I was not at all surprised that the gentleman was killed by a snake. I would never say he deserved it but he was wreckless and at times the snakes were out of his control. They had videos on YouTube showing them deliberately antagonising the animals something I find utterly detestable. The videos were removed within hours of the incident.
The only reason for handling the animals in such a fashion is to provide a spectacle for the misguided visitors. While working in the US I asked if I could gain experience with handling 'hots' and my mentor had the utmost respect for the animals.I was taught a
variety of handling methods to minimise stress and ensure I always had control over the animal.
It's unfortunate he died but far more unfortunate that their handling methods led to an event which would have only reinforced the negative public perception of these animals.
The video below doesn't even come close to some of the reckless acts depicted in the (now removed) promotional videos for the 'sanctuary' Http://youtu.be/Bd4DQ8q-nVc
I am sorry to hear he died and would never speak ill of the dead. Just generally though I can never understand antagonising reptiles. A lot of venomous keepers and keepers of crocs use their defence mechanisms as a form of entertainment. I can think of a few big zoos with these kinds of shows! I think it is the equivalent of a keeper coming along with a metal bar and rattling the cages of the big cats to make them attack. It is not acceptable with mammals so why should it be with reptiles?
Most of the Cobra's were trained to respond to hand signals,which include signals for them to hood,and go flat to the ground some of them even knew a hand signal to return to their viv,but then the promotional video for the place was never going to show you something as dull and boring as that,as it would never bring people in to the place.Just for the record after Romy Whitaker(Think I've spelt that right),nobody has done more research in under standing King Cobra behaviour,than Luke did also nobody has bred as many King Cobras as Luke did,sdo on those grounds alone I think he deserves alittle bit of respect,considering he is nolonger with us to defend how he did things!!!
Most of the Cobra's were trained to respond to hand signals,which include signals for them to hood,and go flat to the ground some of them even knew a hand signal to return to their viv,but then the promotional video for the place was never going to show you something as dull and boring as that,as it would never bring people in to the place.Just for the record after Romy Whitaker(Think I've spelt that right),nobody has done more research in under standing King Cobra behaviour,than Luke did also nobody has bred as many King Cobras as Luke did,sdo on those grounds alone I think he deserves alittle bit of respect,considering he is nolonger with us to defend how he did things!!!
What is the take home message from the tragic death of this cobra's owner? It seems to me that if even the world's expert got killed handling the cobras like this that probably nobody should be doing this.
I don't think anybody in a traditional zoo setting would be working with cobras like this. Perhaps some valid science could come from such handling, but mostly it seems like unnecessarily risky showing-off that puts both the snake and its handlers in a bad situation for no good reason.
Cobras trained to respond to hand gestures? Goodness, he did have you drinking the kool aid!
Were the cobras also trained to receive kisses as the videos and photograps suggest?
Where was his research published? I've never seen it!
I'd wager he told you they had bred more king cobras than anyone else too? Isn't it totally implausible given that Memphis, Riverbanks and GPZ have been consistently breeding them since the very early 90's? Indeed these institutions established the husbandry paramaters for the species!
I find it very difficult to believe Romulus Whitaker would be anything other than utterly flabbergasted by the way they treated these animals.
Suggestions they planned to breed 'golden mutation' kings speak volumes about his 'conservation work'.
As perviously stated it's unfortunate he died but he didn't respect the animals and it was sadly inevitable one of these guy would take a bite.
Cobras trained to respond to hand gestures? Goodness, he did have you drinking the kool aid!
Were the cobras also trained to receive kisses as the videos and photograps suggest?
Where was his research published? I've never seen it!
I'd wager he told you they had bred more king cobras than anyone else too? Isn't it totally implausible given that Memphis, Riverbanks and GPZ have been consistently breeding them since the very early 90's? Indeed these institutions established the husbandry paramaters for the species!
I find it very difficult to believe Romulus Whitaker would be anything other than utterly flabbergasted by the way they treated these animals.
Suggestions they planned to breed 'golden mutation' kings speak volumes about his 'conservation work'.
As perviously stated it's unfortunate he died but he didn't respect the animals and it was sadly inevitable one of these guy would take a bite.
Believe want you want to believe about the man I know what I saw and not just when he was,showing people what he could do or when filming to show people what they would see if they visited!
As for your comment about Romy again taken from not knowing the facts,as both he and Luke were in regular contact via e-mail and phone,I know as I have seen the e-mails between them over footage that was taken on site that was never put on to the net,because it showed behaviour that had not even been seen in wild Cobra's.
Now out of respect for people I know that worked there and for Luke himself I'm going to leave it there and not say any more,and will let you believe what ever you want about the place!!
