I don't discount captive observation as being valuable. In fact, I've lost respect for people in the past for saying things that they would have never said had they ever kept the animal we were studying in captivity (this was years ago.... not anyone I work with currently). Crocodilians are a good example. I had a dwarf caiman for years and that thing was unbelievably smart (for a herp). I know a lot of people who work with captive crocodilians and they say they can pretty much train them to do a lot of things they need them to do. Awesome animals.



In regard to your last statement about the long burm movement, I suppose it is a possibility and it is good to keep an open mind. It just seems unlikely. The snake was tracked about once per week and each week it made a small move (more like 4 miles/week). If it hitched a ride on an airboat then somebody must have been on an epic camping trip! Also, not many airboats are allowed through that area. Only park rangers/researchers can airboat in the national park and they must remain on designated trails. The snake's path does not follow the airboat trails. But, who knows. I suppose it's possible. Just unlikely.



Mike

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