India: Snake Rescuer

Here is a short piece by a wildlife consultant in Goa, India, who rescues snakes.

Woman Helps Cobra

A woman in India found a wounded cobra, and treated it (antiseptic creams and feeding syringes of milk) despite neighbors requesting she put it back where she found it. (News source.)

Death by Crocodile Brain

A crocodile in Zimbabwe was killed, and only its brain taken. It is a superstition in that region, that croc brains can be used to poison an enemy. (News source.)

Sea Turtle Fatality

A sea turtle dish was eaten by several minors in the Philippines, ending in one fatality and 10 or more in the hospital. (Bacterial toxin?) (News source.)

Ukraine: Crocodile Monument

A monument has been opened in Mariupol, where a small crocodile escaped in May 2007, eluding capture for several months. (News source.)

Insurance Stories: When a Cobra Bites

Here's a tale about a man in India who died from a cobra bite, and how his wife finally received her insurance settlement.

Snapper Soup

For ideas on making a better snapping turtle soup...

Snake for Dinner

Here is a brief article on Indians who hunt and snakes in Tamil Nadu. (News source.)

Don't Eat the Frogs

The Cambodian government is trying to curb eating a national delicacy, fried frogs, so that the amphibians can protect the rice crops from insect pests. (News source.)

Cane Toads

A parasitic worm may be the latest weapon in Australia's fight against the invasive cane toads. (News source.)

Sydney's Australian Museum is drawing the ire of Northern Territory residents because it put up husbandry instructions for cane toads. (News source.)

Snakes in a Jail Cell

A couple of snakes have been killed in the cell of a Nigerian rebel, whose organization claims the Nigerian government is trying to kill him that way. The government disagrees. (News source.)

Frog Catching Tradition

Here is a fascinating profile on traditional frog catching in the Philippines.

Snake Soup Crime

A Korean man was arrested for buying soup made from illegally caught wild snakes. It is legal in Korea to raise snakes for soup, but not to catch them in the wild. (News source.)

Snake Catcher

A policeman in India who catches snakes on the side, profiled here.

Strange Snake in Nepal

A "seven-colored" snake is reported from a well in Nepal, creating a local sensation. (News source.)

Crocs in the News

Vietnamese farmers are finding that croc raising isn't as lucrative as they hoped, and poor caging means that escapees are common. (News source.)

Here is a profile on a caiman hunter/skinner.

Snakes and Spiders: Blame Culture for Phobias

Not long ago, there was a (dumb) study publicized about how children recognize snakes from other elongated animals, so this somehow explains why "everyone" is afraid of snakes. A more competent researcher has now pointed out that while snakes and spiders elicit attention, they certainly don't provoke automatic fear. For that, look to the media and other sources which spread negative reports about the animals. (As anyone who's done snake talks can attest, most children are excited to meet and touch snakes. Those who are fearful tend to a) have parents who have taught them to be afraid, or b) have had a specific negative experience (been bitten, or scared by one).)

India Snake Farming?

In response to the cultural instability with snake charmers made illegal in West Bengal, there are plans to create state-sponsored cooperative snake breeding farms (after a Chinese model), apparently for venom extraction. Might there be a possibility of harmless native species bred for the pet trade? India's wildlife laws may be too strict for that... (News source.)

Snake Charmers

Marrakesh, Morocco, snake charmers are facing calls for tourism boycotts, by a French animal rights group. The group alleges cruelty, the snake charmers claim the group is ignorant of actual practices. (News source.)

India's ban on snake charming is stirring more trouble, as native snake charmers in West Bengal (an estimated 100,000) are claimed to be on the verge of starvation, having no ration cards or voter identification cards. (News source.)

Malaysia: Just Say No to Turtle Eggs

The Turtle Research and Rehabilitation Group at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu has launched a campaign to get 1 million Malaysians to pledge not to eat terrapin or turtle eggs for the rest of their life. (News source.)

Thailand Lizard Scandal

Well, not really, but apparently a couple of monitor lizards found mating behind the Government House in Bangkok set reporters into a frenzy. It's been suggested that the lizards somehow represent the government, as the Thai name for the lizard is also a derogatory term. (News source.)

Snake in the Rough

A South African golfer's tournament game ended abruptly when he followed a ball into the rough and got bit by a night adder. He was quickly hospitalized and successfully treated, but since he had left the course, tournament officials wouldn't let him continue playing. (News source.)

Feast Over Frogs

Natauloa villagers on the Fiji island of Nairai saw their first frogs, as ten dead amphibians washed ashore after Cyclone Gene. They were planning to serve and eat them (thinking them a new type of fish) at a feast before the village spokesman found out and stopped them. They held the feast sans frogs. (News source.)

Freak Out Over Snakes

Villagers in Punjab, Pakistan, killed 103 snakes in a single day, after a man came across one while shoring up a canal bank. "The presence of large numbers of snakes spread panic among the villagers, who were moving temporarily to the nearby neighbourhoods." (News source.)

Lizards for Dinner

India police have raided several roadside restaurants, finding lizards being served illegally (spiny-tailed lizards and monitor lizards). (News source.)

Snake in the Cashbox

Here is an interesting set of photos of a shop in Jeppinamogru, India, where the shopkeeper found a cobra in the cashbox. That caught the neighbors' interests...

A New Threat to Varanus

Misguided attempts to find a cure for AIDS in Africa has led to the injection of white-throat monitor blood into patients. Besides being dangerous, and useless against AIDS, the practice could cause conservation problems for the species if the treatment becomes widespread. (News source.)

Don't Try This At Home

Here's a profile on a snake enthusiast in India who apparently believes that drinking cobra venom means he's immune...

Snake Catchers

Forestry officials in Nagpur, India, might give official recognition to legitimate snake-catchers, but are concerned about venom smugglers and other "fakes" in the snake trade. (News source.)

Frog Leg Fest

The 17th annual Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival in Florida drew thousands of people, and served up 7,000 pounds of frog legs and 3,000 pounds of gator tail. (News source.)

Boss Snakes

Now available, Boss Snakes: Stories and Sightings of Giant Snakes in North America. More details here.

Malaysian Snake Charmer

Here's a brief profile on a 16-year old Malaysian snake charmer.

Crocs in Sri Lanka

Were saltwater crocodiles introduced into Ceylonese moats centuries ago? Interesting article on crocs in Sri Lanka here.

Snake Charmers

In India, snake charming is illegal (apparently a conservation measure). Generations have passed along this tradition, and the current tribe members (bedias) are trying to band together and get governmental notice, as they have no other means of sustaining themselves. (News source.)

You'd think this would be good test case for commercial snake farming, venom extraction facility, etc., wonder if something along that line would be feasible.

Mice: The Other White Meat

Traditionally, mouse sales at the Chau Hung Town, Vietnam, markets have gone to python owners. Now, mice are a delicacy and restaurants have increased their demand, raising prices on the rodents. One dealer sells 4 to 5 tons of mice every day. (News source.)

"She said mouse prices usually rose during the Mekong Delta's flooding season so python breeders were often priced out. True enough.
"Within 30 minutes, tens of python breeders were shaking their heads with disappointment because they couldn't buy mice at An's stall.
"'Mice in the U Minh District are favored most because they are fat but gentle,' An said. 'People don't like the kinds of mice that live in forests and are thin and savage.'" ...

"Restaurant chefs are fond of giant mice because of their tasty meat.
"'Now people fear bird flu if eating chicken and duck meat and the "blue-ear disease" of pigs if eating pork,' said Diem, the owner of a restaurant which specializes in field mouse dishes.
"'It's safer to eat mice.'" ...

"He said his job was dangerous because snakes also hunt for mice at night.
"He's often seen snakes lying in wait outside mouse nests and once he trod on a snake's tail.
"Many mouse hunters quit after being bitten by poisonous snakes."

India: To Remove or Not to Remove

There's some community tension between those who want (often venomous) snakes to be removed from their yards, and those who think that's just paranoia. (News source.)

Anaconda Suspected

The St. Charles Village pond (Trinidad) has something lurking in it, fishermen claim. An anaconda is suspected. (News source.)

Newt Pond Protection

There's a bit of controversy over a decision to set aside 5,000 acres of land containing striped newt ponds in the Apalachicola National Forest south of Tallahassee, Florida, protecting it from off-road recreational vehicle traffic. (News source.)

A Boy and his Python

Here's a story from Cambodia about a six-year old boy and his pet 20-foot python. Not a good combination... (News source.)

Snakebite Stories

From around the world:

Hindu priests in Choto Pashla, India, say that cobra bites in their village must be treated traditionally; if they go to the hospital, it's "at their own risk." Villagers are torn, and government officials are puzzled as to why the traditional treatment seems to work some of the time (though not all the time). (News source.)

Australian doctors believe that too many deaths from brown snakes occur due to mishandling of treatment, and slow response after the bite to seek treatment. (News source.)

US Forces in Korea are warned not to play with snakes, as there are several venomous species in the area. One soldier was recently bitten by a viper while clearing brush. (News source.)

Snake Art for Auction

An interesting carved piece of aboriginal Australian art (depicting a snake on a limb) is going up for auction. The artist was Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri. It is expected to fetch more than $20,000. (News source.)

Crocs in Restaurants

The crocodile is showing up in more Vietnamese restaurants. (News source.)

Big Python Sighted

Stories of a "giant python" said to be four meters long are making the rounds in Algiers. The head, according to one witness, was the size of a giant potato. (News source.)

Snake Farming in Nepal

Commercial snake farming is being considered as an economical alternative to agriculture for a Nepal tribe (the Netuwa people, who have been have been traditional snake catchers for centuries). (News source.)

Bangladesh Charmer Dies

A Bangladesh snake charmer, who started the country's first commercial snake farm, has died after being bitten by two cobras he was playing with. (News source.)

Snake Soup Illegal

Restaurants in Guangzhou, China, that are caught selling snake dishes will be fined up to 100,000 yuan (about $13,000). Snake soup is popular, but illegal after a fatal epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome a few years ago. (News source.)

Australian Croc Jailed

An aggressive crocodile was put behind bars by police after lunging at fishermen. It will be moved to a croc farm. (News source.)

Australian Croc Farm

A Northern Territory company, Porosus, is planning to develop crocodile farms, which should aid local economic development. (News source.)

Herps as Food

A review of the Sportsman’s Wild Game Cookout in Lafayette, LA, includes a recipe for alligator sauce piquant.

A Pennsylvania sportsman has been catching and eating snapping turtles for many years. (News source.)

Gator Stories

An 8-foot gator has been aggressive towards residents of Lakewood Ranch, FL, and they want it trapped. (News source.)

A retiree in Sun City Center, FL, has been sabotaging alligator traps, claiming he is defending the gators and that people should just expect to live with them when they move into their habitat. (News source.)

A man swerved on the road to miss an animal, and ended up putting his SUV into a Palm Bay, FL, lake. Large alligators kept divers from retrieving the car. (News source.)

Gator Recipes for the Big Game

University of Kentucky & Florida rivalry leads to some tasty gator recipes online...

Coqui Eradication Misfire

Plans to have Hawaiian school children collect bounties for collecting the invasive coqui treefrogs misfired when a couple of schools questioned their participation. (News source.)

International Snakebites

An Australian farmer was hospitalized after being bitten by a 1.5 meter brown snake. (News source.)

There's a good bit of controversy over the death of a young boy in India who died from snakebite; the parents say the hospital refused to treat until they had enough money for a security deposit, and the doctors say the boy was brought in too late to save. (News source.)

Uganda Croc

A 62-year-old crocodile died at the Buwama Crocodile Farm, Uganda, where it had been relocated in 2005 following decades of attacking fishermen at Lugaga Swamp. (News source.)

Frog Legs recipe

Risotto with Frog Legs and Sweet Garlic Cream: recipe here.

Cobra Festival

Cobras are the primary attraction at the Hindu festival of Naga Panchami in Shirala, in the state of Maharashtra, India. (News source.)

Sea Turtle Harvest Debate

More on the Fiji sea turtle banquet debate:

Communication breakdown blamed for turtle harvest

The turtle debate swims on

Sea Turtle Meal

Fiji's Methodist Church is in trouble for using many more than the approved number of endangered sea turtles in their conference banquet. (News source.)

India Snake Wedding

A Hindu woman of the Vaishnav sect "married" a king cobra in a ceremony approved by local elders. The woman has left milk for the cobra on a regular basis, believing that it healed her. (News source.)