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RE: 7 Deadly Strikes
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by Bushbaby on June 28, 2004
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Not to start a debate again or anything it that line, but in the defence of Austin Stevens I would just like to add on to this post.
Firstly, the "show" 7 deadly strikes was exactly that, a show. There was nothing scientific to it. He has and still does great documentaries and has done a lot of research in the past. This however was not even classed anywhere near that. When the producers approached him, that's all they wanted.
Secondly, yes, he did get bitten, and I am sure planty of the guys have been bitten while filming, but they wouldn't show it on tv (movie, whatever). It comes with the territory.
Thirdly, the snake sitting he did. Yes, he sat for 105 days, I think. The reason why he got bitten was, if I remember correctly, because he tripped. The rest of the time in the cubical was uneventful. He slept with snakes all over the bed, etc. I take my hat off to him.
His book called "Snakes in my bed" is an excellent humorous book. I really loved it. He explained his time in the cubical in it as well, which was really good.
Back to the discussion at hand, yes all the snakes where staged, as far as I know. The Gaboon is as placid as anything, it belongs to a friend of mine. It is really a great looking specimen though!! The Gypo was also loaned, was originally a wild caught specimen. If you have never dealt with a Snouted Cobra, you would not know how these guys are. They are usually quite placid, in a way. Young ones will always stand their ground and lunge at you, but adults, those are the ones you have to watch out for. They hardly ever rear up and make a hood, they usually just go for you.
They had plenty of fun while making the movie though. Even if it was not a serious documentary, I think it was still a great show and worth seeing. It also gives a person an idea of what can happen, and sets a better example than guys who catch snakes in the same manner and never get tagged.
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RE: 7 Deadly Strikes
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by Chris_Harper on June 30, 2004
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I know Mark O'Shea personally, and I can tell you that he does not mix alcohol and venomous reptile handling. As such, I have deleted the posts that stated that he does. Facts are much better than speculation, so I have spared you the trouble.
Also, Mark's show on the Russell's Viper was one of the best reptile documentaries I've ever seen. I look forward to more filmed in the same style. Other species that I would like to see him cover this way are the Saw scaled viper, the Puff Adder and the Terciopelo of Central America.
The ultimate field trip that I could imagine would be taking a river-boat up the Amazon river and it's tributaries with Mark. Can you imagine that!?!
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RE: 7 Deadly Strikes
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by armata on July 10, 2004
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Regardless who has hold of the tail of mamba or cobra, when the snake is looking directly into camera, have you ever thought about where the poor cameraperson is? This unfortuante is totally reliant on the 'handler'. I am no longer a wildlife cameraman, but I have been in that position many times, lying prone on the ground with an angry snake looking down the lens.
I have actually written to the production company responsible for the 'seven deadly' and I know some of the guys. It was a truly awful programme, West African Gaboons swimming around my stomping ground in KwaZulu, the boomslang 'most poisonous'? - never eaten one, so don't know.
I am back in full time eco research now, and I guess a programme of a 'day in the life of', even though it would involve measuring and weighing puff adders etc, would by programme maker's standards, be like watching paint dry.
Lastly, Mark is an ex student of mine, he is a scientist, and you will have noticed that he always involves other herpetologists. He NEVER drinks on the job. My fav prog was the russells viper, which also feature another colleague, Prof David Warrell, and also the Bothrops ammodytoides, prog.
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