Reptile & Amphibian Forums

THE LEADER (Surrey, British Columbia) 11 July 04 Sneaking up on a snake
Coiled up, Curvy the African rock python doesn't appear much of a threat.
Her size - 15 feet long, with a girth about that of a 12-year-old's head - gives the impression she'd move slow. And she certainly doesn't look 125 lbs.
But Curvy is anything but a lady.
A member of the second-nastiest snake family in the world, her species in the wild will take on a crocodile without a second thought.
This week, at South Surrey's Rainforest Reptile Refuge, which has been her home for the past 10 years, Paul Springate is hoping he gets Curvy on a good day.
That's because he's going in to take away and destroy her most precious possession: the eggs she laid last Sunday.
"It's going to be downright, bloody scary," Springate said. "I have to go in, blindfold her, quickly get her off (the eggs), and have somebody go in and quickly scoop the eggs out.
"She's known to be very, very violent. One mistake and that could be my last."
Snakes like Curvy typically lay between 30 and 50 eggs. Left to hatch and grow in captivity, at least two will survive to adulthood.
The eggs have to be destroyed because the refuge, a non-profit society which relies on donations to care for its injured and abandoned charges, simply doesn't have the room or the money to take on the task.
This will be at least the fifth clutch of eggs Curvy's had taken from her since arriving.
Springate hopes the drastic but necessary measure will send a message to the public.
Too many people continue to buy exotic pets, not realizing the commitment reptiles like Curvy require, he said. Many live 20 years or more. Curvy could live until she's 40.
"People should not have these animals. They're not friendly, they're not domesticated, and you cannot tame them," Springate said.
Curvy's clutch would not face this fate if she was in the wild where she belongs, he added.
Sneaking up on a snake

If the guy didn't want eggs, why did he breed the animal in the first place?! Obviously a politically motivated publicity stunt. What a waste of life. Makes me sick to my stomach. The worst part is this guy is posing as some kind of saint.

...and this guy is doing alot of damage here. They constantly have to destroy eggs and hatchlings because they can't be bothered to house males and females separately. They perpetuate all sorts of lies and half truths about reptiles and the care they recieve. This story doesn't surprise me, but pisses me off all the same.

I remember seeing a story on t.v. on night, about their large Retic. There he was on t.v. telling people that Retics, "will eat your children, you dog, and anything else they can grab." . He plays on peoples fears of these animals and the genral public's ignorance to reptilian behaviour to ban them. He is not helping.

Even other resuces in the province, or the country for that matter, won't have anything to do with him. They don't want to be associated with him. The local SPCA here will send reptiles to them. I've got a working relationship (from my regular job) with the protection officer, but have yet to broach the subject regarding Rainforest with him.

Beware PETA in it's many forms!

...and they hung up on me. I called to discuss the destruction of the Afrock eggs. I suggested not putting males and females together, and they told me that and I quot," It's bad enough they're stuck in a cage for the rest of their lives, but we allow them the compaionship of living togther." When I pointed out that snakes aren't social, especially pythons, he said they have someone that disagrees with me. They ofcourse wouldn't tell me who. They also informed me that Retics eat people quite often in the wild, but agian couldn't back that claim up either. If any Canadians or Americans are bored or just feel like letting your feelings be heard, I encourage you to phone them at (604) 536 1791 or email them reptile@dynoserve.com

No offense buy anything with BC press I am against they have there own agenda almost more than anything I have read. Dang Candian news. Such BS that he is blasting out of his mouth. Maybe Curvy should eat a couple people the reporter and the guy with the park.

>>THE LEADER (Surrey, British Columbia) 11 July 04 Sneaking up on a snake
>>Coiled up, Curvy the African rock python doesn't appear much of a threat.
>>Her size - 15 feet long, with a girth about that of a 12-year-old's head - gives the impression she'd move slow. And she certainly doesn't look 125 lbs.
>>But Curvy is anything but a lady.
>>A member of the second-nastiest snake family in the world, her species in the wild will take on a crocodile without a second thought.
>>This week, at South Surrey's Rainforest Reptile Refuge, which has been her home for the past 10 years, Paul Springate is hoping he gets Curvy on a good day.
>>That's because he's going in to take away and destroy her most precious possession: the eggs she laid last Sunday.
>>"It's going to be downright, bloody scary," Springate said. "I have to go in, blindfold her, quickly get her off (the eggs), and have somebody go in and quickly scoop the eggs out.
>>"She's known to be very, very violent. One mistake and that could be my last."
>>Snakes like Curvy typically lay between 30 and 50 eggs. Left to hatch and grow in captivity, at least two will survive to adulthood.
>>The eggs have to be destroyed because the refuge, a non-profit society which relies on donations to care for its injured and abandoned charges, simply doesn't have the room or the money to take on the task.
>>This will be at least the fifth clutch of eggs Curvy's had taken from her since arriving.
>>Springate hopes the drastic but necessary measure will send a message to the public.
>>Too many people continue to buy exotic pets, not realizing the commitment reptiles like Curvy require, he said. Many live 20 years or more. Curvy could live until she's 40.
>>"People should not have these animals. They're not friendly, they're not domesticated, and you cannot tame them," Springate said.
>>Curvy's clutch would not face this fate if she was in the wild where she belongs, he added.
>>Sneaking up on a snake
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Currently keeping:
1.2 southern scrub pythons
1.0 reticulated python
1.0 albino burmese python
1.2 jungle carpet pythons
1.0 irian jaya carpet python
0.1 sumatran blood python
1.0 ball pythons
0.1 green anaconda
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2.2 colombian redtail boas
1.0 sonoran boa
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1.2 normal and albino whitewater rosy boas
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0.1 albino checkered gartersnake
1.1 california kingsnakes
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2 bearded dragons
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0.1 nile monitor
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and lots of bugs, furry critters, fish and birds