Of course we see that Tom, thats because we look. I know that sounds simple, but it HAS to be true.
I have seen many many many wild monitors basking and better yet, sheltering together in nature and In the past I have shown pics of this. But those who do not want to believe(for whatever reason) say all manner of things to either confuse the issue or change the subject.
It does boil down to two basic elements. One, those who say that, have failed to see it in both nature and captivity. And two, cannot figure out how to see it in either captivity or nature. Neither of which has to do with the animals, and is more about the people.
IF something can be done or seen by some people and not others, In any area where it takes learning(skill) Then the skill set is to be questioned.
In captivity, a decent working skill set is obviously lacking in those that cannot achieve what others do achieve. Somehow that common sense bit of thinking becomes very missing here.
You and I both, did not start out knowing what we do now. We both succeeded and failed for many many years in order to understand what we now understand. And we apply what we now understand.
Somehow, these newbies or academics, forget to include a learning curve. They somehow think you can throw a bunch of animals in a box and its going to work. If it does not work, somethings wrong with the animal.
For instance, when you said you produced more cubans(?) then all the zoos in history. I take that as a major achievement. Its not something to take lightly, you must have hit on something/provided something that the zoos did not. Its not against the zoos, as they worked very hard to achieve what they did. Its someting YOU as an individual achieved, that was special.
I have done the very same with many types of reptiles. I did not hold it against the zoos. I held them as a measure of success to be exceeded, not something bad.
Unfortunately here with varanids, folks do not want to hear about something better or procieved as better. They want what they do to be the best, if if their changes(monitors) are failing left and right. Or they produce a handful of babies(which the brag about) over a few dozen years and with many many many pairs of adults.
One zoo in particular was odd, they would produce one baby and it would die right off, then they would publish it and brag about producing that species. To me, that is backwards thinking.
When I started, I published that I wanted husbandry that produced lots of babies from each female, not one dead baby for lots of females. I think we keepers deserve that, and I think the animals deserve that.
Yet, these fine folks, fight tooth and claw against methods that allow lots and lots of babies, and longlived healthy adults. I really have to wonder why????
For instance, you really have to have a unrealistic belief in words if you call monitors anti social in nature. And yet, they live well and behave well and produce EXTREMELY well in groups. In captivity.
Thats why I say, I could give a flying donut hole what they are in nature, or more accurate, what we call them in nature. Its what happens in our boxes thats important to the ones IN THE BOXES.
In one long extended conversation with a noted varaphile/publisher, he asked me why HE did not see groups of monitors in nature. Hmmmmmmmmmmm I cannot answer why he did not. Maybe hes not that good at it. I don't know.
Tom, you and I know, there are folks that are good at it, and that is not all that common. So why do they think they should be that good at it. After all, I explain I have been doing this, both in nature and captivity, for a very long time. And I have been told, I am one of the best field herpers, when it comes to finding rare animals. So why should they feel like they should be so good, particularly, when they lived more of their lifes and still do, in reptile barren areas. I don't understand that.
Tom, you and I have lived with reptiles for a very long time. And some folks that think they can visit reptiles and know MORE?????? Got me sir. Thats beyond me.
I know, it should not be about people, but in this case, its exactly about people. The reason is, from the pics shown, reptiles can get along or be social or communal very successfully. More pics to come. Cheers
