La Gomera Gets New Reptile Species

2008-04-28T09:53:00.003-04:00

Article from Tenerife News

Skinks, those small(ish), slithery reptiles halfway between a lizard and a snake, are in the news after a study carried out by Spanish, British and French geneticists decided that the Gomera variety is a species in its own right rather than the sub-species it was previously taken for.

DNA testing has proved conclusively that the Gomeran skink (Chalcides viridanus) is an endemic one-off and it already has a new unscientific name: the Lisa de Salvador, in honour of Alfredo Salvador, investigator in evolutionary ecology at Madrid’s Natural Science Museum, who first noticed their difference and got them categorized as a sub-species back in 1975.

Skinks, or lisas as they are known here, are found in abundance in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Gomera and El Hierro and their survival is not under any threat. They are thought to have arrived in Gran Canaria, probably in a floating log or other botanical debris. From Gran Canaria they somehow got to Tenerife, probably by the same method. Then came La Gomera. Their colonization of El Hierro must have been later given that that island is geologically the youngest of the islands in the archipelago.

Rare Reptiles Seized at Sana'a Airport

2008-04-24T08:59:00.000-04:00

Article from SabaNews.net
Yemeni authorities have seized 3000 chameleons and 350 lizards at the Sana'a airport planned to be smuggled to abroad, the al-Thawra Daily has said. The rare reptiles that only live in Yemen, were put within banana products that would have been exported via the airport.

The paper said an Arab citizen along with a Yemeni collected the chameleons and lizards from three provinces in Yemen to smuggle them and sell them in other countries. The two persons were arrested and referred to prosecution and the reptiles were handed over to the Authority for Environment Protection and the Sana'a Zoo.

Alligator Wants to Become a Pet

2008-04-23T08:57:00.002-04:00

Article by Ted Moore / eNews20.com

Apparently cats, dogs and parrots are not the only ones who have the right to benefit from a cozy home. Who says that alligators must not walk around a house? Maybe that’s what the 8-foot, 8-inch alligator weighing about 230 pounds was thinking when it entered Sandie Frosti’s house near Oldsmar.

The reptile was seen by Frosti walking around her kitchen. At first, she thought she was hallucinating, but after taking a second look she realized that her house was invaded by an enormous alligator. She immediately locked herself in her bedroom and called 911. As it was obvious, the operator also thought that this couldn’t be true and asked Frosti whether she was sure that the reptile was not an iguana.

"The lady thought I was crazy," Frosti said. Twenty minutes later, the sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene and saw the dark green alligator. It was only after about one hour that the animal trapper from Animal Capture came. It was quite hard to catch the alligator that had knocked over a few things in the 12-by-8-foot kitchen, including the cover to the garbage compactor and a heavy plate that fell from a counter and apparently left the creature injured and bleeding. Fortunately, nobody was injured.

Sandie realized that something was fishy after hearing some scratches from somewhere near the kitchen. "I thought that scratching sound was much too loud to be my cat," Frosti said. When she went in the kitchen she saw the alligator’s head. Apparently, the reptile broke through a porch screen, crossed about 10 feet to the open door and entered the house. It traipsed across the living room, through the dining room and into the kitchen. "The police told me it may have been interested in my cat," Frosti said. For a while Sandie didn’t even know whether her cat, Poe was all right or not. Finally, while waiting outside for the trapper to arrive, Frosti saw Poe hop on a piece of furniture in the living room.

OR Tambo Reptiles to go Home

2008-04-22T12:01:00.005-04:00

Article from iAfrica.com
Surviving reptiles from Madagascar that were found in three crates at OR Tambo airport in March, will be released back into the wild on the island, the NSPCA said on Tuesday. National Inspector Alistair Sinclair said the NSPCA, Johannesburg Zoo and the Madagascar Embassy had met to plan the release of about 450 reptiles.

The animals were still being tested for diseases, in order not to endanger the island's indigenous fauna and flora. Once all arrangements were made, the reptiles would be transported back to the island under supervision of a Joburg Zoo veterinarian and a NSPCA representative, said Sinclair. He hoped the transport would take place within a month. "The care for the animals costs us about R5000 a week. It is straining our funds," he said, adding that "every lizard is our responsibility".

Charges against the owners of the crates in which the animals were found have been laid by the Madagascar Embassy. The NSPCA has laid charges against the warehousing agency where the crates, destined for the Czech Republic, stood.

The crates were left unattended for five to six days before the NSPCA was informed of their existence and the animals were transported to Joburg Zoo. Two other crates containing reptiles had been in the warehouse for 12 to 14 days before they were returned to Madagascar - because the transporting agent had not paid the duties.

Road Kill Losses Add Up, Taxing Amphibians And Other Animals

2008-04-21T10:16:00.006-04:00

When frogs hit the road, many croak. Researchers found more than 65 animal species killed along a short stretch of roads in a Midwestern county. Nearly 95 percent of the total dead were frogs and other amphibians, suggesting that road-related death, or road-kill, possibly contributes to their worldwide decline, a trend that has concerned and puzzled scientists for decades.

The Purdue University study found that habitat along roadsides heavily influences road-kill. More than 75 percent of the carcasses originated alongside a one-mile stretch of road that traverses a wildlife-friendly wetland known as Celery Bog in West Lafayette, Indiana. "On hot summer nights when it rains, there are literally thousands of frogs out there," said Andrew DeWoody, a Purdue researcher who led the study in Tippecanoe County, home to the university.

During the 17-month study, researchers found 10,500 dead animals along 11 miles of roads. Of those, 7,600 were frogs of unidentifiable species and another 1,700 were bullfrogs, said DeWoody, an associate professor of forestry and natural resources. "In addition to indirect costs of habitat fragmentation, roads have direct costs in terms of animals' lives," he said. Several steps can be taken to help reduce road-kill, said Dave Glista, study co-author and a Purdue master's graduate who began the study as part of his since-completed thesis measuring roads' environmental impact. For one, development planning should take into account an area's wildlife value. Second, structures to mitigate, limit and prevent road-kill should be explored whenever possible, he said. Options include underpasses, viaducts and overpasses to allow wildlife safe passage, and special fences to keep animals off roads.

"We need to avoid, minimize and mitigate," said Glista, now a scientist with the Indiana Department of Transportation. "As a biologist, I do think we should avoid building roads in wetlands and other wildlife-rich areas. Mitigation structures are worth the cost, as is any measure we can take to minimize our impact on the overall environment." Scientists estimate that one-third of amphibian species are threatened, and hundreds of species have gone extinct in the past two decades alone.

Road-kill adds to numerous factors already implicated in amphibian declines, DeWoody said. These include habitat loss and degradation, disease, pollution, competition from introduced exotic species, and threats posed by climate change. Frogs, toads and salamanders are all amphibians, a class of four-legged animals known for their moist, scale-free skin. Most species begin life as gilled, water-dwelling creatures before undergoing a dramatic metamorphosis to become four-legged, air-breathing adults, walking or hopping about on land. They serve vital roles in many ecosystems, as consumers of various animals like insects and as a food source for carnivores. To maintain healthy ecosystems, it is vital to limit amphibian losses, DeWoody said.

The study, published online in the latest issue of the journal Herpetological Conservation and Biology, significantly underestimated the number of animals killed because many specimens were scavenged, degraded beyond recognition or moved, DeWoody said. About five times more animals died than could be recorded, he estimated. The dead included 142 road-killed eastern tiger salamanders, a finding DeWoody said was troubling. "The absolute number might not look that large, but most of these individuals were mature, up to 10 years old," DeWoody said. "Many of them were gravid, or females bearing eggs on an annual trip to breeding grounds where they often lay 500 to 1,000 eggs. This could make a potentially big difference for the population." Researchers also found 74 dead northern leopard frogs, a species of special conservation concern in Indiana.

To survive, most amphibians require habitats with running or standing fresh water, in which they lay eggs and begin life. This makes them vulnerable to water pollution and land-use changes like drainage or waterway disruption. Habitats like wetlands and rainforests are in decline worldwide, DeWoody said.

Adapted from materials provided by Purdue University.
Purdue University (2008, April 21). Road Kill Losses Add Up, Taxing Amphibians And Other Animals. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 21, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2008/04/080416151943.htm

Apologies to Reptile Related News Readers

2008-04-18T12:56:00.004-04:00

It is with profound guilt for neglecting this important and well-known blog that I offer my humble apologies to readers of the Reptile Related News. I hereby commit to updating the blog at least four days each week. (some days there is no news -- and I don't want to stuff the blog with filler)

I sincerely appreciate the readers of Reptile Related News and hope to gain continued readership and trust.

As part of this commitment, I plan to fill in some past days and weeks with good articles, links and pictures of topical information. This is NOT an effort to fool anyone, but to offer loyal readers proof that the Reptile Related News blog is as important to me as it is the reptile loving community.

Respectfully,
Charlie

Elephants Once Thought Extinct Likely Survived

2008-04-17T23:07:00.002-04:00

Article from Vijay Joshi, AP via Discovery.com
Photo by Vincent Thian
Borneo's pygmy elephants may be descendants of an extinct Javan elephant race, saved by chance by an 18th century ruler, according to a new study released Thursday. The study suggests that a small number of opposite-sex elephants can produce a thriving progeny of thousands if left undisturbed on an island, giving fresh hope to conservationists trying to protect nearly extinct species of large mammals.

"If proven, this fascinating story would demonstrate that very small populations of large mammals can be saved from the brink of extinction (simply by) moving a few individuals, from a seemingly doomed population, to a different and safer habitat," the study published in the Sarawak Museum Journal says. Study co-author Junaidi Payne said the Sultan of Java in Indonesia in the 18th century likely sent some pygmy elephants as gifts to the Sultan of Sulu in the Philippines. The Sultan of Sulu at some point apparently shipped them to Borneo and abandoned them there for unknown reasons.

"There are a number of historical records of elephants shipped between various places in Asia by rulers as gifts to impress others," Payne said. Borneo pygmy elephants, which are genetically distinct from other subspecies, grow less than about 8 feet compared to about 10 feet in height of Asian ale elephants. They also have babyish faces, large ears and longer tails. They are more rotund and less aggressive.

The pygmy elephants in Java were extinct by the end of the 18th century, but the few that were brought to Borneo thrived, the study found. Historically, Borneo never had any elephants and the origins of pygmy elephants -- a distinct subspecies of its mainland Asian cousin -- remained shrouded in mystery until now.

Borneo is a large island shared by Indonesia, Malaysia and the sultanate of Brunei. It is separated by at least 250 miles of sea from Java, the main island in Indonesia. Sulu is much farther to the east. Payne said just one fertile female and one fertile male elephant, if left undisturbed in enough good habitat, could in theory end up as a population of 2,000 elephants within less than 300 years. "And that may be what happened in practice here," said Payne, who works for the global conservation group World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

There are about 1,000 pygmy elephants in the wild in Borneo today, mostly in the Malaysian state of Sabah. "If they came from Java, this fascinating story demonstrates the value of efforts to save even small populations of certain species, often thought to be doomed," said Christy Williams, coordinator of WWF's Asian elephant and rhino program. Augustine Tuuga, assistant director of the Sabah Wildlife Department, said the study confirms what many conservationists have long believed -- that a small number of animals can flourish into large herds even though they may have multiplied by inbreeding. "My own feeling is that as long as there is no continous hunting and there is no problem about diseases their numbers will multiply," he said.

Zoo Keeper Survives Gila Monster Bite

2008-04-16T18:24:00.005-04:00

A New Mexico zoo keeper said he is ready to go back to working with reptiles after being hospitalized for nearly a week with a Gila monster bite. Cody Machen has been hospitalized since Thursday after being bit by the venomous lizard while he was holding it, KRQE-KBIM TV, Albuquerque, reported. "It's the most painful thing. It's more painful then a rattlesnake bite. I knew it was bad.", Machen told reporters.

Machen's arm reportedly ballooned to three times the girth it was before the bite. Doctors will be required to perform surgery on Machen's arm if the swelling doesn't subside, KRQE-KBIM reported. Gila monsters, native to numerous deserts in the southwest, can be 2 feet long and have rigid teeth that release venom while biting into their victims. The lizard's bite is usually not fatal to humans.

Story from UPI
Photo from gilaranch.com

Antibiotic Alligator: Promising Proteins Lurk in Reptile Blood

2008-04-14T14:52:00.005-04:00

Article by Rachel Ehrenberg / ScienceNews.org
Researchers hunting for new antibiotics might get some aid from gator blood. Scientists are zeroing in on snippets of proteins found in American alligator blood that kill a wide range of disease-causing microbes and bacteria, including the formidable MRSA or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Previous experiments have revealed that gator blood extract cripples many human pathogens, including E. coli, the herpes simplex virus and some strains of the yeast Candida albicans. The serum's antimicrobial power probably derives from protein bits called peptides. Widespread among reptiles and amphibians, several such germ-fighting peptides have been isolated from the skin of frogs in recent years. Many of these critters live in "sort of nasty places" that are polluted, and gators probably eat all kinds of sick animals, comments Paul Klein, a reptile infectious disease specialist at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville.

Fierce battles with prey and other gators can leave gaping flesh wounds—but the animals are fairly hardy. These peptides provide a first line of defense—important in the lower vertebrates, who have a slower antibody response than humans, says Klein. "It seems Mother Nature has built in a circulating system of antimicrobial factories that protect the animals while they are waiting to develop the cell-mediated response that we would develop quickly," he says.

Fishing around in the reptile's blood, the scientists identified four or five super-active peptides, reports chemistry doctoral student Lancia Darville of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. She collaborated with LSU chemist Kermit Murray and with Mark Merchant of McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La., and presented the work in New Orleans April 6th at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.

Two-man Venture Educates, Entertains with Creepy Critters

2008-04-13T22:40:00.005-04:00

By Wendy Vurik /UNION-TRIBUNE

Creepy crawlies, slithering critters, bugs that can bite – these aren't most people's idea of the perfect job environment. But that doesn't matter to the guys behind Radical Reptiles and Friends.

SEAN M. HAFFEY / Union-Tribune

Radical Reptiles and Friends employee John Taibee (above) held a tegu lizard rescued in Poway. Ben Hian (below) held Vince, a reticulated python that hails from Asia. The snake will grow to be about 25 feet long. Hian's business, Radical Reptiles and Friends, shows off exotic animals in after-school programs, summer camps and birthday parties.

SEAN M. HAFFEY / Union-Tribune

Founded by Ben Hian nearly 12 years ago, the Carlsbad-based venture features an array of snakes, insects, lizards, spiders, turtles and cockroaches that are presented as an entertaining educational tool in after-school programs, school assemblies, birthday parties and summer camps throughout the county.

The business began as one boy's desire to have a snake. “I told my mom I wanted a snake,” Hian said. “She said I could have one the day I moved out of the house.” Hian made good on that promise. The day before he moved out of his parent's home at age 18, he bought his first corn snake, named Rufus, and took it to his new place. Soon enough, Hian acquired a tortoise named Esiotrot – tortoise spelled backward. Then came Baby Boris, a Burmese python, then 6 feet long. Now full-grown, Boris is 21 feet long and weighs 307 pounds.

While Hian was slowly collecting a menagerie of reptilian creatures, he was making a living teaching at a private preschool. Once in a while, he would take an animal to class, fascinating the children. Soon he was getting calls from parents asking if he would bring his creatures to children's birthday parties.

For a few years, Hian was teaching and doing birthday parties part-time. Then, he had an epiphany. “I woke up at 2 a.m. one night and shot out of bed. 'I'm going to quit my job,'” Hian said he remembers thinking. “I emptied out my bank account to pay for fliers I could hand out at schools.”

The first few years of building his business, Radical Reptiles and Friends, were difficult. “I ate a lot of oatmeal and Top Ramen,” Hian said. But his reputation grew through word of mouth. Now he can have as many as 15 after-school programs and school-assembly presentations per week, and as many as four or five birthday parties on the weekends. His collection has grown to more than 100 reptiles, which he keeps in his home. Because they are categorized as pets, Hian said he doesn't need any special permits to own them.

A few years ago, he met John Taibe, a recreation coordinator at the Rancho Santa Fe Community Center, where Hian had an after-school program. Taibe also was a reptile enthusiast, and pretty soon they were talking shop. “One day, Ben asked me if I'd like to have a full-time job where I could work with animals and children,” Taibe said. “I jumped at the opportunity.”

“I really liked John's energy,” Hian said. “He was great working with the kids and with the animals.” That was two years ago, and the business is going strong. Because Radical Reptiles and Friends is now a two-man operation, they have been able to expand a rattlesnake and reptile rescue service, removing reptiles found in homes and relocating them to remote, safe environments. “This is better than just killing the animal,” Hian said.

Snakes don't want to interact with humans, he said, but development and wildfires can force them to find shelter in populated locations. Education is an important component of what Hian and Taibe bring to the business. “We like to generate interest and educate the children on animals that, in general, people think are scary or gross,” Hian said. “We help to get an interest started and hopefully a desire in the future to help out with conservation.”

Review: A Guide To The Reptiles Of Southern Africa

2008-04-10T20:53:00.001-04:00

A Guide To The Reptiles Of Southern Africa - Graham Alexander and Johan Marais
Review by Peter Sullivan
This splendidly illustrated book is about the 151 snakes, 338 lizards, 27 tortoises and one crocodile of our subregion. It is easy to use to identify a snake or lizard, yet detailed enough to tell you a bit about the creature … like which antidote won't work.

It contains creatures I'd certainly never heard of: the very first item was a Beaked Blind Snake followed by Flowerpot Snake, Stiletto Snake and then two quaintly labelled Jan's Shovel-snout and Visser's Shovel-snout. Not to mention the weird lizards.

It's loaded with information (To do and Not to Do when bitten) and education (only 16 of our snake species have a lethal bite, only 1% of people bitten by them actually die). If anybody in your family has an interest in herpetology, slither this on to your bookshelf.

It's Spring: Reptiles are Frisky

2008-04-06T21:04:00.004-04:00

Article from OrlandoSentinel.com

About 2 1/2 million alligators inhabit more than 90 percent of the lakes and streams in Florida. And, with warmer weather, all those reptiles are beginning to rouse from their winter slumber with two things on their peanut-sized brains -- finding another alligator to breed with and catching up on a few missed meals.

Those two factors, coupled with the huge influx of humans into the state, make encounters more prevalent, said Nick Clark, the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Garden's senior reptile keeper. "We're coming up on the breeding season that's getting ready to start, so alligators will be moving around, a little bit more active and maybe a little bit more in the public eye right now," Clark said. "So, we want to try to help people understand what to do and what not to do to avoid negative encounters with the animals."

To educate residents on how to handle encounters with the reptiles, as well as how to avoid them, the zoo offers alligator-awareness classes. Its first of the season was March 25, and another will be June 3. On a recent Tuesday night, about 15 people showed up to listen and learn from Clark, who spent about two hours dispelling myths, relaying stories and offering advice.

"What we're trying to help people do is coexist with some of the wildlife we have here in Florida," Clark said. "We do have a lot of people that move into the state of Florida every day, and a lot of time all they hear is the horror stories."

The class is the zoo's way of making sure people are aware -- not afraid -- of the big reptiles.

Snakes Alive! - Hands on Reptile Exhibit

2008-03-21T22:13:00.002-04:00

By Amber Wilhelm / TheOnlineRocket
Media Credit: Samantha Chalmers
Tom Kessenich is living his dream. Kessenich, 49, tours the country with his reptiles in the show Snakes Alive!, a hands-on reptile exhibit, which came to the University Union Multipurpose Room on Tuesday.

Kessenich's fascination with reptiles started when he was a boy. "I loved dinosaurs when I was little," Kessenich said. "When I was 7 years old, I met a garden snake and I was hooked." Kessenich takes Snakes Alive! to schools, colleges, birthday parties, nature centers and anywhere there are people who want to be entertained and educated. He said that he brings different snakes with him to different events.

For his show at SRU, Kessenich brought a savanna monitor lizard, a bearded dragon, a Columbian tegu lizard, two types of corn snakes, a South American tortoise, a small alligator, a boa constrictor and a black rat snake, which is native to Pennsylvania.

In the introduction to his show, Kessenich said, "My show is about turning malice and fear into curiosity and fascination." The energetic Kessenich starts with small lizards and works his way up to bringing out the biggest snake in the show, Billy the boa constrictor. Jason Lane, a freshman health and safety major, said his favorite part of Snakes Alive! was Billy the boa. But Lane doesn't see himself with a job like Kessenich's anytime soon. "I like snakes, but I don't like touching them," Lane, 19, said.

Lane's sentiment was not shared by everyone in attendance, however. Audience members clamored to pet the snakes and lizards throughout the show. Some audience members were more nervous than others. Since dispelling fear is one of Kessenich's main goals, he coaxed the most frightened students in the audience on to the stage to pet and hold the reptiles.

Kessenich said it wasn't the first time he has encountered reluctant participants. "One girl (in Iowa) was so scared she was shaking," Kessenich said. "So I started by letting her touch the lizard's tail and she worked her way up to holding it."

Kessenich has an analogy for the emotions Snakes Alive! brings out in the audience. "It's like a roller coaster," Kessenich said. "People start out scared and end up having fun."

Kessenich started a formal education in biology, but wanted to be in the field. "I'm not a lab guy," Kessenich said. "If somebody wants to study an animal's blood, I'll go out and get one for them and care for it, but I leave the lab for other people."

Snakes Alive! reflects Kessenich's hands-on approach. He walked around almost continuously throughout the show, letting the audience take pictures and pet the animals. After the presentation, Kessenich invited everyone to come to the stage area to hold the reptiles. Kessenich demonstrated how to hold Billy the boa, then put him on the shoulder of the first obliging audience member to free himself up to guide curious spectators through a frenzy of passing snakes and lizards around and answering questions on stage. "It was a great show," Lane said.

Rare Four-eyed Turtle Hatches At The Tennessee Aquarium

2007-06-18T14:22:00.000-04:00

Endangered Hatchling May Represent A First In North America
Article from ScienceDaily.com
A rare Beal’s four-eyed turtle recently hatched at the Tennessee Aquarium. According to aquarium herpetologist Enrico Walder this tiny turtle should be treated as big news. “According to records this species of turtle can only be seen at three North American zoos or aquariums, and is listed as an endangered species. This little turtle in Chattanooga may represent the first successful reproduction of Sacalia bealei in a North American institution,” says Walder.

With more than 500 turtles representing 70 species, the Tennessee Aquarium exhibits more turtles than any other public facility in the world. A clutch of three eggs was deposited around April 14th of this year, but only one of those eggs turned out to be fertile. Upon hatching, the baby turtle weighed just 6 grams and was only 38 millimeters long. There are only 18 known Beal’s four-eyed turtles in public zoos and aquariums throughout the United States and Europe. There are only seven males, five females and six of unknown sex including the one at the Tennessee Aquarium.

The Beal’s four-eyed turtle gets its name from the ocelli or false eye markings on the back of the turtle’s head. These animals were once common throughout southern China but have seen significant declines in their population in recent years. “As with many Asian species the Beal’s four-eyed turtle has been over collected for use in the Chinese food and traditional medicine trade,” reports Walder. Because this species has such a low reproductive rate it is doubtful they will ever return to the large numbers of Beal’s turtles seen in the wild just a few decades ago.

An animal like the Beal’s four-eyed turtle is considered endangered when the population of an organism is at risk of becoming extinct. The World Conservation Union has calculated the percentage of endangered species as 40 percent of all organisms based on the sample of species that have been evaluated through 2006.

A male Beal’s four-eyed turtle can be seen in the Aquarium’s “Rivers of the World” gallery located on the second level of the River Journey building. The Tennessee Aquarium’s newest turtle will be housed off exhibit to minimize stress and encourage feeding until it is hearty enough for public viewing. The Dallas Zoo and the Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero, California are the only other public institutions with Beal’s four-eyed turtles in their collections in the United States. The Charles Paddock Zoo received their turtle from the Tennessee Aquarium.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Tennessee Aquarium.

Bird Species Show Sharp Declines in U.S.

2007-06-14T08:51:00.000-04:00

Article by Christina Crapanzano, USA TODAY

A new study by the National Audubon Society shows that 20 common American birds, such as whippoorwills and the Rufous hummingbird, have declined by more than half in the past 40 years. "The sound of the meadowlark singing was the sound of summer; now it's not," said author and naturalist Scott Weidensaul, who joined the Audubon Society in announcing the study Thursday. Some bird species experienced more drastic declines, such as the northern bobwhite, whose population declined by 82%, and the Eastern meadowlark, which had a 71% decline.

Greg Butcher, Audubon's bird conservation director, said the analysis indicates the impact of human behavior on bird habitats that is causing the dwindling numbers. He said key contributors are loss of grasslands and wetlands, suburban sprawl and industrialized agriculture. The study said the problem is compounded by "the escalating effects of global warming." "For the first time, we see a decline in the birds that breed in the Arctic tundra," Butcher said. He warned that some damage done to bird habitats cannot be reversed, but his goal is to "lessen the pace." "We're really pushing the limits here," he said. Carol Browner, who chairs the Audubon Society and is a former head of the Environment Protection Agency, said the bird population decline is "a problem," but added, "it's not a crisis, yet."

The study compared 550 species going back to 1967 by examining the Audubon's Christmas bird count and the U.S. Geological Survey's breeding bird count done in June. The analysis showed at least a 54% decline among 20 common bird species. Although the study focused only on birds, Butcher said similar declines could happen in other species. "One of the reasons we study birds is it shows us what's happening in other creatures," he said. "I definitely think what's happening is happening in other species as well." Weidensaul also said some bird species are overpopulated—— such as Canada goose and wild turkey. "We see more species that are in trouble than the ones that are doing really, really well," he said.

Threats To Wild Tigers Growing

2007-06-01T09:18:00.000-04:00

Article from ScienceDaily.com
The wild tiger now occupies a mere 7 percent of its historic range, and the area known to be inhabited by tigers has declined by 41 percent over the past decade, according to a recent article. Growing trade in folk medicines made from tiger parts and tiger skins, along with habitat loss and fragmentation, is believed to be the chief reason for the losses.

The assessment, by Eric Dinerstein of the World Wildlife Fund and 15 coauthors, describes the wild tiger's population trajectory as "catastrophic" and urges international cooperation to ensure the animal's continued existence in the wild. Despite the discouraging numbers -- there are believed to be only about 5,000 wild tigers left -- some conservation programs have been successful.

Dinerstein and his coauthors highlight a program in the Terai-Arc Landscape of northwestern India and southern Nepal as a notable victory. The scheme features wildlife corridors that connect 12 reserves. Tiger conservation efforts have also been successful in the Russian Far East. Many tiger reserves in the India, in contrast, have been mismanaged and have failed to protect the animals, according to the article.

Plans to make use of tiger parts harvested from farmed tigers in China represent an emerging threat, the authors argue. Any trade in tiger parts encourages poaching, because products made from animals farmed at great expense cannot be distinguished from products made from wild tigers. Because tigers must be able to roam over large areas, long-term conservation of the species will need planning that involves religious and civic leaders as well as national and local governments. International cooperation among nations that harbor the animal will also be essential.

Dinerstein and his coauthors conclude by recommending that these countries appoint "tiger ambassadors" to advocate for the species, step up efforts to prosecute poachers, and provide economic incentives to encourage conservation.

Article: "The Fate of Wild Tigers," Eric Dinerstein and colleagues, BioScience, June 2007.
Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by American Institute of Biological Sciences.

New Snake-like Lizard Discovered in India

2007-05-29T08:27:00.000-04:00

Article from MongaBay.com

A previously unknown species of legless lizard as been discovered in a remote Indian forest, reports the Associated Press. Sushil Kumar Dutta, leader of a team of researchers from NGO Vasundhra and the North Orissa University, found the 7-inch long creature in the forests of Khandadhar near Raurkela in Orissa state, about 625 miles southeast of New Delhi.

"Preliminary scientific study reveals that the lizard belongs to the genus Sepsophis," Dutta told the Associated Press. "The lizard is new to science and is an important discovery. It is not found anywhere else in the world." The closest relatives of the newly discovered species are found in Sri Lanka and South Africa.

Photo by Indian zoologist Sushil Kumar Dutta

Scientists say limbless forms of lizards have evolved independently several times, probably to facilitate underground movement. Most limbless lizards live under leaf litter or in upper levels of soil. Limbless lizards are not snakes. They can be distinguished by their external ear holes and flat, non-forked tongues.

Related articles
Blind pink snake discovered in Madagascar. A pink worm-like snake has been rediscovered in Madagascar more than 100 years after it was first found. The snake, which is blind and measures about ten inches long, is described in the February 1, 2007 edition of Zootaxa, a leading taxonomic journal.

Unknown species of lizard discovered in Borneo. A previously unknown species of lizard was discovered in Borneo by Chris Austin, assistant curator of herpetology at Louisiana State University's Museum of Natural Science. The scientific name of the lizard, which was discovered while Austin was conducting field research in Sarawak, will be unveiled in the March 2007 edition of Journal of Herpetology. The discovery comes as Borneo's rainforests are increasingly endangered by logging, clearing for oil palm plantations for biofuel, and agricultural fires.

Beach Sand May Harbor Disease-causing E. Coli Bacteria

2007-05-28T12:46:00.000-04:00

Article from ScienceDaily.com

New evidence implicating beach sand as a reservoir for E. coli -- the bacterium that is used as an indicator that water has been contaminated by fecal material -- has been reported by scientists at the University of Minnesota.

In the report, published in the April 15 issue of ACS' Environmental Science & Technology, Michael J. Sadowsky and colleagues cite several previous studies showing that E. coli and bacteria indicating fecal contamination can accumulate and grow in beach sand. "These results indicate that E. coli originating from several sources may survive and potentially replicate in sand and sediment, possibly increasing fecal counts found on beaches," the report states. The researchers point out that while most E. coli strains are harmless, some strains do cause gastrointestinal diseases in human. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea, as well as more serious conditions.

The 2-year study tracked seasonal variations in E. coli in water, sand, and sediment at the Duluth Boat Club Beach in Duluth-Superior Harbor on Lake Superior. It concluded that beach sand and sediment serve as sinks and sources for E. coli from humans and waterfowl that can contribute to beach closures.

Original article: "Beach Sand and Sediments are Temporal Sinks and Sources of Escherichia coli in Lake Superior" Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by American Chemical Society.

Reggie Captured In True Hollywood Style with Fans All Around

2007-05-25T14:33:00.000-04:00

Article from KABC-7.com
Pic from PhotoBucket.com

Reggie the Alligator could have remained on the run, or should we say swim, but not forever. On Friday, Reggie woke up in his new home at the L.A. Zoo. The huge reptile eluded professional and amateur wranglers for the better part of two years in Lake Machado.
He was captured after being spotted sunning himself on the banks of the Lake Thursday afternoon. After 90 day quarantine, Reggie will eventually be on display to the public.

FYI: The cost of security and fences around Lake Machado, and payments to alligator wranglers who failed, the total cost to taxpayers for capturing Reggie is about 180-thousand dollars. Video of Reggie can be seen on the KABC-7 website.

Worries Rise Over Wounded Wayward Whales

2007-05-24T12:20:00.000-04:00

Wayward Whales in Sacramento River Show Signs of Distress As Worry Over Wounds Grows By MARCUS WOHLSEN / AP / ABCNews
Hope dimmed Wednesday for two lost, wounded whales as scientists spotted the humpbacks wildly slapping their tails on the water in possible distress as they lingered far from their ocean home. Deep cuts on the mother whale and calf, likely caused by a run-in with a boat, were worsening after more than a week in fresh water that the pair are not physically well-equipped to inhabit, biologists said. "I wouldn't say there's a lot of optimism right now," said Brian Gorman, a spokesman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "They may surprise us again. They may just take off and head down river. But as long as they continue doing what they're doing, we're very worried about them."

For a third day, the whales frustrated efforts to herd them past a Sacramento River bridge about 70 miles from the Pacific, where they have lingered since Monday. They first were spotted in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta on May 13. Biologists would not estimate how long the whales could survive in the delta but said the tail-slapping behavior, known as "lobbing," was cause for concern. "The whales were fairly quiet for a period of days. Then they weren't so quiet. So the question is, why have they changed?" said Trevor Spradlin, a NOAA whale biologist.

Boat crews resumed playing underwater recordings of humpbacks feeding to try to coax the whales downriver when startling them by banging on metal pipes failed to work Wednesday morning. If the feeding sounds are not effective, scientists planned to try a new scare tactic playing recordings of orcas, also known as killer whales, attacking a mother whale and her calf. Rescuers planned to back off over the Memorial Day weekend if the twosome remained stranded.

The biggest concern remained the wounds on both whales, especially a 3- to 4-foot cut on the calf's side that appeared to pierce the blubber layer down to the muscle. The freshwater environment was taxing the whales physically, turning their skin from its normally smooth, shiny texture to rough and pitted, "like when you sit in a bathtub for too long," Spradlin said. The stress of that continued exposure "may be impeding their natural healing abilities," he said.

The challenge facing the scientists trying to push the pair back to salt water was to encourage them to move quickly without causing them anxiety that could create more physical stress. "Stressing even a healthy whale is not good. Stressing an injured whale is worse," Gorman said. More forceful techniques, such as using nets to drag the whales downstream or create a barrier across the river, could cause undue stress and threatened to harm the whales by entangling them, scientists said.

The humpbacks, which apparently took a wrong turn during their annual migration to feeding grounds in the northern Pacific, traveled 90 miles inland to the Port of Sacramento before turning around. They were making progress Monday until they reached the Rio Vista Bridge and began swimming in circles. Scientists theorized the whales started circling because vibrations from traffic on the bridge upset them, though the pair continued to circle even when traffic was halted.

New Celebrity at Berlin's Tierpark Zoo

2007-05-23T14:08:00.000-04:00

Article from AP /FOXNews.com

Photos from Tierpark Zoo & SeattlePI websites

Berlin has a new animal celebrity — a baby elephant who immediately followed his abrupt birth at the weekend with a spectacular splash in the pool. The as-yet-unnamed male elephant was born suddenly on Sunday at the elephant enclosure in the capital's Tierpark zoo.
"It got up, walked into the pool, fell down and had to swim in deep water," zoo director Bernhard Blaszkiewitz told AP Television News on Wednesday, when the animal made his first public appearance since his birth. "Our people pulled it out of the water right away," he added.
The zoo said the young bull was the third baby born to 26-year-old African elephant Pori, and the twelfth at the zoo since 1998. He weighed 258.4 pounds at birth and had a back length of 35.8 inches. In reports accompanying pictures of Sunday's elephant rescue, some media portrayed the elephant as having been rejected by his mother, but the zoo said Pori and her 6-year-old daughter, Tana, were "taking exemplary care of the newborn."
"The mother nudged the baby to make it get on its feet but on the pictures it looks like she wanted to flatten it," Blaszkiewitz said. "However, elephants always do that and they do it very carefully with their feet and their trunk."
The new arrival comes five months after the birth of a major Berlin animal star — Knut the polar bear (Knut der Eisbar), who was rejected by his mother and hand-raised by zookeepers at the capital's other major zoo. So potent is Knut's appeal that zoo attendance has roughly doubled to 15,000 on average daily since his debut. He has attracted exhaustive media attention, including his own blog and TV show, and appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair.

Rome Zoo Breeds Rare Egyptian Tortoises

2007-05-21T14:24:00.000-04:00

Article from the AP / chron.com
Photo by Peir Palo Cito
Rome's main zoo has successfully bred several rare Egyptian tortoises whose parents were rescued from a smuggler's suitcase in 2005, officials said. The first egg hatched in April, six more followed this month, and there are still several eggs waiting to hatch, said Stefano Micarelli, the head reptile keeper at Rome's Biopark zoo.

"These animals are so rare in nature that we are trying to breed them so we can have a stock of these animals also in captivity," he told AP Television News. The Egyptian tortoise, known as Testudo Kleinmanni, is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES. It is an Appendix I reptile, meaning it is afforded the highest protection. Trade in such animals, many of which are threatened with extinction, is permitted only in exceptional circumstances. The Egyptian tortoises, distinctive by their small size and golden hue, are very difficult to maintain in captivity, requiring the very warm and dry temperatures they find in their native desert habitats. Currently they are found primarily in Libya.

On Oct. 26, 2005, authorities at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport became suspicious when they noticed a passenger on a flight from Libya waiting impatiently for his luggage. They stopped to check his luggage, and found 275 of the rare tortoises, all but four of whom were alive, packed in a bag. Ivan Severoni, an investigator with the forest rangers, said the tortoises were destined for illegal traffickers in southern and central Italy who can command hundreds of dollars for each living specimen. "We did some investigations after we sequestered these animals, and we discovered that the people who were transporting and selling these tortoises were not aware of what they were selling, their rarity and their economic value," he said.

Breeders at Rome's Biopark (Bioparco) had tried for two years to breed the surviving tortoises, but without success until this spring. Micarelli said the Italian government was working with Libyan officials to return some of the tortoises to the Tripoli zoo.

Indonesian Fisherman Catches Rare Ancient Fish

2007-05-20T20:29:00.000-04:00

Article from FOXNews.com
Photo of 1998 Sulawesi coelacanth (at right)

An Indonesian fisherman hooked a rare coelacanth, a species once thought as extinct as dinosaurs, and briefly kept the "living fossil" alive in a quarantined pool. Justinus Lahama caught the four-foot, 110-pound fish early Saturday off Sulawesi island near Bunaken National Marine Park, which has some of the highest marine biodiversity in the world.
The fish died 17 hours later, an extraordinary survival time, marine biologist Lucky Lumingas said Sunday. "The fish should have died within two hours because this species only lives in deep, cold-sea environment," he said. Lumingas works at the local Sam Ratulangi University, which plans to study the carcass. The coelacanth (pronounced see-la-kanth) was believed to be extinct for 65 million years until one was found in 1938 off Africa's coast, igniting worldwide interest. Several other specimens have since been discovered, including another off Sulawesi island in 1998. The powerful predator is highly mobile with limb-like fins, and it gives birth to live young rather than laying eggs.

New Species Of Sea Anemone Found In Deepest Pacific

2007-05-17T12:48:00.000-04:00

Article from ScienceDaily
Photo Credit: Kevin Fitzsimons, University Relations, Ohio State University
Researchers cruising for creatures that live in the deepest parts of the Pacific Ocean found a new species of sea anemone living in the unlikeliest of habitats – the carcass of a dead whale. A marine biologist would say that discovering a new sea anemone isn't so unusual. But finding one that calls a dead whale home is what sets this new creature apart.
Since the scientists who initially found these animals weren't sea anemone specialists, they sent the 10 specimens they collected to Meg Daly, an assistant professor of evolution, ecology and organismal biology at Ohio State University. Daly runs one of the very few laboratories in the world equipped to study sea anemones. “These creatures were so cool simply because we knew that no sea anemone had ever been found on a whale fall,” she said.
Once a whale dies, its carcass sinks to the bottom of the ocean. Scientists call this a “whale fall.” The anemones that Daly received once lived on the bones of a dead whale some 1.8 miles (3,000 meters) below sea level in a region of the Pacific Ocean called Monterey Canyon, roughly 25 miles off the coast of Monterey, Calif.
All of the specimens currently in Daly's collection came from this whale fall. The anemone, given the scientific name Anthosactis pearseae – there is no English name for it – is small and white and roughly cube-shaped. It's about the size of a human molar, and even looks like a tooth with small tentacles on one side. Daly and Luciana Gusmão, a doctoral student in Daly's laboratory, describe A. pearseae in detail in a recent issue of the Journal of Natural History. The two assigned the anemone to the genus Anthosactis primarily due to the roughly uniform length of A. pearseae's tentacles – a characteristic common to this group of about seven sea anemones. “We tend to differentiate Anthosactis species from other groups of sea anemones by a variety of traits, rather than any one unique attribute,” Daly said.
She and Gusmão named A. pearseae after Vicki Pearse, the naturalist who first collected the specimens during a cruise of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute's research vessel the Western Flyer. Pearse is a research associate at the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of Santa Cruz. It's customary to name a newly discovered plant or animal species after the person who found it, or after the place where it was discovered.
Collecting deep-sea creatures is a tedious process that involves a lot of high-tech equipment like underwater video cameras attached to remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Deep sea ROVs are also equipped with robotic arms and suction devices that are used to collect species. “It's like a submarine that's manned from the surface,” said Daly, who plans to head to Monterey Canyon later this year in hopes of finding more dead whales with A. pearseae roosting on the bones. A successful trip could answer some of Daly's lingering questions about the species itself and, more broadly, may provide clues on how human activities affect this unique, seemingly removed ecosystem. “The thing about these communities is that they seem so ephemeral and so unplanned,” Daly said. “A whale dies where it dies, and its carcass lands wherever. But these are actually some of the most stable deep sea communities.“
A better understanding of deep-sea populations may shed light on how humans drive ecological change, whether it's through whaling or global climate change,” she said, and also pointed out that there are now far fewer major whale migrations along the California coast. While the flesh of a dead whale decomposes within weeks, the bones can last anywhere from 60 to 100 years. “As that happens, the bacteria that break down the bones release sulfur,” Daly said. “A whole community of aquatic creatures uses that sulfur to make energy, much like plants convert light into energy.”
Daly doesn't know much about A. pearseae beyond its physical description. She and Gusmão aren't sure how old the creatures are, and say that sea anemones can live for hundreds of years. Nor are they sure how A. pearseae reproduce (each anemone may have male and female sex organs), or if it lives exclusively on whale carcasses. “So far, a single dead whale is the only place where we've found these anemones,” Daly said. She and Gusmão plan to include A. pearseae in a long-term evolutionary study of genetic relationships among sea anemones. A. pearseae belongs to an extremely diverse group of anemones, Daly said, and comparing the anemones' genetic sequences may clue the researchers in to how the different species evolved over time.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Ohio State University.

Field Diary: Best Reptile, Amphibian Night Ever

2007-05-16T09:01:00.000-04:00

By David Emmett, CI Wildlife Biologist
CI Wildlife Biologist David Emmett was a member of the survey team that discovered the rare Cantor’s giant soft-shell turtle (Pelochelys cantorii) in Cambodia’s Mekong River. Here is an excerpt from Emmett’s field diary about another memorable day of surveying in Laos.

Nakai Plateau, Laos: "The morning dawned still and chilly, exacerbated by the cold water bucket-shower that forced my breath from my body. I could hear Soutchai, my translator, in the next room, puffing and gasping from the cold as he washed. The sky grew overcast by the time we went shopping for rice, vegetables, and other food. For the next five days, we would be surveying for reptiles and amphibians in the Nakai Plateau.

My left hand really ached from the bamboo cut and IndoChinese Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus) bite, but I was confident it would be okay for the survey. We set off along a dusty road toward Ban Don village, where three local guides joined us. Together we drove toward the river, where a boat awaited us. As we headed upriver, there were a few kids playing on the sandbank next to an abandoned village. After an hour, the sandy banks gave way to huge boulders, creeping lianas, and overhanging trees. I took some photos of a pair of beautiful white egrets in the shallows.

We saw fresh signs of Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus). Dung lay on the sandbars and half-eaten bamboo was strewn along the riverbanks. The guide told us to be quiet, as the elephants were nearby and could be dangerous. Researchers had estimated that this area held around 170 elephants in three large herds. I really wanted to see a herd! But it was not to be – they stayed in the forest and all we heard were some distant crashes and squeals.

About 2 km further upstream we hit a set of impassable rapids, so we stopped and located a camp site. It was late, so we had dinner. Then Soutchai and I went out exploring. After we found a couple more frogs along the main river to add to the species list, I went a few hundred metres up the dry stream-bed to have a look. Scrambling over rocks, I came to water! The river was partly subterranean.

The next three hours were like a dream – by far the best reptile and amphibian-collecting night I’d ever had. After searching just a few minutes, I found and took photos of two Asian Leaf Turtles in small rock-pools (Cyclemys dentate). I also found a huge, threatened Asiatic Softshell Turtle (Amyda cartilaginea) that vigorously tried to bite me (they can crush bone, so I had to be careful) before hurling itself into a deep pool. I caught a snake (only mildly venomous), and then went back to get Soutchai. He had to be part of this!

Together, we walked several kilometres up the stream with our torch-lights playing through the trees, across leaf-litter, and shining into dark pools. We caught frogs I’d never seen before, and added at least 10 more species to our inventory list. There were fat, spotty bullfrogs with red armpits and thighs (which turned out to be a species undescribed to science), moss-coloured tree-frogs (Taylor’s Treefrog, Rhacophorus bisacculus), and a grey-coloured frog about 25 ft up a tree that we couldn’t identify. Soutchai dislodged it with a long bamboo stick, and I caught it one-handed as it fell (great teamwork!). There were enormous green Large-eared Rock Frogs as big as our hands, tiny red frogs called Inornate Froglet (Micryletta inornata), multiple species of brown leaf-litter frogs, an attractive-looking Striped Sticky Frog, and many more.

We returned to camp around midnight; tired, muddy, and very happy. I felt that after overcoming all of the difficult logistical challenges to conduct this survey, we really deserved to have a night like this. It had been great! I washed in the cold river by moonlight, watched the river for a while, and then clambered into my tent. I was lulled to sleep by the sound of the river and the chorus of frogs."

NEW TEXAS WHITE LIST PROPOSED TO REGULATE NONGAME WILDLIFE

2007-05-14T23:54:00.000-04:00

NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
Web Portal - CNAH The Center for North American Herpetology
14 May 2007

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission on March 28authorized seeking public comment on a proposal to change the way nongame wildlife species are regulated. The proposal would create a "whitelist" of species that could be collected and sold, with all other nongame animals not on the list to be protected from commercial collection and sale. The proposal is designed to help monitor and regulate the escalating collection and sale of wild turtles, snakes, and other nongame animals (species not covered under hunting and fishing regulations) in Texas. The change would prohibit commercial use of all Texas turtle species, protecting at least 20 types of turtles currently subject to collection and sale.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff had recommended keeping the Red-eared Slider on the proposed white list, which would have made it the only Texas wild turtle subject to continued commercial collection and sale (the species is generally common and abundant in Texas). However, commissioners instructed the staff to remove the Red-eared Slider from the list, effectively protecting it as well. The intent was to publish a more restrictive proposed regulation for public comment, with the understanding that it could be made less restrictive when finally adopted.

The proposed new regulations will be published this month in the Texas Register for public comment. The proposed regulations will be available on the TPWD website Public Comment page the week of 9 April 2007. The TPW Commission will consider final adoption of the new rules at its 24 May meeting. If adopted 24 May, the new rules would take effect in early summer, 20 days after they are published in the Texas Register.

Wildlife biologists cite increased pressure from out-of-state collectors and dealers, fueled in part by a growing demand for turtle meat sold to China and other Asian markets. In recent years, an average of 94,442 turtles per year were collected or purchased by at least 50 Texas dealers, mostly for export from the state. Wildlife experts are expressing particular concern about the turtle trade. Affected species include Box Turtles, Diamondback Terrapins and freshwater turtles such as Map Turtles, Softshells, Common Snapping Turtles and others. At least 12 recent scientific research reports indicate that commercial turtle harvest from the wild is not sustainable. At least four southeastern states in the U.S. have prohibited commercial collection of turtles from the wild, and most others are more restrictive than Texas.

Since 1999, the department has published a list of 42 wildlife species or subspecies covered under nongame permit regulations. The list includes mostly turtles (20 species), but also includes 10 species of snakes, five frogs and toads, four lizards, two mammals, and one salamander. A number of other nongame species not on the list are currently collected and sold inTexas, with no permitting or reporting requirements.

Currently, anyone who possesses more than 25 specimens in the aggregate of any animal on the list must have a nongame (collector's) permit, which costs $18 for Texas residents and $60 for non-residents. Commercial operators who buy and resell listed animals must have a nongame dealer's permit, which costs $60 for residents and $240 for non-residents. Nongame permit holders must maintain a daily log showing the date, location, and number of specimens collected or sold. Nongame dealer's permit holders must maintain a current daily record of all purchases and sales, and they are required to submit an annual report summarizing their activities to TPWD.

To develop the new white list proposal, department biologists met with a variety of user groups, including seven herpetological societies and various nongame dealers, involving approximately 300 participants total representing a wide range of interests. All parties agreed that sustainability of wildlife populations is the goal, and that there is currently a lack of population data. Under the proposal, 84 species would be on the new white list, with annual permitting and reporting required for anyone possessing more than 25 specimens in the aggregate of listed animals. Instead of the current list regulating collection of 20 types of turtles, the new list would not allow commercial collection and sale of any native turtle species. Commercial collection and sale would also be prohibited for all other nongame species not on the white list (see the proposed white list below).

"For any nongame species not on the proposed white list, we're still proposing to allow people to keep a limited number of nongame animals for personal use; the current proposal is six," said Matt Wagner, TPWD wildlife diversity program director. "We want kids, for example, to be able to keep a pet turtle or two; we think that sort of thing is important."

Wagner said a number of species currently being collected and sold, including several turtles, are identified as priority species of concern in the recently completed Texas Wildlife Action Plan. He believes prohibiting collection of these species will help their populations rebound. "There are lots of other threats out there to these reptiles, turtles, and amphibians, including habitat loss and fragmentation," Wagner said. "When you have these types of species with slow reproductive rates, it's not sustainable to have commercial collection in the wild."

Wagner said prohibitions on commercial collection will give TPWD an opportunity to survey local populations of priority aquatic species, including turtles, to assess their status in Texas. Many of these species are tied to specific watersheds and river systems. "We're never going to have enough resources to do all the surveys we'd like to do," Wagner said, "but we can focus on priority areas identified in our Wildlife Action Plan. Reporting data from dealers shows us which counties these animals are coming from, which provides another means of targeting monitoring within ecoregions already identified as priorities."

Comments on the proposed rules may be made via the TPWD website or to Robert Macdonald by email at robert.macdonald@tpwd.state.tx.us or by regular mail to:

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,
4200 Smith School Road,
Austin, Texas 78744.

For specific questions concerning the proposed regulations, anyone may contact Matt Wagner by email at matt.wagner@tpwd.state.tx.us or by regular mail at the address above.

TPWD Proposed Nongame White List
Frogs and Toads
1. Great Plains Toad (Bufo cognatus)
2. Green Toad (Bufo debilis)
3. Red-spotted Toad (Bufo punctatus)
4. Texas Toad (Bufo speciosus)
5. Gulf Coast Toad (Bufo valliceps)
6. Woodhouse's Toad (Bufo woodhousei)
7. Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea)
8. Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)
9. Couch's Spadefoot (Scaphiopus couchii)
10. Plains Spadefoot (Spea bombifrons)
11. New Mexico Spadefoot (Spea multiplicata)

Salamanders
12. Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)

Lizards
13. Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)
14. Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail (Aspidoscelis exsanguis)
15. Texas Spotted Whiptail (Aspidoscelis gularis)
16. Marbled Whiptail (Aspidoscelis marmoratus)
17. Six-lined Racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus)
18. Checkered Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tesselatus)
19. Texas Banded Gecko (Coleonyx brevis)
20. Greater Earless Lizard (Cophosaurus texanus)
21. Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris)
22. Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)
23. Great Plains Skink (Eumeces obsoletus)
24. Texas Alligator Lizard (Gerrhonotus infernalis)
25. Lesser Earless Lizard (Holbrookia maculata)
26. Crevice Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus poinsettii)
27. Prairie Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus)
28. Ground Skink (Scincella lateralis)
29. Tree Lizard (Urosaurus ornatus)
30. Side-blotched Lizard (Uta stansburiana)

Snakes
31. Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)
32. Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)
33. Glossy Snake (Arizona elegans)
34. Trans-Pecos Rat Snake (Bogertophis subocularis)
35. Racer (Coluber constrictor)
36. Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)
37. Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus)
38. Blacktail Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus)
39. Mojave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus)
40. Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis)
41. Baird's Rat Snake (Elaphe bairdi)
42. Great Plains Rat Snake (Elaphe emoryi)
43. Texas Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta)
44. Slowinski's Corn Snake (Elaphe slowinskii)
45. Western Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus)
46. Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)
47. Texas Night Snake (Hypsiglena torquata)
48. Gray-banded Kingsnake (Lampropeltis alterna)
49. Prairie Kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster)
50. Speckled or desert Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula)
51. Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum)
52. Texas Blind Snake (Leptotyphlops dulcis)
53. Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum)
54. Schott's Whipsnake (Masticophis schotti)
55. Striped Whipsnake (Masticophis taeniatus)
56. Texas Coral Snake (Micrurus tener)
57. Blotched or yellowbelly Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster)
58. Broad-banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata)
59. Diamondback Water Snake (Nerodia rhombifer)
60. Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus)
61. Bullsnake or Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer)
62. Texas Longnose Snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei)
63. Western Blackneck Garter Snake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis)
64. Checkered Garter Snake (Thamnophis marcianus)
65. Western Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus)
66. Big Bend Patchnose Snake (Salvadora deserticola)
67. Mountain Patchnose Snake (Salvadora grahamiae)
68. Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus)
69. Pigmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius)
70. Ground Snake (Sonora semiannulata)
71. Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi)
72. Flathead Snake (Tantilla gracilis)
73. Southwestern Blackhead Snake (Tantilla hobartsmithi)
74. Plains Blackhead Snake (Tantilla nigriceps)
75. Lined Snake (Tropidoclonion lineatum)
76. Rough Earth Snake (Virginia striatula)

Source: RedTailBoa.net

Rare Sighting Of Threatened Bottlenose Dolphins In English Channel

2007-05-13T20:16:00.000-04:00

Photo Credit: Copyright Clive Martin / Marinelife
Article from Science Daily
On a crossing of the English Channel aboard the P&O Cruise Ferry, the Pride of Bilbao on the 5th of May, a large group of approximately 30 Bottlenose Dolphin was sighted by Clive Martin, Director for the wildlife charity Marinelife and senior Wildlife Officer for the Biscay Dolphin Research Programme.
The dolphins, which are threatened in UK waters, were recorded 4 miles off of St. Catherine’s point on the Isle of Wight – a truly rare occurrence. Clive Martin said: “In over 10 years of research in the English Channel, Marinelife have never before recorded Bottlenose Dolphin in this location or in such large numbers in the central part of the Channel – it represents a significant sighting and together with other recent sighting, may indicate that the central part of the Channel is again becoming part of the territory for a range of dolphins.”

The English Channel is generally thought of as an area of coastline which is under populated or depleted of whales and dolphins, but whilst sighting tend to be sporadic, they are being recorded. A small population of Bottlenose Dolphin are known to spend time within the Western portion of the English Channel and they are regularly sighting during Marinelife research trips from Plymouth to Roscoff aboard Brittany Ferries and by the Durlston Marine Project around Swanage. However, sighting of Bottlenose Dolphin in the central and eastern parts of the Channel are more unusual, but individuals are occasionally seen – these are thought to be adolescent males, which are known to roam over considerable distances and may spend considerable time in busy areas of coast or harbours, attracting much attention from people.
An example was “Spinnaker”, the Bottlenose Dolphin which spent some time in Portsmouth harbour, before being accidentally killed in a tragic accident with a boat’s propeller. Other recent sightings in the Channel include Common Dolphin, again seen off of the Isle of Wight and a young animal rescued by the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) in Eastbourne harbour.

Risso’s Dolphin have been recorded at Torpoint in Devon, regular sightings of Harbour Porpoise and Common Dolphin have been made by Marinelife in the western portion of the Channel and Pilot Whale have been seen near Portland in Dorset recently.
Marinelife’s research will continue to monitor for these and other whales and dolphins in the Channel and beyond and this will help build greater understanding of their movements, distribution, abundance and threats.

Background Information
The Bottlenose Dolphin is one of the most threatened cetacean species in Europe, and consequently has extensive legislative protection at a European level. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES, Appendix II of the Bern Convention and Annexes II and IV of the EC Habitats Directive. It is also on Appendix 2 of the Bonn Convention and is covered by ASCOBANS. CITES is the Convention International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Cincinnati Zoo's Rhino Makes History With An Unprecedented Third Calf

2007-05-03T08:56:00.000-04:00

Article from Science Daily
Emi, the Cincinnati Zoo’s world-famous critically endangered Sumatran rhino has done it again! On Sunday evening, April 29, Emi became the first Sumatran rhino in history to produce three calves in captivity, breaking her very own record.
Emi delivered a healthy, 86-pound male calf at 10:59 p.m. in her indoor stall. Emi’s legacy has grown as she continues to be the most prolific Sumatran rhino in history. It was through years of research that the staff at the Cincinnati Zoo’s Lindner Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) unraveled the mysteries of Sumatran rhino reproduction. This science has been integrated into the Cincinnati Zoo’s intensive rhino management program that, to-date, remains the only successful Sumatran rhino breeding program in the world.
"Ten years ago many people were skeptical claiming this species would never breed in a zoo. Yet today, the Cincinnati Zoo is world renowned for being the only place in the world this species is breeding successfully in captivity," said Dr. Terri Roth, Vice President of Conservation, Science and Living Collections at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. “A third successful birth in just seven years clearly demonstrates how successful a well managed, captive breeding program is for this critically endangered species.”
Emi became restless Sunday evening and her water broke at 9:35 p.m. One hour and 24 minutes later, Emi delivered her calf. Soon after delivery, Emi began licking her calf at 11:06 p.m. and the calf first attempted to stand at 11:28 p.m. The calf successfully nursed at 1:33 a.m. and he continues to nurse every 15-30 minutes. Emi and her calf are doing well and will remain inside for the next two weeks to allow privacy during this bonding time.
In September of 2001, Emi gave birth to a healthy 72.6-pound calf named, Andalas. This was the first time in 112 years that a Sumatran rhino successfully reproduced in captivity. In February, Andalas made the historical trek back to his ancestry homeland, Sumatra, to take part in a captive breeding program, in an effort to save his species.
In 2004, Emi produced a second healthy 75-pound female calf, Suci, who still remains at the Cincinnati Zoo with mom and dad. Good news like this comes at a critical time in the conservation of Sumatran rhinos. Today less than 300 survive in the wild and only ten Sumatran rhinos exist in captivity worldwide.
The Cincinnati Zoo is home to the only four Sumatran rhinos living in the United States. Emi and the Cincinnati Zoo’s male, Ipuh are on loan from the Indonesian government and are the only successful captive breeding pair in the world.
Sumatran rhinos are a flagship species for the Cincinnati Zoo’s signature conservation programs. The Sumatran rhinoceros is considered one of the most endangered mammals on earth. In the last 15 years over 50% of the Sumatran rhino population has been lost because of poaching and habitat destruction.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Cincinnati Zoo.

Famous Galápagos Tortoise, Lonesome George, May Not Be Alone

2007-04-30T14:09:00.000-04:00

Article from ScienceDaily

"Lonesome George," a giant Galapagos tortoise and conservation icon long thought to be the sole survivor of his species, may not be alone for much longer, according to a multinational team of researchers headed by investigators at Yale University.
New research led by biologists Adalgisa Caccone and Jeffrey Powell in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale, with the strong support and cooperation of the Galápagos National Park and Charles Darwin Research Station, has identified a tortoise that is clearly a first generation hybrid between the native tortoises from the islands of Isabela and Pinta. That means, this new tortoise has half his genes in common with Lonesome George. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Lonesome George, a native of Pinta, an isolated northern island of the Galápagos, is the "rarest living creature." By the late 1960s, it was noted that the tortoise population on this island that is visited only occasionally by scientists and fishermen, had dwindled close to extinction, and in 1972, only this single male of the species Geochelone abingdoni was found. Lonesome George was immediately brought into captivity at the Charles Darwin Research Station on the island of Santa Cruz where he is housed with two female tortoises from a species found on the neighboring island of Isabela.
"Even after 35 years, Lonesome George seems uninterested in passing on his unique genes and has failed to produce offspring," said lead author Michael Russello of the University of British Columbia, Okanagan who began working with the tortoises as a postdoctoral fellow at Yale. "The continuing saga surrounding the search for a mate has positioned Lonesome George as a potent conservation icon, not just for Galápagos, but worldwide." Although Lonesome George has yet to find a tortoise partner, upwards of 50,000 people visit him each year.

The study, published in Current Biology, gives a peek into the "evolutionary" history of a species of Galápagos tortoise (G. becki) -- previously known to be genetically mixed --on the neighboring island of Isabela. The results were possible only with advances in technology from these researchers that make DNA from ancient or museum specimens useful for genetic analysis. Population analyses of a large database including individuals from all 11 existing species of Galápagos tortoises was compared to the genetic variation within two of the G. becki populations. DNA data for the nearly extinct G. abingdoni species from Pinta was available for the first time from six museum specimens -- and from Lonesome George.
There are well over 2,000 tortoises of G. becki living on the neighboring volcanic Isabela Island, which has only two sites accessible from the sea. The research team collected samples from a total of 89 tortoises -- 29 at one location, 62 on the other side of the island. Because the subset of the population they sampled was so small, the researchers hope that thorough sampling will locate a genetically pure Pinta tortoise.

The authors speculate that, in the event additional individuals of pure Pinta ancestry are discovered, a captive breeding and repatriation program could be set up for species recovery. "It will take a team of about 20 people about three to four weeks to do a first, exhaustive sampling and transmitter-tagging of the tortoises on the volcano," said Caccone. "Then once individuals of interest are found -- either hybrids with Pinta or pure Pinta animals -- an equivalent field expedition will have to be mounted to find the animals and bring them in captivity. But, it is a harsh environment with no local resources and funding such an operation will be costly." According to Powell, "These findings offer the potential for transforming the legacy of Lonesome George from an enduring symbol of rarity to a conservation success story."

Other authors on the paper are Nathan Havill from Yale, Luciano B. Beheregaray from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, James P. Gibbs from the State University of New York at Syracuse and Thomas Fritts from the University of New Mexico. The research was supported by the Bay Foundation, the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies and the National Geographic Society.

Herpetologist Still Unbitten After 51 Years of Venomous Reptiles

2007-04-29T17:04:00.000-04:00

By JOHN LOVETT / The Sentinel Record

Even after 51 years of handling venomous snakes, Arkansas herpetologist Dennis Magee has never been bitten. That shows just how cautious he is when dealing with the creatures he says are misunderstood. As part of the Hot Springs National Park's 175th anniversary, and keeping with the celebration's theme of conservation, Magee presented two talks at Hill Wheatley Plaza this month to educate the public on the important role all snakes play in the ecosystem.

"I used to be a Steve Irwin myself. I really admired his excitement and animation, too," Magee said. He said he was communicating with the famous "Crocodile Hunter" about a possible meeting before Irwin died last year from a stingray attack. Magee speaks of Komodo dragons, hellbender salamanders, and cobras with equal experience. Although known to many as a downtown Hot Springs real estate developer, Magee also has a colorful past in the natural world that began as a young man in Santa Rosa, California, earning merit badges for the rank of Eagle Scout. Before he was 20, while living in Cincinnati, the snake hunter had established the Cincinnati Reptile Research Laboratory and brought together local herpetologists such as Dr. George T. McDuffie and Richard Costello to amass the largest private collection of crocodilians in the country, and assemble the largest collection of various rattlesnakes outside a major zoo.

In 1960, Magee was the reptile keeper and supervisor of the zoo hospital at the Staten Island Zoo in New York City. Between then and 1968, when he moved back to Ohio for a zoo job at Columbus, he was a police officer with the Jacksonville, Fla., police department and a Boy Scout master.
In 1981, Magee went on to become the business partner of Ross Allen in setting up Ross Allen's Alligator Town in Lake City, Fla., and then director of the tourist attraction when Allen passed away shortly before Alligator Town opened in 1982. While in Florida, Magee captured the largest soft-shell turtle on record, in north Florida's St. John's River. He held nine "length records" for snake captures at one time, and also holds two oldest-snake records for snake catchers _ a 23-year-old cane break rattlesnake, and a 27-year-old cottonmouth water moccasin.

At his home office, a building separate from his house on Bower Street, Magee has a collection of about 30 snakes. All except a few he has caught in the wild, including a pair of rare trans-pecos copperheads from west Texas. Oddly enough, before his research and fascination with reptiles, Magee said he was scared of snakes. "I was phobic scared of snakes. It was the first fear I overcame, and I haven't been afraid of anything since," he recalled. Respect and caution are the two qualities one needs to have in dealing with wild creatures, he said.

Although he hasn't been bitten by a snake, he can't say the same for alligators. He shows a scar on his thumb that is still healing up after feeding a mouse to Thomas, his 5-year-old alligator. Thomas came from the Cincinnati Zoo, about two years ago, as a gift to the former reptile house keeper. Like many who concern themselves with wild animals, Magee has a passion for conserving the natural habitat they live in. "If I turn over a log or a rock to look for a snake, I put the log or rock back where I found it," he said. When he returns a snake back to the wild, he takes it back to the exact place he found it.

Turtles Hitting the Road: Don't Hit Them!

2007-04-25T09:27:00.000-04:00

Article adapted from Kansas City InfoZine

Spring may come in fits and starts, but its arrival is verified by a predictable round of firsts. The first flower and the first butterfly are heartening signs of renewal. However, one sign of spring - the first turtle crossing the road - is the harbinger of carnage.
Some species of turtle are homebodies, living out lives of up to 65 years on as little as 5 acres. In the spring, however, they go on the prowl for mates, and this takes them across the highways and byways that divide the state into smaller and smaller pieces each year. More than a few end up under the wheels of automobiles. The result is a population drain.
"Box turtles are such long-lived animals, it takes a long time for them to get to the age where they can reproduce," said Missouri State Herpetologist Jeff Briggler, with the Conservation Department. "Their nests are vulnerable to raccoons and other predators, so females don't produce young every year. It takes a lifetime to replace themselves. With a species like that, anything that takes away a certain percentage of the adults every year can spell serious trouble over the long haul."
Motorists can help reduce highway carnage by watching for turtles and avoiding them. Briggler said drivers have to think of their own safety first, but missing a turtle seldom creates any danger for humans. "You should never slam on your breaks to avoid a turtle," said Briggler, "but if you are paying attention, you usually can see turtles on the road a long way away. Normally you have time to go around a turtle on the shoulder of the roadway. If there is no shoulder and another car is coming toward you, slow down enough to let the other car pass so you can drive around the turtle."
Some drivers actually stop and move turtles to safety on the side of the road they are trying to reach. Briggler encourages this, but again urges caution. "I love turtles, but no turtle is worth taking a chance of being hurt yourself," he said.
Briggler said automobile mishaps are not the only way that humans cause turtle deaths. He said many turtles die in captivity each year. "Turtles are so different from us, they are fascinating. It's actually a good thing that people are interested in them. But like all wild animals, they aren't adapted to living in captivity. Their diets are hard to duplicate, and when they are taken out of their familiar surroundings they have trouble finding food and shelter. As much fun as it is to have one or two around, it's no fun when you discover that one has died."

Florida Bill Would Make Reptile Owners Cough Up $100

2007-04-23T11:34:00.000-04:00

Source: TCPalm.com

Legislation is slithering its way through the Florida state capitol to have owners of certain non-native, non-venomous snakes and lizards register their pets beginning next year. The exotic reptile owners will have to shed $100 for each snake and lizard that makes the list, but they said they won't shed any skin about it. "Anyone who is seriously involved with reptiles is in favor of this legislation," said Ray Goushaw, president of the St. Lucie Regional Herpetological Society and owner of Fort Pierce-based Herpetological Breeding Research. "The permitting is a good idea. It may eliminate people who aren't serious about having a snake from getting one in the first place."
The non-venomous breeds are being added to the state's regulatory list along with the venomous ones that have been tracked for years. It was headlines about non-venomous, hungry snakes wreaking havoc through the state that made a Treasure Coast lawmaker take notice. State Rep. Ralph Poppell, R-Vero Beach, sought the new law after learning snakes such as the Burmese python were not regulated by the state. The snake is not venomous, but can grow as long as 16 feet and slithered into the news when one killed a 6-foot-long alligator in Everglades National Park a few years ago. "We don't want these snakes competing with the native species," said Joy Hill, spokeswoman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The commission will handle the permits for the snakes and follow up with registrants to make sure they're keeping track of their animals, Poppell said. Neighbors also will be notified about their presence, and snake owners will have to take their pets to a veterinarian to be inserted with an identification chip. "If a snake dies, the owner will have to let us know they're burying it," Poppell said.
Goushaw said there's two potential sources for stray snakes in Florida. There's the pet owner living in a city who doesn't take care of the snake or decides to just unload it in the wild. There's also the occasional importer who may unload several unsellable snakes. The latter contributes the larger portion to the problem, but the legislation at least will make sure the former can be accounted for, he said.
The irresponsibility of some pet owners led one Treasure Coast pet store to get out of the big snake business altogether. Pet World in Port St. Lucie used to carry large snakes but stopped because people tend to release them into the wild, manager Betty Geitner said. Vero Beach Animal Control Officer Bruce Dangerfield said he's had to catch more than 30 large snakes in the past eight years in Indian River County. He's in favor of the legislation, which, if successful, could lighten his workload. He's considered the principal snake handler by law enforcement in the county. "The officers won't get near them," Dangerfield said. He remembers one call on 58th Avenue when a Burmese python was found near the road. Several deputies stood by at the scene until he arrived. "None of them would help me pick it up," Dangerfield said. "All they did was offer me a body bag." In Stuart, the Aquatic Life store sells non-indigenous snakes such as carpet and ball pythons, but the reptiles are relatively small and manageable. Such animals will not be on the register list, state officials said. Store Manager Zach Smith heard about the proposed legislation from a Miami reptile wholesaler and said he thinks it's an "excellent idea" to keep exotic and dangerous, non-venomous reptiles only in the hands of serious pet owners. "It's a problem," Smith said. "There are iguanas everywhere."

Staff writers Megan Winslow and Chris Young contributed to this report.

REPTILE LAW
• House and Senate bills could pass this month establishing a list of non-venomous reptiles pet
owners will have to register annually with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for $100 beginning in January.
• The list includes Burmese, African rock, reticulated and amethystine pythons, green anacondas and monitor lizards.
• Exhibitors will have to post a $10,000 bond for each reptile listed.
• The state already regulates all venomous reptiles by requiring registration. The new law would require registration for non-venomous reptiles for the first time.
• State Rep. Ralph Poppell, R-Vero Beach, and State Sen. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, are sponsoring the bills.
• House Bill 1505 can be found at www.myfloridahouse.com.

How Much is That Reptile in the Window?

2007-04-20T09:05:00.000-04:00

By Katherine Fenech
People who sell from car boots in parks or shopping centre car parks might look a bit dodgy but some aren't as shady as they might seem. With theft of reptiles becoming more prevalent across the region some snakes can fetch $10,000 licensed keepers have taken to advertising their wares on internet forums and meeting buyers in public places away from their homes.

Hawkesbury Herpetological Society vice-president Michael McFadden said a reptile keeper who is selling 20 babies from a litter does not want to have 20 people know where the snakes are kept so they sell in neutral locations. "Quite often they'll meet somewhere down the road, just for the sake of not bringing people to your house,'' he said. Mr McFadden said that snakes could cost from $150 to $10,000 but he had not heard of keepers installing extra security, apart from perimeter alarms, in their homes. A National Parks and Wildlife Service licence is required by anyone who keeps or sells snakes. Anyone buying, selling or possesing snakes without a licence can be fined up to $11,000 and face up to six months in jail. Brendon Neilly, the service's wildlife licensing officer, said buyers are responsible for finding out if the seller is licensed.

Featherdale Wildlife Park's senior park curator Evan Harris said two Arafura file snakes, a Collett's snake and a water python stolen from the Doonside zoo in October had not been located. "We've had our ears to the ground, so whoever's got them was pretty keen on them and wanted them for themselves, and kept it quiet,'' he said. He said some of the six snakes stolen from a Colyton home last month, an Atherton python, Centralian python and the black and gold jungle python from Central Australia, were rare on the Sydney reptile collection scene and therefore valuable.

MAYOR BLOOMBERG UNVEILS NEW REPTILE WING AT STATEN ISLAND ZOO

2007-04-19T14:00:00.000-04:00

Article by Media-Newswire.com
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today unveiled the newly refurbished, state-of-the-art reptile wing at the Staten Island Zoo, home to one of the largest collection of venomous snakes in the nation. The City invested $18.8 million in capital funds in the 16,600-square foot project through the Department of Cultural Affairs. The new wing will house 120 species of reptiles, and features a new main entrance, a two-level alligator pool, interactive exhibition space, classrooms, an auditorium, and the “Fear Zone” – a special exhibition designed to educate and dispel common myths about snakes and other reptiles. The project also incorporates a number of environmentally sustainable features for energy reduction and improved air quality.
The Mayor was joined by Cultural Affairs ( DCA ) Commissioner Kate D. Levin, Design and Construction ( DDC ) Commissioner David J. Burney, Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro, Council Member Michael McMahon, the Zoo’s Director John Caltabiano, and Board Chair William Frew.

“Not only is New York City a world capital of art and culture, we are also home to one of the largest venomous snake collections in North America,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “From its founding, education has been a vital part of the Zoo’s mission. The opening of today’s Reptile Wing will vastly expand the Zoo’s ability to fulfill that mission, and the Zoo is doing so in an environmentally responsible way, by reducing energy consumption by 20 percent and improving air quality.”

The new Carl F. Kauffeld Reptile Wing is dedicated to the memory of a renowned herpetologist who served as the Zoo’s Director and Curator of Reptiles from 1936 to 1973 and has been credited with bringing the collection international acclaim. The refurbished reptile house took two years to complete and is located in an expanded and renovated wing of the 1930’s WPA exhibit hall of the Zoo. The design for the wing, by Gruzen Samton LLP, received an AIA Staten Island Design Excellence Award in 2004. The project includes a 32-foot long bronze python designed by artist Steve Foust for the curved exterior wall of the new main entrance. The artwork was commissioned by the City’s Percent for Art program.

The new facilities showcase and support the Zoo’s collection of aquatic, venomous, and non-venomous snakes and invertebrates in their “native” habitats. ... “I applaud the Zoo’s commitment to creating a dynamic, environmentally friendly public space that gives children and adults of all ages the opportunity to learn about the extraordinary world of reptiles,” said DCA Commissioner Kate Levin. “Indeed, this new facility will allow the Staten Island Zoo to enhance its contribution to the City’s vibrant non-profit cultural community.”

Amur Leopard Still On The Brink Of Extinction, Scientists Say

2007-04-18T11:09:00.000-04:00

A new census of the world's most endangered cat, the Amur leopard or Far Eastern leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis), shows that as few as 25 to 34 are left in the wild, renewing fears for the future of the species. In February and March, World Wildlife Fund along with the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Pacific Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Science, conducted a routine snow-track census of leopard numbers. "The recent census confirmed once again that the Amur leopard survives on very shaky ground," said Pavel Fomenko, biodiversity conservation program coordinator at the Far-Eastern branch of WWF in Russia.
Fomenko said encroaching civilization, new roads, poaching, exploitation of forests, and climate change had contributed to the leopards' plight. "From my perspective, the leopards' exact number is not the big question." Fomenko said, "What is really important is that the predator is on the brink of extinction. And still a unified protected area with national park status has not been established, which is the most important thing for the leopards' survival."
At least four leopard litters were encountered during the census. This is a good sign because it means that the population is not completely depressed and is still able to restore itself. But for long-term survival, at least 100 animals are needed. "Conservation of large predators needs vast territories with minimal anthropogenic changes, which is difficult," said Dr. Dmitry Pikunov, the coordinator of the 2007 leopard census and head of the laboratory of animal ecology and conservation of the Pacific Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Science.
According to Dr Pikunov, a mature leopard needs 500 square kilometers of habitat with good forests and high and stable amounts of ungulates, including deer. Two to four female leopards would live in the same amount of land, reproduce and nourish their cubs. "Maybe this is the reason why leopards practically completely disappeared from the Korean Peninsula and north-east China," said Dr. Pikunov. "At the beginning of the past century, the Far Eastern leopard was a common species in the southern parts of Sikhote-Alin and in some Khanka lake areas. Right now it roams only in south-west Primorye."
About 5000 square kilometers of land in the south-west Primorye region, close to the border between Russia, China and North Korea, were transected for the census and tracks left by the leopards in the snow were counted. Scientists were able to determine the number of the leopards by examining the shape, size and patterns of the tracks as well as determine the direction and time of the animals' movement. In all, 35 field workers took part in the census, working in more than 158 transected sections.
"The snow track census is an important method to monitor leopard numbers. We see that its population has been balancing on the edge of survival for many years," said Dr. Dale Miquelle, director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Russia program and coordinator of the previous census in 2005. "But to understand the reasons, we should research the ecology of the predator in a more profound way, using latest techniques such as automatic camera traps, radio tracking, genetic and veterinary research."
The census 2007 found 7-9 male leopards, 3-7 females without cubs, 4 females with cubs, 5-6 cubs in all, and 6-8 undefined tracks. Total: 25-34. This compares with 9 males in 2003, 7 females without cubs, 4-5 females with cubs, 4-5 cubs in all, and four undefined. Total: 28-30. In 2000, the results were 4-5 males, 8-9 females without cubs, 1-2 females with cubs, 1-3 cubs in all and 8-9 undefined. Total: 22-28.

Article from Science Daily
Photo credit: Cathouse.fcc.org

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by World Wildlife Fund.

'Harmless' Snake Proves Deadly

2007-04-16T10:20:00.000-04:00

Friends of a reptile enthusiast who died after being bitten by a snake have expressed their shock that a man who knew snakes so well had been killed by a species generally regarded as harmless.
Ron Siggins, 37, of Pascoe Vale, died yesterday afternoon after being bitten by a whip snake at Harcourt North, 120km north west of Melbourne.
Mr Siggins was collecting scorpions with a friend at Mt Alexander about 2.30 pm when he was bitten on the finger by the snake. He bandaged his finger with a handkerchief, but later became woozy and his friend went to his car to call an ambulance. When the friend returned a few minutes later, the 37-year-old had collapsed. Mr Siggins had gone into cardio arrest by the time paramedics arrived. They were unable to revive him.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner in relation to the man's death. Mr Siggins caught the snake that had bitten him.

Bite 'like a bee sting'
The snake was later identified as a whip snake, a species which is considered harmless in comparison to more venomous species such as brown snakes and tiger snakes. "You read any reptile book, they're classified as harmless, it's like a bee sting,'' said Steve Macgregor, a reptile enthusiast and friend of Mr Siggins.
While the exact circumstances of Mr Siggins' death remain unclear, it is believed he may have experienced complications as a result of medication he was taking for neck and spinal injuries.
Friends said he had been bitten by whip snakes in the past. "Probably what happened is he knows they're not that deadly, he's been bitten by it and didn't think much of it,'' Mr Macgregor said.

Community 'devastated'
Another friend, Sheryl Longstaff, said Victoria's community of herpetologists could not believe what had happened to Mr Siggins, who had been around snakes for 30 years. "It's a shock to the system ... everybody's devastated,'' she told theage.com.au. "Ron's got venomous and non-venomous snakes at home, he knows what he's doing, he knows how to handle them,'' she said. "He's got bitten by something that would normally just make you feel a bit sick and give you a bit of a headache but he's had a reaction to it.'' Mr Siggins leaves behind a wife, Helen, and school age daughters Emily and Stephanie.

Ms Longstaff said the community of reptile enthusiasts would rally around Mrs Siggins and the children. "She's going to need a lot of help. She's got a lot of grieving to go through,'' she said.

Snake catcher Raymond Hoser said people should not fear snakes. "All the deaths from snake bite in Australia in the past year have actually been people catching them or killing them," he said. "Provided you do neither of the above, you've got basically no chance of dying from snake bite.''

Source: TheAge.com.au

What to Do When a Snake Goes Missing at Google? SEARCH, of course!

2007-04-04T10:01:00.000-04:00

This was one search that you couldn't just Google.

Source: WTVG

An employee's [ball] python went missing over the weekend in Google's sprawling Manhattan office, sending search teams on an all-out snake hunt. The searchers scoured the complex for the 3-foot-long snake and finally found the serpent, known as Kaiser, on Monday night. "A snake was lost; it was not an April Fool's joke. It was found last night," Google spokeswoman Ellen West said Tuesday. "The snake has left the building." She declined to reveal specifics about where in the office Kaiser was discovered. But a contributor to Google's official blog wrote that the staff was told the snake was found "relaxing behind a cabinet." And although West wouldn't say how the snake made it to the office, she confirmed it belonged to a "Googler" and said the pet was now at its owner's home.
The Google blog contributor, software engineer Dan Bentley, wrote that while some employees laughed about the situation, others stood away from walls and corners and the bathrooms were less crowded. The fact that someone brought a snake into the building is not completely surprising, given Google's laid-back culture. Dubbed the "Googleplex," the Manhattan office of the Mountain View, Calif.-based company offers a relaxed workspace, built around a team concept that has people sharing offices and cubicles connected in groups. It also offers free food, massage therapy, yoga classes, and ski trips, according to Google's jobs Web site.
Company officials did not comment on a report that the search for the snake even included a missing snake flier. The Web site Valleywag, a technology gossip Web site based in Silicon Valley, posted a photo of the flier, complete with a photo of the reptile. The flier described the snake as "non-venomous" and "not dangerous," and responsive to the name "Kaiser," according to the Web site.

Reptile Specialist Gets to Play With Newts, Frogs and Snakes, Oh My!

2007-04-01T22:45:00.000-04:00

By jennifer priest-mitchell /The Times
Abandoned bird nests, slithering snakes and rats around the neighborhood— all the makings of a perfect day of outdoor play for many little kids. In some cases, those lucky children grow up and still get to play with, care for and teach others about the fascinating world of nature in the form of scales, claws and appetites for bugs. Chris Stenerson was once among the curious children who adored the outdoors and every small creature he could find.

“Like a lot of little boys, I guess, I loved to find snakes and other small animals when I was playing outside. My mom did not like that too much. Sometimes she’d let me keep one, but it was easier to settle on a true pet that everyone in the house agreed on,” shared this Petco employee, who is now the reptile specialist at the store on S.W. 117th, off of Canyon Road. And just what does it mean to be a reptile specialist?

“Well, you have to earn that title,” he explained. Petco actually has a training program where employees can become specialists in a variety of areas by reading specific books, taking part in the hands-on care of those types of animals and by passing a test. “Once I passed the test and earned the title, then I began to specialize in the care, maintenance, and upkeep of the reptiles [in the store] and their habitats,” he said. Stenerson is also the go-to person for would-be reptile owners who come to the store.

“When people start to ask me about the various reptiles — when people are thinking about buying a lizard or perhaps another pet for their child, I usually send them away with some homework first. They need to understand what they are getting into before buying the pet.” And that, we do. I recently took my two children, ages 6 and 7, to Petco to watch the bearded dragons. Chris shared with us that he sells a lot of pets to people and he recommends that folks educate themselves about the commitment involved, the supplies needed and the basic care required for each of the different kinds of animals.

He explained, “Bearded dragons are actually hardy reptiles. They’re loving . . . I know it sounds weird, but they actually enjoy being held and played with. When a kid’s friends come over, they want to play with your pet and hold it, that is what it is all about, and the bearded dragon is very tolerant of this attention and actually enjoys it.” With an 8-year lifespan, and needs for an under-tank heater, the tank itself, and a light, the average transaction for the animal and its supplies can run between $150 and $400. This is not something to step into lightly, and Stenerson wants parents to understand this when they decide to help their child choose a pet. “With these pets,” he said with a smile, “you can’t push pause. You can’t hit save and come back later. You have to get the animal what it needs, treat it right, and remember that it is always there and it always needs you to feed it and care for it.”

A native Oregonian, Stenerson grew up in the Lincoln City area and enjoyed all the coast has to offer while he was a youth. He moved to Portland and began working at Petco in the city before he transferred to the store in Beaverton. As a single parent, he likes that the store offers him flexibility with his job so he can spend time with his pre-school aged daughter. “It is also great to bring her into the store,” he offered. “She loves lizards, reptiles . . . all animals!” Stenerson confesses that his all-time favorite pet of his own was a cat named Murphy who lived to be 19 years old, but he has owned a lot of reptiles and had a lot of experience caring for them before working for Petco and taking the training to become a specialist.

He is also a companion animals specialist who helps people who have questions or problems with their dogs and cats. “I am learning a lot while on the job in that area,” he said. ‘I took the training and passed the test and everything, but you really learn a lot and gain a lot of experience while just talking to the people who come in and have stories to share or questions to ask.” He is now working to become an aquatics specialist, which is another certification in the series available to Petco employees. When asked what he likes about living in the Beaverton area, Stenerson chimed right in, “Well, there is a lot more diversity and there are a lot more opportunities than there were living in a small town. And I like working here and all that there is for me here. Eventually, I would like to live out a little ways and own some land. But I’ve been to Washington and I’ve been to California and there is really nowhere else I’d want to live.”

Fossil of Ancient Gliding Lizard Found in China

2007-03-20T15:35:00.000-04:00

Source: EarthTimes.org

Fossil findings of an ancient arboreal lizard in northeastern China's Liaoning province indicate that the reptile could glide through air using a membrane it could stretch across its elongated ribs. The lizard, named Xianglong zhaoi, was alive in the early Cretaceous period ... The fossil that was found is about six inches long and scientists believe the specimen to be immature, meaning it would have died at a young age.
The details of the finding are reported in the latest issue of the journal for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Xing Xu of Shenyang Normal University in China, and his colleagues, who conducted studies on the specimen, said the fossil was discovered in a region, known to have yielded several other species, including feathered dinosaurs and early bird remains. The scientists found that reptile's gliding membrane, which is called “patagium,” is stretched across eight elongated dorsal ribs. When it is fully expanded, it would have spanned about 4.5 inches. The reptile had curved claws helping it to stay on treetops and then launch itself into the air.
The scientists believe it could probably glide a longer distance than the modern-day "flying" lizards. Many of the gliding animals that exist today like the flying frogs and squirrels make use of a membrane found between their toes or between their body and legs to glide. Scientists say a membrane spread between ribs is only known to occur in an ancient lizardlike animal that lived during the Late Triassic era and certain living dragon lizards in Southeast Asia.

Killer Meat-Eating Frogs Terrorize San Francisco

2007-03-13T17:05:00.000-04:00

Source: FOXNews.com

It sounds like the plot to a bad B-movie. Meat-eating killer frogs have invaded a pond in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, leaving environmentalists wondering how to stop their deadly march before they move on to bigger waters. The African clawed frogs have chomped through everything from turtles to fish in Lily Pond, near the California Academy of Sciences, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
The frogs, which can grow up to 5 inches in length, have even gone cannibalistic. "They've eaten everything they can get their mouths around, and now they're eating each other," Eric Mills of the animal-rights group Action for Animals told the newspaper. Park officials have pulled some 2,500 of the frogs from the pond since 2003. They are taken to a fish and game facility where they are euthanized by a nerve poison, the paper said. But the frogs keep coming back. Last week, the city's Animal Control and Welfare Commission voted to ask the city for cash to drain the pond and terminate the population once and for all, the paper reported.
"The fear is they will get out," Richard Schulke, president of the city's Animal Control and Welfare Commission, told the paper. [So much for the tolerance initiative in San Francisco...]