Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Did anyone catch the show? It was pretty funny with Dave running behind the scenery brandishing his flute like a weapon. Jack Hanna was yelling at the handler and the hyper cobra was all over the place!
Here's a link to the video

just watched it on dvr today, funny as crap! guess dave will never go on a trip with jack now!!

just hope no dumba$$ gets the idea to free hand some hots "cuz the guy on tv did"
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hanging out under heat lights burns up my brain cells!!

Holy cow -- I about dropped my drink watching that. It was Bob Clark, right? I guess he doesn't do any work with hots. They definitely should have had a "u-plex" to get that snake back in his basket. That did not look well thought out.

It was a venomiod animal. Still not good for kids to think that its ok to handle a cobra like that.

Kristen

He said it wasn't???

But by Crikey it was a placid Cobra, if it was anything like the cobras ive been with that guy wouldve been tagged

Someone lied on TV?? That cant be!!

We watch people shoot, rape, stab, flee from cops and do other crazy things on TV, I dont think someone that sees a poor show in the cobra handling department is any more likely to go out and try it themselves.

Although, after watching Kung-Fu, I do feel like a know some martial arts

weird

d

displays of venomous handling I've ever seen. From that video, it appears doubtful that Bob has ever worked with a cobra before that day, and Jack Hannah doesn't look much more competent. They claimed it WASN'T a venomoid, but KRZ says it is...so...regardless, pretty foolish, and potentially dangerous behavior.
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Abhishek Prasad

Nr. Hannah said it was intact, but I noticed that Mr. Clark wouldn't answer. I know neither of them are idiots and neither seemed too bothered by it getting right up to their hands. I suspect it went, if not exactly as plammed then better than they could have hoped... Terrorizing Dave is great for ratings.
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What goes up must come down...unless it exceeds escape velocity.

Please excuse my fingers. That should be "Mr. Hannah..." and "...planned...".
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What goes up must come down...unless it exceeds escape velocity.

Pretty tame looking snake, barely even wanted to hood. What a bunch of useless information. Was not a king cobra, does not have enough venom to kill an elephant, stupid, stupid, stupid. Shame on Jack Hannah. Total sell out. Congratulations- you’re now right down there with Richard Simmons. A made for TV buffoon.

I have spoken with Jack Hannah face to face about several different things and he is no buffoon. He is very animated and very excitable but there is a bit of an act to keep viewers attention. The cobra is a venomoid. Bob and Jack were well in control of the situation.

He just plays one on TV. They were not well in control, it was a horrible display of control. The reaction from the audience should tell you that they were not in awe of a magnificent creature. They were not being educated or put at ease. They were afraid and it appeared the handler had lost control. It frightened them. That’s about as bad as it gets for people who would like to see the public learn to trust qualified handlers and gain a little more understanding of a creature with a bad reputation. Instead they have Dave cowering in fear and Hannah saying one drop of it’s venom can kill an elephant. Why would he bring out flutes? He didn’t even know what kind of snake killed Cleopatra, a story so common knowledge that Dave answered the question instead of this so called expert. God I miss Steve Irwin.

Saying they were not in control is like saying you couldn't control a cornsnake. At this point that snake is a glorified cornsnake with an attitude...thats it. Bob and Jack were both aware of the cobras venom status.

As soon as you are running a Zoo like Jack Hannah or have been in the reptile business for over 30 years like Bob...then and only then may you question either of their experiences or practices.

Bob Clark should stick to pythons, and Jack Hannah is a buffoon. Those are my opinions based on watching that video. You are nobody to tell me what I can comment on. Jack Hannah is obviously a famous figurehead for whatever zoo he is supposedly running. I’m not buying it. He’s a goof. Maybe watch the video now Mrs. Hannah.

The cobra could have just been tame? Ive seen cobras that people can freehanlde and would not even consider hoding for anything not saying that i would ever disrespect a hot snake like that but i do agree that they should have been way more educational even if it is a commedy show.

The show is not based on education. Its based on sensationalism and entertainment. You hot guys get your feathers ruffled at the slightest thing...its a TV show.

Upscale...you are very ignorant and narrow minded. You can't hold a debate so you call me Mrs. Hannah...you are soooo hardcore...plz...

Im feeling lots of love in this room

I won the debate. I called you Mrs. Hannah because it seemed from your side of the debate you had some interest in the event, as if you were related. Ha, turns out it was your venomoid! I was only commenting on the content of the video, you’re defending it was so biased it was almost like Bob Clark remaining silent when asked if the snake was fixed while Jack kept up the clown act. Now we all know you should stick to Geckos mr. “nephrurus”. Maybe get a mentor for your corn snake! Ha ha ha. I’m just having fun with ya, don’t take it too seriously…

OK, I'll hand you another bowl of self satisfaction, I work for Bob as well as own the cobra. I likes a good debate as much as the next guy. I KNOW venomoids are a sore subject around these parts. I like to think I'm a bit different in the fact that I will only ever own this one (unless another is given to me) and this one has shown me first hand that I am not an elapid guy in the least. I love rattlesnakes and pit vipers.

There is little on any forum I take seriously...its all good.

The snake was beautiful. I don’t knock it because it’s a venomoid. I happen to believe they are quite useful for public display where in the real world, insurance and liability would prevent a display of a venomous snake. I wish they had done a presentation where the snake was allowed to be used in a positive light instead of what happened. One basic rule is to treat any venomoid just as you would an unaltered snake. The sensationalist presentation, with Jack practically knocking over the chair in retreat, claiming one drop of it’s venom could kill an elephant, refusing to admit it was harmless, practically yelling “Oh $#!&!!” when it came out of the basket, etc etc was what made me react to the exaggerated mayhem they orchestrated. You don’t scare people with snakes, it’s bad form anywhere. I get the whole thing is to laugh at the antics of Dave. Most people who take this hobby seriously would not find it funny, and see it as a lost opportunity to say something positive in front of millions of viewers. It did us no good. I do think the snake is very nice, I would not be able to turn it down either. To me it seemed quite easy going, all things considered. It never did make any motion of a bite. Shame the audience will never notice that. No hard feelings.

Nep, I'll question it right now!

What does running a zoo, or having 30 years in the reptile biz, have to do with handling a cobra? And a venomoid at that?

Explain your logic clearly, I can't follow it. They were not in control.

Are you serious? How in the would can you not be in control of a 3ft snake that can't kill you? If you can't control a 3ft cornsnake then you can't control a 3ft venomoid cobra. I own the snake, I know it quite well. Maybe you guys are working with the wrong snakes. lol

So that's why you supported this, because it's your snake?

Maybe your working with the wrong snakes(venomoid).

PS. I'm not afraid of your venomoid cobra. TF(http://timfriede.com/).

The issue was never fear, the word used was control.

Hey, I know my limitations, I have a stock canebreak and this cobra as well as many pythons and a couple colubrids. The cobra was given to me as a gift. That snake showed me that I will never need to own another cobra besides him.

I got nothing against Jack, or Bob. I don't own a zoo, and I can't breed pythons/boas.

The point is their out of their league and it's obvious, that's just the truth based on the show. Lying about it is stupid.

I have a right to talk, I'm immune to cobra venom, and bites mean nothing to me!

Later, Tim Friede (yes,I'm bragging)

ummm....ok...immune to cobra venom eh?

anyway...I never said anyone didn't say anyone didn't have a right to talk. Those 2 people have done a lot for our hobby and conservation in general. Maybe you should analyze the situation before you make snap judgments and off-the-cuff comments.

Not saying they didn't, that's not my point!

Yes, immune. http://timfriede.com/.

Yes, I will make snap judgements what I see(and hear) on TV.

I didn't read the threads below but I'm sure some of the experienced folks will attest that this snake was most likely a venomoid - not by looks but by the careless handling that took place. Definitely sent a wrong message to many prospective venomous keepers. I like Jack and have always respected him but the person helping him looked like he had never handled a venomous snake before (it almost looked like Bob Clark but I'm sure it was someone else).

Just my.02.

Rob Carmichael
Wildlife Discovery Center

>>Did anyone catch the show? It was pretty funny with Dave running behind the scenery brandishing his flute like a weapon. Jack Hanna was yelling at the handler and the hyper cobra was all over the place!
>>Here's a link to the video
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

it was Bob Clark wasent it? He said that he brought the words largest snake before? That would be fluffy. and I thing that he olnly handled the snake like he did because he knew it was a venemoid.

i think the point is not that there was ever any real danger. hot or not, that snake was calm, but that's not the point. ANYONE can undo 1000 positive things they do for the hobby with one show like this. it's not fair but that's how it works. when legislation is passed, it's usually because of one incident, maybe two. that's the reason people are or would be upset. what happened was a non-issue, it's what the average person THINK happened.

something else, how many people will go around believing that a monocle cobra can kill an elephant with one drop of venom? how many will repeat that "info".

it's like, why bother, because what it takes years to accomplish can be undone in a day or two, or with an incident or two, in this hobby. is it an impossible fight?

It was Bob Clark.

Randal

Bob needs to stick with pythons.....very careless handler and even with a venomoid, he looked extremely nervous (but then again, its only prime time, TV cameras, audiences, I'd be a littel nervous too)

>>It was Bob Clark.
>>
>>Randal
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

letterman is terrified of snakes, austin stevens about gave him another heart attack when he was on late show a couple yrs back

i have had several in depth conversations with Jack, and know his family very very well, yet still I find this behavior unacceptable, on his part and on Bob's. This was quite irresponsible, especially in light of all the current problems this hobby is having. They should never have used the snake in that manner.

and nephrurus, beautiful snake and I don't keep hots, but I know that their actions may affect me if the general public and lawmakers thing this sums up our community, so I can comment all I want about what they did and how I think it was wrong, even though I'm just a lowly college student with so much less experience than either of them.

and nephrurus, beautiful snake and I don't keep hots, but I know that their actions may affect me if the general public and lawmakers thing this sums up our community, so I can comment all I want about what they did and how I think it was wrong, even though I'm just a lowly college student with so much less experience than either of them.

OK...sounds good

These guys have done a great job of convincing the average person
that no one can safely control a dangerous snake not even "professionals". If the animal was left unaltered it would be able to demand respect, even from people like these two, who made it quite apparent that they have no respect for it in its current condition. Two thoughts come to mind about that video..

(1)I hope no new laws are spurred on by this.

(2)I hope those flutes are only ever seen again by a proctologist.

Ryan

np
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Abhishek Prasad