|
Mark O'Shea Answers Questions
|
Reply
|
|
by Emmy on March 23, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Hello Mark,
I am not sure if you might happen to remember me, I spoke to you about the lack of Asian Pit Vipers in the UK at WMSP last summer, and am now slowly working to the conclusion of my MSc in Ecology at Bangor University.
I was wondering if you knew of any places in the UK where you could get more experience in working with reptiles? I was lucky enough to go to Dominica with my course (and Wolfgang Wuster!) and look at the small snake species out there in the wild (unfortunately no boas!) but would love some further experience.
Hope you can help!
Thanks,
Emmy x
|
| |
|
RE: Mark O'Shea Answers Questions
|
Reply
|
|
by Mark_OShea on March 23, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Hi Martin
Thanks for you of vote of confidence.
I don't count my bites, I also don't quote numbers of bites, it is not good to get bitten, an occupational hazard to avoid and I certainly prefer to avoid it. My worst bite was from a 1.0m+ canebrake rattler back in 1993 and that was almost fatal because it was a full-on two-fang prey-taking bite in the wrist delivered when I was feeding a group of canebrakes. I was very lucky to survive and I know it. It happened, it was a fact but I'm not going to brag about it, I made a mistake, the snake didn't.
Your English is just fine, I understand you perfectly.
Regards
Mark
|
| |
|
RE: Mark O'Shea Answers Questions
|
Reply
|
|
by Mark_OShea on March 23, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Hi sniperviper,
There are several good sources for seasnake information: the classic Biology of the Sea Snakes by Dunson (expect to pay dearly for this), Hal Heatwole's v.readable Sea Snakes is a more recent and excellent introduction, then there is Gopalakrishnakone's Sea Snake Toxinology and the old Monograph on the Seasnakes by Smith. most Australian field guides include the Aussie species and Ivan and Laboute wrote Sea Snakes of New Caledonia, an excellent book valuable beyond New Cal. I also include a chapter on them in Venomous Snakes of the World.
Not many are maintained in collections although I think Fort Worth were successful at one time and Baltimore Aquarium kept some too. Most do not do well in captivity, beaked seasnakes cannot handle hard edges, many species have specialised diets like eels of a particular species and size or fish eggs but a few can be maintained. They are not really private sector species unless you have time and space to devote to a mega marine aquarium and a ready supply of the right diet.
There are many papers in the academic journals including in recent months, two papers describing two new sea kraits, bringing the Laticauda count to eight.
Seasnakes and sea kraits are often overlooked but they are truly fascinating and diverse. Benthic and pelagic, oviparous and viviparous, specialist and generalist, open clear coral reef and muddy, turbid estuarine dwellers, docile and aggressive, slender and fat, big-headed and small -headed, long and short, wide-ranging and localised, even venomous and (going) nonvenomous !!
Mark
|
| |
|
RE: Mark O'Shea Answers Questions
|
Reply
|
|
by Mark_OShea on March 23, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Hi Emmy
Yes I remember you talking to me at WMSP.
Good luck finishing off the MSc. and I am sure the Dominica trip was still fun even without the boas. As for experience, we do occasionally have places for seasonal staff in the reptile house at WMSP and with someone leaving this week there may be a place for the summer, trouble is the vacancy is now, not in a couple of months. As for voluntary, no income and all the usual expenses like accomodation, food, transport etc do not make it all that viable for someone who is not local to the collection.
What sort of reptiles are you trying to get experience with because the ARG groups offer volunteers experience with British herps, though most hands off. It really is difficult to get experience in the UK, esp. with venomous species where insurance and zoo regulations prevent non-staff from getting anywhere near them. If you look back through these Q&As you will see it is a common theme, though your qualification certainly increases your chances in the zoo world. Funny you should mention Wolfgang because he and Cathy are coming to stay over for a couple of days tomorrow.
I will have to try and remember to chat to them about ideas.
Best wishes
Mark
|
| |
|
RE: Mark O'Shea Answers Questions
|
Reply
|
|
by Emmy on March 24, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Mark,
Thank you for taking the time to reply!
Dominica was wonderful, I loved it. Even without the boas there were enough general herps to keep me happy! It is a shame about that position at WMSP, it really would have been ideal for me. I might well throw in my C.V. and hope to get considered if anything comes up in the future.
Any herps would be perfect at the moment, I was talking to Cathy yesterday about one on the 4th April which I unfortunately cannot go to here in North Wales as I am back in your neck of the woods for 3 weeks! I will definately chase up the ARG groups though, thank you!
Thanks again for the help,
Emmy x
P.S. I am trying to persuade Wolfgang to be a second reference for me after Anita, so any hints dropped about that would be very welcome!!
|
| |
|
RE: Mark O'Shea Answers Questions
|
Reply
|
|
by Mark_OShea on March 28, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
hi copperheadjim
I think this could be the shortest response to any question possible.
The answers are "several" and "one".
Being bitten is not to commit a crime, but it is not something to be proud of either. So I never talk about how many, they are not boy scout merit badges to brag about, there were accidents that can and sometime do happen.
Mark
|
| |
|
RE: Mark O'Shea Answers Questions
|
Reply
|
|
by Herpwannabe on March 29, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Hi Mark,
Thank you so much for your answer, and honestly I feel very well respected by being honoured with such an extensive response, and with incredible itemized detailing. I truly appreciated it! It demonstrates how serious you are about what you do and clearly defines you in my opinion as a person who has a lot of respect for others. A true professional indeed.
Keep safe and snake-bite free!!
Thank you again and best wishes in your amazing and dangerous work!
Eugenio
|
| |
|
Mark O'Shea Answers Questions
|
Reply
|
|
by keyz on March 30, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Hi Mark I have been looking at your website and seeing the mission criteria that you set yourselfs, this seems dangerous in some places due to terrain, and the possibility of been bitten without any hope of recovery. How difficult is this as I assume its dangerous by yourself let alone with a crew to take care of, how do you do it?
secondly, I have no experience or real knowledge of the Stilletto snake that bit you, and if I remember you stated that it could protrude its fangs outside its mouth and actually stab you! thats some move! how is this possible?I belive it was mis identified also, an easy mistake at night with a small snake,Was the bite you recived a "stabbing one" or was it to quick 2 tell sorry to go on but I may aswell ask them when you are availiable to answer them, thanks Mark. sounds like im kissing ass but do you send autographed piccys to people as I am sure it will be a long time till we ever meet! and my son would love it as we are collecting them, Thanks again, Kieron and son Jake
|
| |
|
RE: Mark O'Shea Answers Questions
|
Reply
|
|
by Mark_OShea on March 31, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Eugenio
Thank you for your kind remarks. I think it is right that people who end up in the public eye because what they do appeals to others, should remember their fame (forget about the fortune !!) is due to the fact that others appreciate what they do. These film stars and pop idols who think they have reached a level where they do not have to converse with 'ordinary' people have lost the plot and deserve the fall for their ignorance.
When I was much younger a great British snakeman called John Foden found the time to help me with a sick snake. I have not forgotten that. I met my first snake when I was 8 because the keeper at Dublin Zoo, Ireland, let me handle a boa constrictor. I never forgot that either. It is only through encouragement of others that the lineage of snake enthusiasts will continue and I often wonder how many people have been inspired by my films (and the films of others) to pursue careers in herpetology and how many will, 20-30 years from now, be on TV themselves (if it still exists) or carrying out fieldwork based on a PhD they might not have gone for without a little spark of encouragement or inspiration. Not a bad legacy I think you will agree.
Mark
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this topic.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Check our help page for help using
, or send questions, comments, or suggestions to the
Manager.
|
