Rain Forest Refuge

[kevyn]

I just got off the phone with them, or rather I was hung up on by them. I called regarding an article on the ******* Retic forum regarding the destrution of Afrock eggs. I asked simply why they were housed together, and I was told that they need compionship. I was stunned. I told him that pythons are not social creatures, and he said they have someone there that would disagree with me. Ofcourse wouldn't tell me who. They also informed me that Retics eat lots of people in the wild. Again they couldn't back up this claim either. If you're bored or just want your feelings heard, please call them at (604) 5361791 or email them at reptile@dynaserve.com I may have heard the email wrong, it could also be reptile@dynoserve.com people on the coast will probably know what I'm talking about.

[kevyn]

Here's the article.

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.

http://www.surreyleader.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=73&cat=23&id=265121&more=

[Siretsap]

If they are gonna destroy the eggs, I hope they give them to some monitors they have (if they have monitors).

Think the market would go for fresh rock python eggs? wonder if they are salty ;-)

Seriously, I understand they do not keep the eggs and destroy them, but not the housing the snakes together part...

[capsicum]

Kevyn, I am guessing that you talked to Paul? I also spoke with him (about an unrelated manner), and he has a bit of a swelled head. Yeah, he made me feel guilty for having a corn snake at the time. And to think that he's just a kid too ;)

TK

[Invictus]

Perhaps you missed this thread:

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=48769

Kinda old news now. But at least something was done about it.

[Vanan]

Something was done about it but it's not enough. There has been rebuttals and it's gonna be an ongoing process until they seek proper help from the right sources or they're shut down. The fight goes on...