Archive for african rock python
USARK Hires GES for Economic Survey
Posted by: | CommentsGeorgetown Economic Services (GES) has been hired by the Unites States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) to do the first comprehensive economic assessment ever done on the Herp Industry. This is very important because to date the economic data that has been portrayed by US Fish & Wildlife Service and Animal Rights advocates have been fundamentally flawed and a gross underestimate. This is a chance to “Set The Record Straight”. It will continue to be a vital tool in establishing the Herp Industry as a real and independent industry with real power as an economic engine. The trade in high quality reptiles must be demonstrated to be the valuable piece of the American economy that it is.
To view the entire press release from USARK or to take a quick survey to help in the study visit the Political News Page.
Super Snake?
Posted by: | CommentsIt seems new hybrid snakes are being produced all the time these days. I find some of these crossings rather interesting. So today I decided to do some research on the subject of hybrid snakes. As I searched one of the first pages that came up was titled “New ‘Super Snake’ Python Hybrid May be on the Rise in Florida” the article sparked a little interest in me and when I looked at the web address below it really sparked my interest. The address pointed to a site titled TreeHugger.com. I thought to myself “great! here we go again.”
When I opened the article it was just as I had feared. At the top of the article was an image of a large African Rock Python with its mouth gaped wide open displaying a mouth full of nasty looking teeth. The image no doubt was intended to strike fear and panic in the public and gain support for anti-reptile and anti-python political agendas. The article went on to talk about the problem with Burmese pythons in the everglades and states that some now fear that African rock pythons are becoming established. The article also states that people worry that the two species may form a hybrid “Super Snake.” The very idea of a “Super Snake” is quite ridiculous. While it is possible for the two species to interbreed it is often difficult to get two different species to hybridize in captivity and even more rare in the wild. Also the hybrid a Burmese and an African rock has been produced in captivity and it did not form any sort of “Super Snake.” In fact the hybrid has been shown to be much smaller than either of it’s parents. Since the hybrid is much smaller and less of a threat maybe we should hope that the two species do hybridize in Florida.
Very possibly the most ridiculous and quite frankly humorous parts of the article is the equation they showed to demonstrate the hybrid snake. The author showed an image of a Burmese and a African Rock being added together and the resulting image showed a rather small African Rock Python eating a Dik Dik. A Dik Dik is a small African antelope that rarely weighs more that 15 pounds . . . not exactly a “Super Snake.”
I was very pleased to look in the comments and find many people attacking the article and it’s ridiculousness and sharing some of the same insights and opinions shared here.
If you want to read the article you can do so here.
Good News on HR2811!
Posted by: | CommentsWhile the bill passed through the full committee it has been amended. Now instead of baning the breeding and trading of all species in the Python genera it is now limited to only two species, the Burmese Python (Python molurus bivattatus) and the African Rock Python (Python sebae). If this bill were to pass as is it would ban the import, export, and interstate trading of these two species. USARK and PIJAC are going to try and work out and amendment that would only ban the importing of these species and still allow commercial trade of captive breed snakes.
USARK says this is a huge victory for the reptile community and they would like to thank everyone who help make this happen.
PIJAC though warns that this could still be trouble as it may lead to more bills similar to this one being passed.
R-Zilla Shed Ease