Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If you guys are watching, I think we all know who's side Animal Planet is on.

so far, at least half of the show is focusing on burmese pythons.

They are using videos and pictures of snakes that aren't even pythons, let alone burms...

and, they are using testimony/interviews from Bill Nelson, but very few, if any statements from true experts.

Apparently, pythons have "fangs," are "more deadly than venomous snakes"...wearing a cowboy hat makes you an expert on "python wrangling"....and burmese pythons the width of a 12 year old's arm are "mean enough & strong enough to squeeze the life out of a full grown man."

We need to start a campaign against Animal Planet and Discovery.

Any thoughts?
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1.1.0 Hogg Island Boa
0.1.0 Albino Columbian Boa
1.0.0 Emerald Tree Boa
1.0.0 Carpet Python
1.0.0 Jampea Tiger Retic
1.0.0 Red Albino Cornsnake
1.0.0 Water Dragon
0.0.1 Pink Toe Tarantula
0.0.1 Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
....................................

Shed Your Fears!
www.freewebs.com/ShedYourFears

Facebook has a page "Boycott Animal Planet for fear mongering". They have the info to write and email Animal Planet to voice your opinion. We have just under 700 members as of now and would highly recommend joining. As for the shows, I quit watching such smut.

That or animal rights fueled propaganda...

Here is that link for facebook -
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=378993595070&ref=mf

As I have stated on other lists, with Fred Kaufman as the series executive producer of these shows, nothing good will come of any of it. Its Animal Rights fueled propaganda, and nothing more. He serves on the advisory board of The Humane Society of the United States Hollywood Division.

Do you think that a channel that puts an animal rights organization like the HSUS in charge of programming has anything but animosity for exotic keepers? The whole point of "Fatal Attractions" seems from what I read about it to be aimed at attacking the very character of the people involved, and the character of exotic keepers in general. The more they can make us appear to be deviants, the less the public will take anything we say seriously. According to their "Human behavior experts" we all keep animals because we have EGO problems, our interest in them as animals comes second to that.

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/reviews/article_1540921.php/Review-Fatal-Attractions-on-Animal-Planet-Mar-14-Ego-plus-denial-equals-death

Having yet another organization (http://www.cwapc.org/ - more of the "we can keep them, but you can't because we are special" "animal rescue" crowd) that wants to see the end of animal keeping as their "professional" for the show doesn't hurt your cause either.

Steve would be rolling in his grave...It makes one wonder, how Wes, Terri & Bindi and the rest of them over at the Australian Zoo would feel about this garbage, and the direction Animal Planet has gone?

The email is
viewerrelations@discovery.om
letters@discovery.com
I made mine out to "Attn. Marjorie Kaplan" the pres. of Animal Planet. Be sure to mention the impact these shows will surely have on the animals already in homes through out the country. We have almost 700 in the campaign already but I know we can do better.
BOYCOTT THE SMUT PEDALERS AND THEIR SPONSORS

I wouldn't be surprised if the reason we haven't seen any new specials featuring Terri, Wes or the Australia Zoo is that Animal Planet either dropped them, or they dropped AP.

Considering Terri rehabilitated Mountain Lions, and Steve kept exotics all his life...I would imagine that they would promote PROPER care and respect for these animals, not an all out ban.

Not to criticize other creatures or their keepers, but I think more focus needs to be directed toward invasive mammalian and bird species. Reptiles can only survive in very specific climates.... mammals and birds are quite a bit more versatile.

Has anyone tried contacting Australia Zoo? With such a huge problem facing the reptile industry...I would be curious to see if they would make a statement, or possibly aid USARK in their efforts? I'm sure Steve would have.

I am emailing Discovery & joining that FB group as I type!
-----
1.1.0 Hogg Island Boa
0.1.0 Albino Columbian Boa
1.0.0 Emerald Tree Boa
1.0.0 Carpet Python
1.0.0 Jampea Tiger Retic
1.0.0 Red Albino Cornsnake
1.0.0 Water Dragon
0.0.1 Pink Toe Tarantula
0.0.1 Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
....................................

Shed Your Fears!
www.freewebs.com/ShedYourFears

Terri might not take your case, actually. She was against the keeping of exotic mammals. I don't think she or Steve had that much concern on the reptile front..

Matthew

Unfortunately, this is a real problem. But to sensationalize it like that & present such inaccurate info does more harm than good. Anybody identify the 4 or 5 different monitors they were calling Niles? Loved the Lace myself.
Florida now has an ecosystem composed more of stuff we brought into the state, since developers have paved most of the coasts and destroyed its wilderness.

Matthew

....Note: I'm not defending this show, at all. It showed a complicated, sensitive issue BADLY & from one perspective.
But the Burms are there because of the actions of irresponsible people.
There is a similar situation in the water, where we now have P. voilatans Lionfish as part of the Florida ecosystem.
I doubt there will ever be a simple solution, but I did like the idea of Microchiping pythons. Seems reasonable to me. What do you all think?

Matthew

I'm totally filling out this letter at:

http://www.kill-s373.com/

To stop the snake ban, it's easy, you make 2 copies and mail them to ur 2 congressmen for ur state. It explains it at that link. I'm even having my friends do it, even people who don't have snakes. It's b.s. and it needs 2 stop b4 it starts!