Some cobra pix

[hamfoto]

I'd like to think that a stupid venomous keeper will end up dead by himself, but thats just a personal preference, like my preference a DUI driver hits a pole..
T

Firstly, DUI drivers kill thousands of innocent people every year.

Look, I seriously doubt that anyone on this board wants to "ban" any kind of reptile or arachnid...but, there are stupid people out there...and mean, angry people. These are dangerous animals, sometimes, and not everyone has the right to own one of these. In Dallas, Texas this past summer, some fool was found to be owning about 15 species of "hot" snakes in his apartment. They found him because there were 2 Asian cobras that were living in a hole together on the side of the apartment...people had seen them and they had charged a few of them. No one got bit, thank goodness, but they said it was close a couple of times...
Now, who has problems with a little bit of structure or record-keeping and prerequisites for owning these animals? if you do, is it because it might inconvenience you a little? well, if you want to own these, then you should be educated enough to do so.
I've never had cobras or any other elapids but I have had vipers, mostly rattlesnakes and that's because I have dealt with them and feel comfortable handling them when I have to move them or feed them. I would not have a problem getting certified to own these...but then again, I'm not always thinking about myself and pleasing me. I think about others and their safety too.
I don't want these animals banned! I love them...but I also don't think people should be walking around with guns without certification.

by the way...Lelle, your Cobras look fantastic! good job...did you breed and hatch them?

 

[Crotalus]

Look, I seriously doubt that anyone on this board wants to "ban" any kind of reptile or arachnid...but, there are stupid people out there...and mean, angry people. These are dangerous animals, sometimes, and not everyone has the right to own one of these.

by the way...Lelle, your Cobras look fantastic! good job...did you breed and hatch them?

Compare the number of annual deaths caused by captive reptiles to the annual number of fatal incidents with horses, cars or guns and you clearly see its a problem that is tiny. Here in Sweden, there are so far no fatalities with captive reptiles at all.
So, to say that captive reptiles is a threat to public safety while thousands are killed each year in traffic makes little sence to me. Offcourse its a issue simply because most people have a irrational fear of any reptile or arachnid. So its easy to imagine the mass that these captive kept animals, that for most part are not kept by crackaddicts or lunatics, are a threat.
The breeder must take a greater responsibility to whom he sell to start with.
Im not against regulations - as long they are not against the hobby.
Another problem that I can see is that more and more money becomes a greater part in the hobby, as smugglers - or scrupelless importers - who dont give a crap about the animals wellbeing are offering venomous snakes at shows (one got kicked out recently here) - and these people have little concern who they sell to. As long they get their money.

Ok enought of that..
Thanks, they are pretty nice. No i got them from a friend who breeds them. From two bloodlines so I hopefully I can breed them in the future.

/Lelle

 

[metallica]

all hot snakes should be banned.........in Sweden

thinking of getting Aspidelaps this year.

Eddy
oh here is a pic of one of my Sistrurus (sorry, no cobras yet)

 

[RaZeDaHeLL666]

There's an 19 year old lady down the block with a cobra and everything is just fine. I dont think it is dangerous if you know what you are doing. I sleep a foot away from 2 androctonus bicolors and an E. Murinus. This is rediculous. People should be allowed to keep whatever they want. For those who feel otherwise, there are buildings and places you can live that allow no pets.

 

[zoobugs]

The truth of the matter is...and I work at a zoo with venomous animals....venomous snakes are hyped at being deadly way more than what actually happens. With the species of cobra that Lelle has shown, it has statistically been proven that if 10 people get bit by this species, and no antivenin is given to anyone, 9 out of 10 of them will survive the bite. The media only reports the cases where a death or extreme trauma has occurred. You run a greater risk at being killed on the street with one of many man-made items than being killed by a venomous snake, and I don't see many people cringing in fear for not stepping out of their homes each day. I agree that owning hot snakes isn't for everyone just like owning firearms isn't for everyone either. I do think that there ought to be a test or some way to prove one's ability to maintain these animals before they are allowed to get one. Too many people can buy whatever they want without being checked out and that is a shame. But just because someone doesn't understand the animal or animals is not a reason to deny others who may have knowledge and skills to keep them.

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Yeah! Crossing reindeer and elks kill 10-20 people at least every year in Sweden! I think they should be eradicated! They are a danger to society!

What about smoking?
We have mentioned cars often enough in this thread, but what about alcohol?

And to be even more specific, most people bit by such dangerous animals don't die but get INJURED - so how many thousands of things could be stacked up that injure people but which noone bothers about?

Sitting in a chair most of the day for 10 years will certainly injure you!
Eating too much fatty food...
How about being a teacher in a noisy classroom? Result: tinitus!
What about other stress related deseases and injuries...

All in all: I agree - it's only the spectacular and odd news that people pay attention to and which form OPPINION about something people in general don't know anything about.

I also agree that anybody getting a dangerous animal should check out first what he or she is getting into but I don't see any danger to other people in all this.

It is more dangerous to throw all batteries in the normal trash bin than having a hot snake owning neighbour!!!

What about all the car exausts and the greenhouse effect... nobody seems to care about that eventho new studies* have shown that 60% of the polar ice will melt within the next 50 years and "everything everybody cares about" is wether someone has a hot snake. The snakes AND US are going to die out during the next 100 years anyway! If it was worth a bet I'd bet my soul on that! Enjoy yourself as long as you can. Earth = RIP. I can't change what is happening with the environment. The ones that can only see $ or £ or whatever... Human kind deserves it.

Gloomy, but that's my view.

*New studies may even show that we get more polar ice within the next 50 years. They change every day so I don't pay attention to them really. But I still expect human extinction. We are just too stupid to survive since we can't preserve our mother earth.