11 August 2002
AFTER A BLAZING JULY, we seem to have now settled down to a more normal English summer (hot weather interspersed with torrential rain). Pressing matters diverted us from the website for a while, but I am pleased to say we are now back in full flow.
We regularly monitor activity by those bodies and individuals which threaten the liberty of people to keep reptiles and amphibians (or indeed any other creature which can be responsibly kept), and this month we are pleased to report that in a controversial case involving the seizure of snakes in Plymouth, the case brought by the police was thrown out of court after they refused to reveal who their "informant" was. Please understand that we are not defending the fact that the two defendants involved were keeping venomous snakes without a license. They should have obtained this, although the current mess and often contradictory behaviour by authorities makes it an arduous and expensive process. The real issue was the fact that the men had their non-venomous snakes also confiscated for no apparent reason. At the centre of this controversy was Peter Heathcote of the Reptile Trust, whose officials were involved in the seizure. Mr Heathcote may mean well but unfortunately is given to melodramatic statements such as "lethal" (this regarding a caiman on Panorama) and "enough venom to wipe out half of Plymouth" (with regard to the venomous snakes seized). For more on the case, visit the Reptilian website.
High-handed action by authorities (some of them self-appointed) notwithstanding, it is nevertheless important as a keeper of animals to make sure that you are legal and also ethical. If people do visit you and see your pets, what impression do they get? Dirty cages and emaciated animals, or clean vivaria and contented looking animals? Similarly, don't give people the impression that you're just an exhibitionist by taking your large snake out into the street or by boasting how dangerous your animals are. Act responsibly and win the battle for hearts and minds. Dog owners, this also applies to you!
One pleasing event recently has been the receipt of a number of E-mails about wildlife in people's gardens in the UK, mainly slowworms (often mistaken for snakes) and in one case orange frogs, an albino version of Rana temporalia, the Common Frog. These sightings at least show that herp life in some cases is doing quite well in some parts of the country and in the more northerly parts of the world.
After a few weeks' hiatus we are pleased to have been able to add a complete listing of the Mabuya genus, the so-called Rainbow Skinks. While all the details are not yet complete (at over 100 species it is a major undertaking), the page already shows their geographical location and many of the common names. These skinks do occur fairly regularly in the pet trade, but are also interesting because of their varied modes of reproduction and the fact that they are found in both the Old and New World, being absent only from the poles (as are all herps!) and Australia. The Lacertidae and Scincidae are also still being updated, and the Gerrhosauridae updateds should be completed soon.
Thanks again to everyone who has sent us E-mails recently. If for any reason I haven't replied to you, please let us know and I will try to do so again.
CYBERLIZARD
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