I have been discussing the snake- and croc--catching behavior of Steve =
Irwin with a group of people/journalists who think that his "antics" =
were over the top and dangerous in a way that was just inappropriate. I =
on the other hand said I believe you have to separate his words and =
wacky personality (which brought a lot of attention & kids love)from his =
dangerous work which he did both to rescue urban crocs and when =
catching reptiles often just to show the camera. He also did feed the =
crocs in the enclosures at close proximity but had the many many years =
of experience to know how they would react.=20
My question is for those herpetologists who ARE familiar with his videos =
-not just snippets. Do you or did you catch snakes in the same way that =
Steve Irwin did for his videos? (both for fun, and for research). Did he =
do anything that is different than what you'd do in your research in =
terms of the actual handling of or catching of them? I don't mean the =
way he talked or got all excitable. I mean in the actual physical =
handling of the animals. Now I realize in some case in a video he may =
have done something like reach his hand in a timber rattler den, and =
maybe it did not show on the video whether he had previously checked it =
out to know exactly what was there - who knows. But I just wanted to get =
some professional opinions on his actual animal handling NOT just random =
personal opinions on the guy. Specific examples would be great. Feel =
free to email me on or off list. [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Thanks!
Wendee
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Wendee Holtcamp, M.S. Wildlife Ecology=20
Freelance Writer-Photographer
http://www.wendeeholtcamp.com=20
Online Writing Class ~starting Sep 9, Oct 21
BLOG http://bohemianadventures.blogspot.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Better to light a candle than curse the darkness.
-- Chinese proverb
