One Kills 100

[viper69]

I’ve been keeping reptiles longer than Ts, and I watch shows featuring herps.

This short video I haven’t seen before.

Despite Steve being an expert, he did things that were “crazy” to educate peeps. I’m glad he did.

This snake lives up to its reputation- a snake that typically tries to run.

 

[DomGom TheFather]

Aw, crikey!

 

[SpookySpooder]

Crikey mate! Look at this bugga!

 

[The Snark]

Possible / probable dopamine 'junkie'. Emergency services sees these people quite often. And it's not a simple condition but a series of neuro-chemical effects that often or usually avalanche together. Paradoxical in a way, dopamine combining with an adrenaline rush. Sometimes referred to as the 'superman complex'. Clouds and enhances judgement at the same time.

What is the neurological basis for 'daredevil' behaviour?

What is the neurological basis for people being seemingly fearless and engaging in risk-taking and daredevil behaviour? I am talking about those that frequently perform or participate in activitie...

psychology.stackexchange.com

As ambulance on standby I had a front row seat on one rescue. About 150 feet down a vertical face of rock in an overhang the guy got stuck. 7 rescuers with every imaginable piece of equipment, two of them instructors at Yosemite Mountaineering school, took over 3 hours figuring out how to get him out of there. The chemicals in his system wore off and he went from adept ape to clueless klutz.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I’ve been keeping reptiles longer than Ts, and I watch shows featuring herps.

This short video I haven’t seen before.

Despite Steve being an expert, he did things that were “crazy” to educate peeps. I’m glad he did.

This snake lives up to its reputation- a snake that typically tries to run.

Yeah he is legendary, I loved his show’s always watched them . Shame he didn’t wear any chain mail around sting rays he thought he was bullet proof . rip Steve Irwin .

 

[8 legged]

Possible / probable dopamine 'junkie'. Emergency services sees these people quite often. And it's not a simple condition but a series of neuro-chemical effects that often or usually avalanche together. Paradoxical in a way, dopamine combining with an adrenaline rush. Sometimes referred to as the 'superman complex'. Clouds and enhances judgement at the same time.

What is the neurological basis for 'daredevil' behaviour?

What is the neurological basis for people being seemingly fearless and engaging in risk-taking and daredevil behaviour? I am talking about those that frequently perform or participate in activitie...

psychology.stackexchange.com

As ambulance on standby I had a front row seat on one rescue. About 150 feet down a vertical face of rock in an overhang the guy got stuck. 7 rescuers with every imaginable piece of equipment, two of them instructors at Yosemite Mountaineering school, took over 3 hours figuring out how to get him out of there. The chemicals in his system wore off and he went from adept ape to clueless klutz.

A point of view I can't share. Steve was born into this scene, his father had already opened a zoo. As an Australian, you learn how to deal with dangerous animals at school. We owe him too much knowledge to label him an adrenaline junkie just because we may be of a degenerated kind....

 

[The Snark]

A point of view I can't share. Steve was born into this scene, his father had already opened a zoo. As an Australian, you learn how to deal with dangerous animals at school. We owe him too much knowledge to label him an adrenaline junkie just because we may be of a degenerated kind....

No intention of gainsaying or contradicting you. In fact, Steve Irwin is a poster child of a combination of the two. Everybody has seen him in a adrenaline dopamine rush blast, in the enclosure with the crocs. Arms and legs spread wide, crouched, ultra focused with lightning reflexes. Those are all part of the basal biochemistry and are almost entirely unrelated to the higher order brain functions. They can however, and often do, augment the higher order brain functions.

So look again at Steve in the croc enclosure. Many have accused him of antagonizing and baiting the animals. In the words of his mate Wes in an interview he commented, "Steve wasn't aware of this." What exactly did he mean? Steve was on the next level, training and experience wise. He had a very close affinity with those animals. In a way, communing with them, alongside what seemed like circus antics. A level that his audiences usually couldn't understand -> He's just dicing. Playing danger Dan. When in fact he absolutely adored those animals and knew their traits about as good as a human could possibly get. The animals health and well being were paramount and it never even occurred to him that what he was doing was often misconstrued.

So regard, in a sense, instead of Steve in that enclosure, it was two crocs competing for a hunting area or dominant rights over a female. The croc wasn't particularly disturbed, but it certainly resented it's private domain invaded, and of course, it was operating on two levels as well. The lowest basal level, an apex carnivore, and on a higher level, "Go find your own swamp!" And Steve was just playing the part of a teenage croc, just testing the waters so to speak. -> Hey! Be cool. I'm only messing with you a bit." And how did Steve know this? The knowledge you mentioned of course. Just about anyone else in that enclosure was either an animal abuser or a completely fool.

 

[l4nsky]

It's also worth noting that a lot of the specimens that were featured in the show were captive animals that were used to handling and were generally pretty tractable. With how secretive taipans are in the wild, I'm willing to bet this one was an animal from the Australia Zoo's collection that Steve was familiar with her behaviour and was taken to a remote location to be filmed. No disrespect to the man, myth, and legend but this was TV after all and while there were risks with this shoot, they were well mitigated.

 

[8 legged]

It's also worth noting that a lot of the specimens that were featured in the show were captive animals that were used to handling and were generally pretty tractable. With how secretive taipans are in the wild, I'm willing to bet this one was an animal from the Australia Zoo's collection that Steve was familiar with her behaviour and was taken to a remote location to be filmed. No disrespect to the man, myth, and legend but this was TV after all and while there were risks with this shoot, they were well mitigated.

That's just a guess, but I can follow it. At least that's how I would do it. The behavior, i.e. the hyperactive fidgeting, is certainly solely due to the camera.

 

[l4nsky]

That's just a guess, but I can follow it. At least that's how I would do it. The behavior, i.e. the hyperactive fidgeting, is certainly solely due to the camera.

But an educated one based on a BTS episode of The Crocodile Hunter waaaaaaaay back when .

 

[Introvertebrate]

................No disrespect to the man, myth, and legend but this was TV after all and while there were risks with this shoot, they were well mitigated.

Does anyone else wish Irwin's kids would get well mitigated.

 

[8 legged]

Does anyone else wish Irwin's kids would get well mitigated.

Maybe it is a language problem, but I can't follow...

 

[Introvertebrate]

Maybe it is a language problem, but I can't follow...

You and I have to work for a living. Irwin's kids have built their careers upon sympathy.

 

[8 legged]

Oh, I understand. Thanx

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

You and I have to work for a living. Irwin's kids have built their careers upon sympathy.

I’ve seen them on tv they have or had a show . “Crickets it’s the Irwin’s “.

 

[The Snark]

That's just a guess,

But an educated one based on a BTS episode of The Crocodile Hunter waaaaaaaay back when

Not a guess. A follow up movie was made behind the scenes of the nuts and bolts of the videos he made. First and foremost was animal health and well being. On numerous occasions every day of the filming Steve or Wes would call off everything to tend to the animals while the entire filming operation was put on hold.
One particular instance, Wes called off the shooting so he and Steve could bag the animals and place them in an air conditioned vehicle to cool off and relax. Steve later mentioned that while he was busy portraying his part Wes noted one of the snakes appeared to be stressed and brought this to Steve's attention. A slightly comical aspect was, snake health first and, incidentally, a king brown copping an attitude among the 20-30 people milling around general safety issues.
Wes was within a few feet of Steve in almost every video he made. Safety supervisor and ultra highly trained animal expert knowing every nuance of the animals and if they might be getting stressed. In fact, animal and Steve wise, Wes was in charge of the sets. His word - absolute unimpeachable law from the health and safety officer. The trained objective viewpoint oblivious as to what the filming was about.
And, incidentally, Wes was the one who protected the filming crew as or more often than Steve. Caught in the off takes, capturing a king brown that took off straight into the filming crew, Wes was there and had things under control in a few seconds.
Wes was just as adept as Steve in handling animals. Even moreso in that he was never involved in other operations such as feeding or filming and giving narratives. After Steve's death Wes was a shoe in taking over administration of AZ as director. Animal and people health and safety became the full on administrative focus. The showmanship aspect got dialed down.

Wes Mannion - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Not a guess. A follow up movie was made behind the scenes of the nuts and bolts of the videos he made. First and foremost was animal health and well being. On numerous occasions every day of the filming Steve or Wes would call off everything to tend to the animals while the entire filming operation was put on hold.
One particular instance, Wes called off the shooting so he and Steve could bag the animals and place them in an air conditioned vehicle to cool off and relax. Steve later mentioned that while he was busy portraying his part Wes noted one of the snakes appeared to be stressed and brought this to Steve's attention. A slightly comical aspect was, snake health first and, incidentally, a king brown copping an attitude among the 20-30 people milling around general safety issues.
Wes was within a few feet of Steve in almost every video he made. Safety supervisor and ultra highly trained animal expert knowing every nuance of the animals and if they might be getting stressed. In fact, animal and Steve wise, Wes was in charge of the sets. His word - absolute unimpeachable law from the health and safety officer. The trained objective viewpoint oblivious as to what the filming was about.
And, incidentally, Wes was the one who protected the filming crew as or more often than Steve. Caught in the off takes, capturing a king brown that took off straight into the filming crew, Wes was there and had things under control in a few seconds.
Wes was just as adept as Steve in handling animals. Even moreso in that he was never involved in other operations such as feeding or filming and giving narratives. After Steve's death Wes was a shoe in taking over administration of AZ as director. Animal and people health and safety became the full on administrative focus. The showmanship aspect got dialed down.

Wes Mannion - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Wow I had no clue about Wes.!!! Is he still working with wild animals???

 

[The Snark]

Wow I had no clue about Wes.!!! Is he still working with wild animals???

From various sources. Wes handed the reins over to Terry in 2020 and moved his life laterally. He now runs his wife's family business but is still involved in wildlife protection and preservation.

 

[NaychaBoi]

The man responsible for educating countless people about wildlife and their conservation. I grew up watching Steve, and he is one of the biggest reasons I am so passionate about animals and the environment. This is one example of many of impressive handling of snakes. A lot of people have criticised the way he gets up close and personal with animals. It was his intention to get you as close to the animal as possible, to make you care about it, to make you see that it wasn't some scary monster. Steve simply had the experience and knowledge to back up the way he handled animals, snakes in particular. He never copped a bite from a venomous snake, which considering the situations he was in, is super impressive. And he always put the animals welfare above everything else, and had an excellent team to back him up. Wildlife conservation wouldn't be what it is today without him.

It's also worth noting that a lot of the specimens that were featured in the show were captive animals that were used to handling and were generally pretty tractable. With how secretive taipans are in the wild, I'm willing to bet this one was an animal from the Australia Zoo's collection that Steve was familiar with her behaviour and was taken to a remote location to be filmed. No disrespect to the man, myth, and legend but this was TV after all and while there were risks with this shoot, they were well mitigated.

Quite possible, when it comes to making documentaries there are certainly deadlines and they don't always align with prime conditions for targeting certain species. I've been involved with filming some stuff with snakes, often they'll be found somewhere and taken to a location that's safer to film in, away from public, no chance of escapes and has better lighting, etc. When it comes to snakes behaviour, the vast majority are quite predictable, and settle down after a bit of calm handling. One of the best examples is when Steve finds a Crotalus tigris in the Sidewinders of Arizona episode.