I contacted Dr. Wassersug via email after reading that article and speaking w/a herpetologist/biologist friend of mine. I asked him what was the point of this research. He was kind enough to ask for my number and called me to explain the research and the history behind it.

First, he IS a herpetologist himself and also loves reptiles. He explained the housing that the snakes were in and that they are cushioned so that the snake isn't harmed when gravity kicks back in.

This research is centered around what he described as "model organisms". For anyone, such as myself, that aren't familiar with that term it denotes an organism that represents others for science. NASA apparently, because they felt they didn't need to spend the money on seperate housing for mice (which is a FOURTUNE!) so their conclusions of mice in space is not correct. Dr. Wassersug's theroy revolves around that and trying to find out what exactly would denote a "model" organism. What he has found out thus far (and this goes back like 10 years that this has been going on) that, while testing a ground snake, as said in the report that it turned on itself. However a caecilian which lives underground went limp, it didn't feel the need to right itself.

So Dr. Wassensug's theroy, which the reporter did not state, is that animals above ground require gravity to have a sense of themselves and animals underground, do not, because they have no need to "right" themselves. Anyhow, Dr. Wassensug assured me that he is taking proper precautions to ensure the safety of the herps in his research and that he follows up numerous times with vet's to ensure that there is no long term damage as well.

And as for the snake that struck at itself, it didn't strike to bite. As alot of know, not all snakes bite when feeling threatened but rather they strike as in to "punch" the treat to frighten it. That is what the snake did, it didn't bite itself.

Anyhow, I am fairly satisfied with this. He explained it very well and there is purpose to it. He is not killing these animals and he is sure that his research doesn't stress them to the point of having long term problems.
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~redmom~
My Email
Herps:
1.0 Normal corn snake "Ed"

Others:
1.0 Blue Betta fish "'Beta' test"
0.1 White/Lemon/beige splotched and spotted hound mix "Angel"

Human pets:
2.0 Children "Matthew" 7 yrs, "Duncan" > 1 yr
1.0 Hubby "Roger"

"Life will find a way." Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) Jurrasic Park

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