And that was just rude any way .In a common exchange of information was uncalled for.

It could be said , The only post that falls under the above description was the overly defensive, clumsy and even bullying attempt at a response.

The first paragraph in my initial post was a direct quote as told to me (today) by a well known West African reptile trader. I was talking with him today and asked if he had ever seen "gaboon handlers" I then shot him an email. Ive known this person a long time and he is a true West African born and raised who spends a lot of time traveling from country to country working in the animal trade, working with the hunters, villagers etc. everywhere. He knows what's up when talking about West Africa, reptiles and everything else that goes on there . I didn't call anyone a liar, the people of Africa did when I emailed what was said and asked if this was how it was.

The second paragraph was as noted based on my personal experienced also I included a recent photograph sent to me by a friend in Senegal who makes his living catching snakes and selling them in the various city's for magic, and made note of what goes on with him. Everything I posted was factual and well within the boundaries of "common exchange of information. "

There was nothing rude, uncalled for, or snide about any of it, past the fact that an over bearing, hot heads ego was bruised. Something he IS known for , My direct and very blunt honesty is distrsessful to some particularly those that are phony or like to fudge things ......................

Below is the exact email exchange along with the date and time referenced to in the first paragraph of this post. First the sent email followed by the reponse from West Africa.

Date: 2/1/2010 3:06:17 PM Eastern Standard Time

This is what was siad about the locals and the gaboons what do you think?

Jim in West Africa natives handle Gaboons almost like harmless snakes as they almost NEVER bite anybody. Fat Tail Gecko's on the other hand are considered deadly poisonous by many people that just pick up Gaboons. GO FIGURE...LOL
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Have you ever heard of anything like this? This doesn't seem right, sort of the opposite, It doesn't fit in with my experience of what goes on,  you guys are scared of this stuff. LOL.

Ernie

Date: 2/1/2010 4:07:34 PM Eastern Standard Time

Ernie, LOL
It is not true people handel Gaboons like harmless snakes. They know Gaboons are very venomous, but will not harm unless threatened. They also believe a gaboon will only bite a person, if he has a spell cast on him. Africans believe a lot in witchcraft,  and believe a witch can use a gaboon viper to kill someone .
Fat Tail is considered a very fearsome creature.  They believe anyone bitten by Fat tail will die. In some areas, they believe one must smear his or her whole body with feces from  a very old woman, or else will die from fat tail bite.

*****

Ernie Eison
WESTWOOD ACRES REPTILE FARM INC.

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