Living with 40 Venomous snakes

[Lucille]

Originally Posted by FLVenom

Before you spout your mouth off without really understanding the facts, I'll fill you in. Martin is one of the most respected herpers I know of in South Africa. He's a very knowledgable and safe keeper and has a wealth of information to share. This stunt he's pulling is for a childrens charity and is raising money for them. While he is putting his life at a huge risk, he believes in his cause. Can't blame a man for that.

I'd be interested in knowing who is donating to this charity. I myself do not demand that anyone put their life at risk before making a donation to a good cause. And I would not risk the negative publicity to the charity if for some reason a stunt like this is unsuccessful. If he dies, the publicity will taint the charity and if he lives the cost for his medical care may far outweigh any donations collected.

[norm]

This guy might be a well respected herper, but this is just stupid. You could live with all these snakes for years, and make them as sweet as a little puppy, but one day one of them will hit him. It's their nature.
This is russian roulette, there is no other way to look at it.
Black mambas in the shower? Are you kidding me? Suicidal.

[steven]

i personally think its awesome thing he is doing.
you keep snakes cuzz you like them right? others keep hots cuzz they like them right? well he likes them and with that he is helping others with doing something he likes, so what exactly is the problem? let him do what he wants to do as long as he is not hurting the animals

	Venomous Reptile A term commonly used to refer to a venomous reptile. Most commonly used in reference to venomous snakes.

[Kobi Baby]

Originally Posted by steven

i personally think its awesome thing he is doing.
you keep snakes cuzz you like them right? others keep hots cuzz they like them right? well he likes them and with that he is helping others with doing something he likes, so what exactly is the problem? let him do what he wants to do as long as he is not hurting the animals

Might not be hurting them, but definitely isn't helping them either. I highly doubt that the conditions are right for the snakes. All of them may need different conditions, and unless he is keeping his "enclosure" at 86.8 degrees F with lights for basking areas and humidity at 65-70% (if those are specifics to even ONE of the snakes -- I know noting about the conditions needed for hots), who says that is right for all of the snakes?
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Its a nice thing he is doing I suppose, and I would enjoy reading more journals from him, but I don't necessarily think its a smart or healthy thing - for him or the snakes.
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Just my .02.

	Venomous Reptile A term commonly used to refer to a venomous reptile. Most commonly used in reference to venomous snakes.

[Moe66]

Originally Posted by Kobi Baby

Might not be hurting them, but definitely isn't helping them either. I highly doubt that the conditions are right for the snakes. All of them may need different conditions, and unless he is keeping his "enclosure" at 86.8 degrees F with lights for basking areas and humidity at 65-70% (if those are specifics to even ONE of the snakes -- I know noting about the conditions needed for hots), who says that is right for all of the snakes?
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Its a nice thing he is doing I suppose, and I would enjoy reading more journals from him, but I don't necessarily think its a smart or healthy thing - for him or the snakes.
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Just my .02.

Respectfully, I think what you are missing, is that all of the snakes in the enclosure are Southern African snakes and the conditions inside the enclosue are their normal living conditions. Humidity and temps are, I’m sure, the same inside that enclosure as they are in the wild (10 meters outside the enclosure).

Check the pics, not something I would ever want to do but still amazing!!

Welcome to Mad Martin

	Venomous Reptile A term commonly used to refer to a venomous reptile. Most commonly used in reference to venomous snakes.

[telefrag]

one thing to also keep in mind, while nobody should ever let their guard down when working with dangerous animals, after several days or even a week or so together, the animals probably get used to his presence and may no longer deem him a "threat" and provided he doesn't grab them, or kick them, or do anything that could scare them, they probably are no more a danger to him than he is to them.

I wouldn't do it... but I don't think it ends up being AS dangerous as some may think.
especially if he has worked with some of these animals for awhile, I doubt they went out and collected wild mambas and cobras to throw in a box with him.

[Kobi Baby]

Originally Posted by Moe66

Respectfully, I think what you are missing, is that all of the snakes in the enclosure are Southern African snakes and the conditions inside the enclosue are their normal living conditions. Humidity and temps are, I’m sure, the same inside that enclosure as they are in the wild (10 meters outside the enclosure).

Check the pics, not something I would ever want to do but still amazing!!

Welcome to Mad Martin

I guess I missed the part about the snakes being from the area where the stunt is being performed

Originally Posted by telefrag

one thing to also keep in mind, while nobody should ever let their guard down when working with dangerous animals, after several days or even a week or so together, the animals probably get used to his presence and may no longer deem him a "threat" and provided he doesn't grab them, or kick them, or do anything that could scare them, they probably are no more a danger to him than he is to them.
I wouldn't do it... but I don't think it ends up being AS dangerous as some may think.
especially if he has worked with some of these animals for awhile, I doubt they went out and collected wild mambas and cobras to throw in a box with him.

Ahh, see I didn't think about that LOL
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Who can I contact about having a speedbump installed between my brain and my mouth? City services maybe?