We lost one of the good guys :(

[Lankyrob]

Snake researcher’s untimely demise is first death in UK in 150 years

Press Release - Federation of British Herpetologists
For immediate release 29.06.2011

Luke Yeomans, one of the UK’s foremost and most respected venomous snake experts, has sadly passed away whilst administering to one of his beloved animals. Full details of the circumstances of this tragic event are as yet unclear but his family can take comfort in the knowledge that he died, as he had lived, caring for the king cobras which he had dedicated his life to protecting.

Mr Yeomans had established a sanctuary for the king cobra, the world’s largest venomous snake, which is sadly endangered in the wild and he felt passionately that captive-breeding was an imperative safety net in the face of potential species extinction. His enthusiasm and passion for king cobras and his in-depth knowledge, built up over a lifetime of experience, was the focus of his life and it is hoped that the legacy of his contribution to their conservation will live on after his untimely demise.

Whilst this is undoubtedly a great tragedy, Mr Yeomans was a licensed venomous snake keeper who accepted the implicit risks involved and considered this justifiable in the face of his invaluable contribution to science. Like many others at the forefront of their chosen field, Luke pushed boundaries and paid the ultimate price for his work and his death follows many in the fields of sport and human endeavour who have gone before him.

Sadly, Luke was the first snake-keeper in the UK to lose his life whilst pursuing his passion but it is important not to let knee-jerk reactions to a tragic situation lead to a witch hunt against the animals to which he showed so much dedication.

Chris Newman
Chairman Federation of British Herpetologists