Favorite Herpetologist?

[NicoleRussell]

That was a question in my first "slam" book here at RTB. I put down John Binns. He is like a movie star to me
In any case as most of you know I have a real interest in Bob MacCarger's work/study of UVB and reptiles...and I was smart enough to pose a few questions to him about my cyclura. I never for a minute dreamed this would open a communication with Mr.binns who has been writing ever since. I am like a kid who's talking to Santa Claus now.
For those of you who don't know John Binns is owner of Cyclura.com, writes for IGUANA mag, heads the IIS and many conservation efforts including the big one on Grand Cayman. He has zootype enclosures on his property in CT and continues to educate people on cyclura who are unfortunately disappearing from their habitats. One species is already extinct and cyclura lewisi are critically endangered. To read more about cyclura and Mr. Binns, please visit cyclura.com
Th following 2 pics are from the field and are his personal photos. One is a Blue Cayman Rock Iguana in it's natural habitat and the other is a Rhino Iguana also taken in the field.
Did I mention how THRILLED I am to be communicating with him??????

	Ultra Violet Radiation B Ultra Violet Radiation B

[NicoleRussell]

cyclura cornuta

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[herpkingdom]

and when is the interview ???

We wanna interview!!!
We wanna interview!!!
We wanna interview!!!
We wanna interview!!!

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[rachel132002]

Don't know how well you guys across the pond know him but Mark O'Shea is a GOD of this game lol!

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[NicoleRussell]

I'm still trying to get some questions together for Bert and Bob...lol
The move has half my mind still.

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[Ed_r]

Mark O'Shea is a GOD of this game

Yeah he is the master of the giant gecko drop from a tall tree too :P
"Ok here comes one, catch it.....Ooops. Take 2" lol While he does seem to know an awful lot about the science of herps, he seems to do allot of dumb things, sen him let a cat snake bite him on the face, free handle cobras that were inches from his legs, literally rip an Amazon Tree Boa out of a tree. He really seems to care about the science, just not if the animals he studies get hurt.

Nicole I'm surprised that Robert Sprackland isn't on your list too. I met him about 5 years ago, and he was quite a wealth of knowledge.

I kinda like Robert Henderson, for his work with ATBs, but I also have allot of disagreements with his findings.

	Amazon Tree Boa Amazon Tree Boa - The Amazon tree boa, Corallus hortulanus, is a close relative of the Emerald tree boa (Corallus caninus)

[eddie]

Mmm.. I am tending to like Sean Bush quite a lot lately, even though I only see him on VenomER.
He seems to have the no nonsense approach and a gentle demeanor when it comes to both animal and patients.

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[Dbutton]

My favorites go back a ways. They are First Tom Crutchfield who taught me almost everything I know about reptiles. And second Chris McQuade of Golf Coast herps who I grew up with and has been breeding/selling snakes for the last 30 years. They are not stars on tv or have Dr. in front of their names, but they have done alot for the herp world.

David

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[NicoleRussell]

Originally Posted by eddie

Mmm.. I am tending to like Sean Bush quite a lot lately, even though I only see him on VenomER.
He seems to have the no nonsense approach and a gentle demeanor when it comes to both animal and patients.

sounds like someone to check out.
I know I should know this--but can you explain your avatar?

[Ed_r]

The avatar is from Orange County Chopper. they are on Discovery Channel. The bikes are some of the ones they have built. Cool Stuff

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[NicoleRussell]

no wonder I didn't recognize it

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[eddie]

Nic..
I was bored.. love that show, found their site and just made it

Its usually on Monday nights at 10 est.

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[telefrag]

has anyone actually listed a Degreed herpetologist yet?

Mine are:
Harry Greene
Robert Henderson
Bill Lamar
Jon Campbell
Peter Tolson

Those would have to be my favorite "wildlife biologists"

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[telefrag]

Originally Posted by Dbutton

My favorites go back a ways. They are First Tom Crutchfield who taught me almost everything I know about reptiles. And second Chris McQuade of Golf Coast herps who I grew up with and has been breeding/selling snakes for the last 30 years. They are not stars on tv or have Dr. in front of their names, but they have done alot for the herp world.

David

yeah, Tom did alot for the herp world.

Like import protected species illegally, and get busted for it.

Isnt he still in jail?

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[Dbutton]

No he is not in Jail, and is back to keeping snakes again. He has done many other things beside getting busted. He brought the first albino burmese into the country and sold it to Bob Clark which in turn gave the reptile business a tremendous boost like no other snake has. He is a very good herpetologist and he may have gotten into trouble by using poor judgement, but that shouldn't detract from the many good things he has done in educating people about reptiles over the years. I saw a different side of him while I was growing up and getting to work with him in educational programs at the nature canter by where I lived. I was also one a of group of great herpers who formed the S.W. Florida herpetological society back in the late 70's of which he was the president. We all make mistakes and have moments of bad judgement. He did his time and now has a chance to go back to doing the good things again. So why don't we all jsut let him have that chance and not bad mouth him.
As a side bar I might add that while at the Texas Reptile Expo here in San Antonio on Sunday when the Fish and Game guy came in it was pandamonium. He was checking permits on the hots and indeginous snakes. I personally saw at least 4 people hide things under their tables in boxes and replace the spot where that deli cup had been with another snake that didn't need a permit. I just shook my head and left after that. I am not saying it is right at all, but it sure is common place.


David

[telefrag]

who bad mouthed him?
Its fact http://articles.findarticles.com/p/a.../ai_2293686361

I didnt know he was a degreed herpetologist.


I dont have is college transcripts sitting in front of me.

[Dbutton]

I know it is all fact. I have read all the transcripts before and know all that trouble he got into. #$%^&#$%^&#$%^&#$%^&, I almost lost a job when I was younger at a serpentarium in Ca. just for mentioning his name. Like I said in my earlier post, I knew him in a differnt time and circumstances. I can't remember now if he is a degreed herpetologist or not, but he probalby know more about herps than many of them.

David

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[telefrag]

he has had his hands on some species that most of us will never see in person.
Thats for sure.

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[JuliusSqueezer]

Giving Bob Clark the first albino burm helped the herp trade how? By propegating the MOST abused reptile with possible acception to the green iguana in the pet trade? It might have lined a few greedy pockets but it caused pain, suffering and death to MOST of the snakes that were produced and is still an ongoing problem... ok...i'll quit. I could tell you how I really feel but I'm trying to avoid these touchy heated discussions.

	Iguana Iguana

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[NicoleRussell]

It seems all the people I admire most do not have degrees that I'm aware of.
Not to get completely OT here but has anyone seen Dr. Doolittle part2? With Eddie Murphy?
I was watching the scene with Steve Irwin--what's his name?? The one who brought his baby in the gator/croc enclosure?
In Doolittle the croc attacks him while he's least expecting it/was worth renting just to see him in that situation. Sorry to all you Irwin fans--I think the man's a moron.

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