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how to become herpetologist
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by barbag on March 15, 2007
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I'm a engineer in INDIA i wanna become a herpetologist how to become a herpetologist with this background
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RE: how to become herpetologist
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by earthguy on March 15, 2007
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Being a herpetologist is really more of a state of mind than anything else. If you really study the animals and seek knowledge, then you are a herpetologist. Now if you're asking about being a professional herpetologist (which I suspect you are), then that's a totally different matter. That requires a strong background in biology (probably ecology) and an available job position in the field.
It is probably better to enjoy them and learn as a hobby. That way you don't have to go back and cram a whole new discipline.
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RE: how to become herpetologist
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by milksnakegreg on March 15, 2007
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But do you think a young person would be able to learn that new discipline. i was also wondering if any body knew a list of coleges that offered herpetology as a major
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RE: how to become herpetologist
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by Rob_Carmichael on March 15, 2007
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You basically have two trains of thoughts going here: amateur herpetologist and professional herpetologist. Ironically, some of the most gifted and knowledgeable herpetologists are at the amateur/hobby level. I continue to be blown away at the many breeding successes taking place at this level (but at the same time, equally blown away by the many great strides of AZA institutions all around the U.S....they have perhaps done more for active herp conservation than anyone else). Although I am a professional herpetologist (serving as Curator of the Wildlife Discovery Center which specializes in reptiles), I also wear the hat of a hobbyist as well and I enjoy riding on both sides of the fences. For me, making a nice living and doing what I love to do is something I still have a hard time believing (but I've been richly blessed). I would much rather enjoy herpetology as a career than a hobby but I realize that these types of positions are few and far between (that's why I created my own!).
For those wishing to become a "professional herpetologist" you will take a path that looks something like this:
1) graduate from high school (mandatory)
2) graduate with an undergraduate degree in biology (mandatory, HOWEVER, in certain countries, and even some U.S. zoos, you can be a professional keeper w/out a college degree but all things being equal, you want to graduate from college as it will open many more doors for you). You will NOT get a herpetology degree, however, depending on what college you attend, you will get some exposure to herps. I recommend checking with the school's biology department and find out if they have any herpetologists on staff (that is, folks who do active research with herps who are on faculty). Undergraduate degrees will require you to get all of your biological science classes out of the way including: biology, anatomy, chemistry, physics, organic chemistry, molecular biology, etc., etc. In some cases, such as Malone College in Canton, Ohio, you can get a degree in Zoo Biology and you WILL get a lot of exposure to herps at this school. You can contact: ccarmichael@malone.edu (Dr. Chris Carmichael is my twin brother). University of Illinois and Central Michigan University are two other schools off the top of my head that have great herp opportunities for their undegrads.
3) graduate with a M.S. degree in biology/zoology or related field (IMPORTANT). At this point, you will choose a research study that will involve herps. This is when college really becomes fun!
4) graduate with a PhD with a research study involving herps (also IMPORTANT). I would recommend getting your PhD from a school different than your master's thesis. This may be a continuation of your master's study, or, more normally, a brand new problem that you are studying.
Hope this helps. Sure, being a hobbyist or amateur herpetologist is very fun and rewarding but if you have the drive, ambition, vision, dedication, and energy, practicing herpetology as a profession is one of the greatest jobs on earth...and I'm speaking from personal experience. Here's what I am doing today for "work": 1) setting up a new king cobra exhibit, 2) applying a topical ointment to an infection on the mouth of our western green mamba, 3) feeding and maintaining our java file snake exhibit, 4) completing a contract with another zoo to trade/transfer some prized herps, 5) going to the airport to pick up some very rare rattlesnakes for our rattlesnake exhibit, 6) give a tour to a nearby herp group of our facility and then, to cap off my very rough day, 7) start our annual "frog count" which requires me to trek out into a very large and rare open oak savanna behind my facility to listen to frogs and determine what species we have. Tough job but someone has to do it!
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
www.thegrassisrattling.com
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