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Mark O'Shea Answers Questions
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by martyn on February 2, 2006
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Is it true that at you tucked a rat under your chin when you entered a reticulated python enclosure and it bit you ? i heard this from a guy called mark.
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by keyz on February 2, 2006
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Hi Mark I hope that you are well, my name is Kieron and I contacted you last year concerning how to get some work with ANY reptiles and I am glad to say it seems that all the asking and begging (nearly) is starting to pay off as a local Reptile supplier is interviewing me in the next month as there are alot of applicants, Thankyou for giving me some hope and also, if you do think of anywhere I should really try for work experience paid or voluntary please will you post there contact emails thankyou.,
Q2 When you did the episode about the King Cobra's alleged inteligence- was it really as awesome as it seemed staring into that huge Cobras eyes and what conclusion did you come to about there possible inteligence (over other Cobras) and also any other seemingly inteligent/aware snakes Thanks again Mark.
Keyz.
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by Rinkhals on February 2, 2006
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Hi Mark
I'm 16 from england and am fascinated by animals in general, though snakes are a cut
above the rest in my opinion. I've always known that if i can i want to work with snakes and
i dont really know how to further my interest. In England im hesitant to go out catch
snakes because i know there are laws regarding the handling of them in the wild and wondered
if you had any adice on the sort of path i should aim to take. I dont really want to be on
the tele or anything like that, i just want to work in the wild, first hand with the animals.
Also do you know of any snake collections in england where i might be able to get work
experience and learn more about handling snakes as getting a pet snake is tricky because my
mum apparently has nightmares when i mention the idea. I joined the British Herpetological
Society in the hope that that would enable me to work with snakes a bit and learn something
on the way.
I would be most grateful for any help you can give me.
Regards
Ben Freeman
magical_mongolian_monkey@hotmail.com
By the way you spoke at my school and at that time i was too young to be allowed to go so
if you're ever down Portsmouth way again can you do another speech. Also if you ever need
someone to help out on an expedition as an apprentice kinda thing im eager and willing!
(I know there is no chance but worth a try eh)
Well good luck on your future expeditions and hopefully one day ill be privaleged enough to
have handled half as many snakes as you.
Bit long maybe but i got carried away...
Posted Again :)
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by Mark_OShea on February 5, 2006
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No Martyn, this is not true. I think it is one of those apocryphal stories that gets attached to someone for not better reason that there was nobody else about at the time. This does sound like the famous case of the guy who was killed in the US when he tucked a rabbit (or maybe it was a rat but they are quite small) under his chin when he needed both hands to open a retic cage. His wife found him dead some time later with the snake still in the vicinity. I think it happened about 10 years back but these stories tend to come around and get stuck to people again later. For instance, when I was in Papua New Guinea in 1990 I heard that an Indian school teacher up at Wewak (north coast) had released his two 'pet' cobras into the wild. I was dubious of the story, wondering a) how he had got them into PNG (and why) and b) why he had then released them.
When I was back in PNG in 1992 the favourite story amongst the white expats was how 'I' had gone up to Wewak and released two 'pet' cobras. Well I have never been near Wewak nor imported cobras into PNG but by all accounts the story is now 'proven fact' and part of the folklore.
Never pay attention to wild rumours, they are invariable incorrect, including the two (or was it three) that have eminated from the US since 1999 which claim I am dead. If I am, then this is the first email from beyond he grave. Ouch, just pinched myself, yep, I'm still here.
Mark
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by Mark_OShea on February 5, 2006
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Well Keiran, I am pleased to hear you have an interview, that is the first step. It is not easy to find a job doing what you love but a word of warning, when your hobby becomes your job it ceasing to be your hobby!
As for voluntary work, many reptile collections are keen to bring in talented, enthusiastic, smart voluntary assistance during the busy season and if one of those volunteers shines a job may turn up at the end of the season.
Q2 I really do believe there is something going on behind those eyes when it comes to king cobras. Ask anyone who works with them or keeps them in captivity. I can't explain it but I don't see it in any other snake.
Good luck with the interview.
Mark
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by Mark_OShea on February 5, 2006
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So Ben, do you want to help conserve endangered British reptiles and amphibians because the Amphibian and Reptile Groups of United Kingdom (ARG(UK)) need all the enthusiastic volunteers they can get.
If you are in Portsmouth you are in good herp country (Hampshire/Sussex) and both countries have ARGs. And there is the Herpetological Conservation Trust and Froglife too. Look for their websites on the internet.
You are correct, you should not simply go and catch snakes in the UK, we only have three species, one of which has total protection (smooth snake), one is threatened and venomous (adder), and one less common than it was (grass snake). It would be much more satisfying and educational to get involved in a real project to study and conserve these wonderful creatures and enable them to continue living in the countryside.
As for working with snakes etc in collection, well I am sure you realise there is a great deal of competition for actual paid employment but as I said in my previous reply to Kieran, many collections take on voluntary help in the open seasons. The problems in the UK are things like transport and insurance. I don't think our safari park takes any volunteers under 16 for the former reason and if you have to travel 30 miles to volunteer for no income it becomes expensive for the volunteer. If there is a collection on your doostep that would like to give you some experience so much the better. Mind you, at 16 you have an entire life-time ahead of you and if you really want to work on reptiles in the wild, in the tropics, on research projects, than education is the most valuable thing you can get now, not experience. Joining the BHS is a good idea, I've been a member since 1972 and spent 3 years on the Council.
No plans to come back to Portsmouth yet I'm afraid. I was doing a join presentation with my friend and mentor Prof.David Warrell from Oxford, the worldwide snakebite and tropical medicine specialist, because Pompey was his old school.
Good luck, Mark
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Mark O'Shea Answers Questions
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by vikki on February 8, 2006
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Hi mark a few questions.
i know you have a BSc how come you never went further into MSc or PHd ?
2. You obvioulsy like reptiles but what about amphibians. Do you like every reptile and amphibian or do you specialize in certain ones ?
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Mark O'Shea Answers Questions
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by Herpwannabe on February 8, 2006
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Hi Mark,
I was just curious about something after I read about the tragic death of Joe Slowinski due to a bite from a krait snake in Myamar during his research there. You had also mentioned in another one of your replies that snake bites are a hazard of the trade when you are a herper dealing with venomous animals. My first question is: Do you usually carry antivenom with you for a snake you are going to capture in advance? – Or is it often the case that you will be studying a snake species of which no antivenom has been developed yet?
Why didn't Joe have antivenom for kraits available to him in a remote area? and what have you done yourself in the past, when you were bitten?
I really admired your work, by the way! And love snakes myself.
Eugenio
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by Chris_Harper on February 8, 2006
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Eugenio,
I can answer those questions for you. The answer is that field researchers almost never carry the antivenom with them. There are a couple of reasons. #1, Without a resuscitation team standing by, administration of antivenom in the field is an extremely dangerous undertaking. Allergic reactions occur in around 80% of the people who receive the current antivenoms used for Krait bites.
Honestly, for purely financial reasons, medical teams are not sent with field researchers, because snakebites to herpetologists in the field are such a rare event. And in reality, it IS a risk of the job.
I have volunteered my services for this in the past, but I haven't had any takers yet. ;-)
I'll let Mark answer the rest of your questions and comments.
Chris Harper
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by Herpwannabe on February 9, 2006
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Hi Chris,
Thank you for your reply so soon. I read your profile and since you took the time to answer me, could I ask you a couple of questions since you work with hospitals and since you are a paramedic?
I live in Canada, and the only venomous snake we have here in Ontario is the Eastern Massassauga Rattler (Please feel free to correct me on anything I might be wrong on). Two years ago I almost picked one up from the road when driving in to a marina towards a friends'cottage. I love snakes and didn't want this one squashed by a car as it was in the middle of the road. Upon approaching it and reaching for it, "Wow" what a jump back I took!! I was really shocked when I realized the end of its tail, and had to check my pants afterwards. Told what happened to our hosts, and my buddy Mark showed me a device that apparently delivers a high voltage charge localized to a snake bite. According to him this device alters the molecular structure of the venom when applied around the bite a few times, making the venom inactive in its destructive form.
How much truth is in that? and are you aware of such device? It looks like a cordless hand held shaver, but with two prongs sticking out of it, and boy, it gives you quite a surge apparently.That year I caught 7 water snakes and just last summer caught a 5ft. fox snake (and released it off-course) at the same cotage, since they are protected by law here.
Thanks a million,
Eugenio
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