Does anyone know how Jonno from ERD is?

[Whisper2]

hey there

a little off target but were you at the gold coast show in mudgeerabah?

and hope everything comes right! naughty snake lol

: )

[Jonno from ERD]

G'day whisper,

That was us. Did you enjoy the show?

Also, I didn't receive any antivenom.

Cheers

[Whisper2]

yes, i thought it might have been.

wonderful show you have going.
watched one of the shows before you went on stage as well as the one on stage.
can see how hard it would be to deal with people and keep attention on snakes.

all the best. : )

[AustHerps]

I have a question... On exactly what day did this happen?

You see, only a couple of days ago, I had the pleasure of being lectured by Jonno on handling and responsibility. I didn't appreciate that he suggested that I'm an incompetent keeper. He was quick to state that he was "one of the few" people who could claim to have the "title" of never receiving a bite (on a technicality, but we won't mention the P. colletti tooth that he managed to be envenomated by). A tad arrogant I thought, but hey, I wore it. I just want to know... was that statement true? Had you never received a 'bite' from a venomous snake? Or did this bite occur the very day after I was privileged enough to receive the lecture from a man with such a prestigious title?

You suggest that handling in a shopping centre is uncontrolled, and that that is a mitigating factor in the bite you received. When I juxtapose a shopping centre to the bush, I see many similarities - unpredictable noises, rough terrains and obstructions, etc. Yet I fail to see other people receiving tags and suggesting that the bush was a mitigating factor. Bottom line is - know the scenario you're in - no ifs or buts.

All bites are avoidable, yes. And no one deserves one (nor do the families of those who receive them).
But good comes from all that's bad. In this case, I can only hope that reality kicks in.

Cheers,
Aaron.

[Jozz]

That statement is still absolutly true in my opinion.

[waruikazi]

Good to hear you are ok mate. What was/is the recovery like?

[waruikazi]

And did it hurt?

[Jonno from ERD]

The recovery is going well, I'm doing a bit of typing as it is helping the swelling in my hand decrease.

Aaron,

The bite happened around 11:15am on Saturday. I think you need to do a bit more research on the incident with the loose Collett Snake fang, as I wasn't envenomated and the entire process was simply following protocol of the facility I was working at. I wouldn't consider that a bite, considering the fang wasn't attached to the snake.

I think you will find that by me saying "it was 100% avoidable and 100% my fault" concludes that there is no if's or but's about the reason it happened. I was simply stating that the three factors that contribute to the safe handling of captive snakes were compromised. I fail to see any reason that someone would need to handle a captive elapid in the bush, so your juxtaposition is null and void.

[RevDaniel]

I don't know you but happy to read that you are okay

[AustHerps]

Guess I misunderstood what you were trying to portray with this then...

Originally Posted by Jonno

Personally, demonstrating tame captives that do nothing but sit there and look pretty is boring and non-educational. We have Beardies that flare up, we have Bluey's that gape at us, goanna's that tail whip, and of course, snakes that bite.

My bad

[whatsup]

austherps wrote

All bites are avoidable, yes. And no one deserves one (nor do the families of those who receive them).
But good comes from all that's bad. In this case, I can only hope that reality kicks in.




there is a difference between an idealist and a realist. if you are going to handle vens it will happen one day.as long as you know the procedures to take if it does happen and are willing to take the chance hopefully all is good.i for one fully support these people like jonno doing these shows educating the public with these critters.sometimes criticism should be taken on board aaron

[Wrasse]

*said in the nicest, gentlest possible way with a slight grin* Shut up Aaron. There is a difference between my stirring the pot a little and your antagonistic comments. Jonno has received a lesson and doesn't need your vitriol too.

Keep your out of shape nose on your face please. Thanks

Mia.

[Whisper2]

go wrasse.

[AustHerps]

whatsup - We are all entitled to our opinions. Mine is that all tags are avoidable. They are caused by incompetencies on the handler's behalf. I am a realist - bites will happen. I keep a small and modest selection of venomous snakes, and I face the possibility of a bite each and every day. Will I stand here and say that I'll never get bitten? No. I wouldn't make such a definitive statement. No person is perfect, we all have our own little incompetencies. I applaud Jonno for admitting he stuffed up. What I dislike is the disclaiming 'but' at the end.

Originally Posted by Jonno

I was simply stating that the three factors that contribute to the safe handling of captive snakes were compromised.

Of course there's merit to educating the public. I completely and utterly support that humans should be taught to live with our native animals. There's a saying - 'Knowledge is key', and the more that the general populus know about our wonderful neighbours, the safer we all are. Another saying - 'Safety first is safety always'. With his above quote, Jonno is suggesting that doing live displays in shopping centres with venomous animals places himself in a position where he cannot operate to the same safety standards as if he were standing in his herp room. Is it okay to compromise one of the factors that contribute to the safe handling of captive snakes??

Certainly, constructive criticisms should be taken on board. They are what help us to better our skills. What steps is ERD going to take to ensure (as far as possible, of course) that another tag won't happen? Luckily it was a shallow bite, with a low yield - I'd hate to think how the laws as to venomous snake keeping might be altered if a professional snake handler come to an end in front of a crowd at a shopping centre.

Originally Posted by Wrasse

There is a difference between my stirring the pot a little and your antagonistic comments. Jonno has received a lesson and doesn't need your vitriol too.

Admittedly, I probably wouldn't have even bothered to post had Jonno not portrayed himself so righteously. Antagonistic? Perhaps to some. But I have a right to know what a business, who's activities pose risk to my rights, plans to do in order to correct it's shortcomings.

Cheers,
Aaron.

[BIG RYANO]

Originally Posted by AustHerps

Admittedly, I probably wouldn't have even bothered to post had Jonno not portrayed himself so righteously.

Cheers,
Aaron.

Well said Austherps.