THE CHIEFTAIN (Bonner Springs, Kansas) 06 June 07 Snakes (snakes!?!) kick off program (Jesse Truesdale)
The snake man came to Bonner Springs Saturday. David Nieves, a herpetologist and author of books on reptiles and amphibians, gave a presentation on both to about 160 children and parents that morning in the Bonner Springs Community Center gymnasium, otherwise known as Jim's Gym.
The event was to kick off the Bonner Springs City Library's summer reading program for children.
Nieves started with a slide show on his work in various parts of the world.
Nieves was interested in reptlies since he was 8 years old, he said.
"When I learned what a herpetologist was, I knew I wanted to be one," Nieves told the audience. "I decided amphibians and reptiles were the most amazing animals on the entire planet."
Nieves described his encounter with a Komodo dragon, years ago in Indonesia.
He was taking a picture of the beast up close.
"I was thinking ‘Great shot!'and the reptile was thinking," Nieves said as he pointed to the slide showing the word "Lunchtime" below the reptile's head.
Nieves described the great alligator turtle, which can hold its breath for two hours while waiting in mud to disguise itself underwater, waiting for unwary fish to mistake a red slender protrusion on its tongue for a worm.
Nieves' enthusiasm for his subject was tangible, even if his words weren't easily heard through the gym's bad acoustics.
After the slides Nieves brought several reptiles, amphibians and snakes to show, including a blue-eyed, white snake named "Snow Cone" and a large python.
At the end of his presentation Nieves signed and gave away copies of his books "Reptiles Up Close" and "Amphibians Up Close," and he gave away and signed a copy of each to children in the audience.
Refreshments were provided by Friends of the Library. Kathleen Schram, assistant director of the library, said 130 children had registered for the reading program.
Snakes (snakes!?!) kick off program