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Did anyone watch National Geographic last night?

goini04 Aug 24, 2005 07:12 AM

It was around 11:00pm ET they had a show called, "The hunters and the hunted". It was showing when "animals turn on their keepers" and they were pretty much spotlighting venomous snakes. Both keepers that I saw (which unfortunately I only caught the show halfway in) were working with cobras. Both morons were free-handing the cobras and doing a bunch of "shows" with the animals. One guy in Thailand died because he claimed that he was "immune" to snake venom. The other was a guy here in the states that was doing little shows and was packing his animals up, once again not using proper tools (but let me guess....it's because he is a "professional"...which is typically the excuse I hear) and the snake was agitated because it just finished shedding. He got bit on the stomach and spent a couple weeks in the hospital.

It's pretty sad. Just wondering if anyone else saw it and what they thought?

Chris

Replies (10)

rearfang Aug 24, 2005 09:05 AM

I missed it....

Have to say though I have personally seen people who handle fully charged Cobras like they are Indigos, because they felt they were "familiar" with their snake.

I am reminded of Grace Wiley who for years used to do a trick where she patted her Cobras on the head---till one bit her and she died nintey minutes after being bit on the middle finger.

Another reason why I am very careful about who I encourage in the keeping of Hots.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

phobos Aug 24, 2005 10:18 AM

Missed it too!

People who "freehandle" get their "Ticket punched" sooner or later. Not if they get bitten, it's when.

You can take the animal out of the Jungle but can't take the Jungle out of the animal!

Al

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"Fighting on the forums is like competing in the Special Olympics, even if you win, you're still retarded."

DH June 2005

amos Aug 25, 2005 07:59 PM

I love that snake Al!!! Is that Bitis Caudalis?? I want one.....can I have yours??...lol.I have tube socks galore to trade!!..LOL.Anyway love the pic any more posted anywhere else?

Trey

phobos Aug 26, 2005 08:19 AM

Yes, that's Bitis caldalis. I have a trio now...

You can see all of them on my website. They are in catagories by family & genera. It's a work in progress so not evething is labled.

Cheers!

Al

Deadly Beautiful

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"Fighting on the forums is like competing in the Special Olympics, even if you win, you're still retarded."

DH June 2005

psilocybe Aug 24, 2005 10:59 AM

I didn't see the show, but if I'm right, the guy who got bitten in the stomach was David Weathers, a zookeeper in FL, and it was a monocle cobra.

He was a recurrent guest on the MTV show "Wildboyz" (with two of the guys from Jackass), and did various dangerous things with hots, including the "kiss of death" with a king cobra.

I'm sure the monocle incident was isolated...when you "play" with hots, you're gonna get tagged sooner or later.

kingcobrafan Aug 24, 2005 04:37 PM

Another NGeo episode painting private keepers with the same broad (negative) brush. At the very least, they should have balanced the show with two handlers who've done it for years and never been bitten. Pretty biased, IMO.
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Venomous snakes---best hobby on earth!
Bill Huseth

rearfang Aug 24, 2005 05:22 PM

The problem is that if they did show a fair presentation, it wouldn't serve their purpose. I think it would be very interesting to see who contributes buccoo bucks...

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

phobos Aug 24, 2005 06:41 PM

Hey Frank..

Are you saying Sex & Stupidity sells commercials?

Al
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"Fighting on the forums is like competing in the Special Olympics, even if you win, you're still retarded."

DH June 2005

rearfang Aug 24, 2005 06:59 PM

lololololololololololololololol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

twilightfade212 Aug 27, 2005 12:46 AM

I saw it. I've noticed that they replay episodes, so everyone who missed it should keep their eyes open and might be able to catch it sometime soon.

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