The most significant thing we have done was the T_Rex Great Adventure Reptile Safari to Africa! Marilee and I spent 10 days with Mike Perry and his daughter Nicole, with a group of 6 being led around South Africa on a reptile safari. We collected, photographed, and released over 50 species of reptiles and amphibians, from giant pythons and cobras (spitting and otherwise) down to a thread snake that was so small it could crawl through the seams of our bags. Many lizards and amphibiam species were observed. We also traveled around a lot visiting different habitats, roadside zoos and other attractions, including a Zulu village where one of the Chiefs wanted to buy Marilee and add her to his collection of 5 wives and 25 children! But what would I do with some water buffalo? The visit to Kruger National Park was deffinitely a thrill! Could have spent several days there alone. It is almost unbelievable how around the next turn in the road you might find a huge bull elephant blocking lanes, or two rhinos crash out of the brush and run across the road a few feet in front of you! In Africa you have to be alert while looking for reptiles, knowing a lion or leopard could be watching you. Africa is a dangerous place for tourists, to be sure, but we felt safe under the guidance and direction of Mike and Nicole. Mike supplies the venom to produce the antivenine in South Africa and is well known. If you can go on one of his trips, you owe it to yourself to do so. The US dollar is still strong there so it is a great value and you only need tetanus and hepititus shots and pills for malaria to go. Thank you Alan Botterman and the T-Rex crew for sponsoring the trip and Don Schultz of Mfezi for your help. I will probably go again myself. I brought back over 500 slides and a video. Someday perhaps I will talk to your group and take you on an arm chair adventure to Africa via the slides! Mike has a very interesting website and does other tours as well. Check him out at africanreptiles.com
The second thing would have to be my trip to Japan. I was sponsored by Tetsuyuki to attend a large reptile show there. The show was amazing, things were being offered for sale (rare and endangered birds, mammals as well as reptiles) that we don't see here in the states. Unfortunately it was almost all business, hurrying here and there selling reptiles, so we didn't get to see much of the "real" Japan, but from what I saw from fast moving vehicles, it is a beautiful country. We drove past Mt Fuji but it was so foggy we didn't even see it. We did get to go out one night herping and caught a few herps, including their equivalent of a water moccasins (mimushi?) and sadly they are over run with American bullfrogs. They were everywhere. Thanks Ted for a wonderful experience!
Then of course there are the American shows. Sadly, after pioneering the reptile shows as we know them on the West coast, it looks like Ray, David, and Steve of IRBA are folding their tents and moving on to other ventures. Not a single show in 2008. Thanks guys, you will be missed. The NARBC is up and running strong. Bob and Sheri Ashley (new residents of AZ, congrats!) and Brian Potter and his wife are running high quality shows in Arlington, Texas, Anaheim, CA, Chicago, IL, Virginia, and soon (I am told) in Phoenix, AZ well worth attending. Then there is this new guy, Ramy Guirguis, who is doing the Reptile Super Shows in San Diego and Pomona, CA. Somehow he managed to have lines of customers lined up around the block for a couple hours after the show opened. I haven't seen that much enthusiasm since the early IRBA days. Great job Ramy. If you are a reptile enthusiast (if on my website that is almost a given!) any of the mentioned shows would be well worth scheduling a family vacation in the area so you could attend. Same for buyers from out of country, there is some great livestock being offered and bargains to be had. I have already met some major buyers from other countries at these shows, come join us!
On the home front the Gilas and beaded lizards are still producing a few each year. The hypo greeri are being difficult to produce, but after only 12 years we are now producing a limited number of striped albino sinaloans! Sandy Quinn has twisted my arm a bit and got me to write a few things for Reptiles Magazine and was a big help to a lost Calif. boy while in the Chicago area for NARBC. Thanks Sandy. Also managed to finish the book on Milk and kingsnakes and get it published by Eco. Also got to attend an Eli Lily conference with my Gila Monsters. I show them as the source for a new drug (Byetta) which does amazing things for those with Diabetes 2. It isn't too bad being stuck in a hotel for 2 days with 600 nurses! I am getting older, I can feel it, but can still chase my young wife around the house (who somehow doesn't age!) and still playing softball. Took a line drive to the face and fractured my skull (which could explain a few things about me!) and couldn't play for 6 days, and my eyes are still messed up, and the asthma slows me a bit, but no complaints, life is good.
We have installed a major solar electric system on the house so we are "green" now. No electric bill, in fact we have a surplus of electricity. We have a wind generator as well, but that was a waste of money. Two companies screwed us over on this, so buyer beware. Call me and I will tell you the problems with BP and Bergy. Finally, yes we lost quite a bit in the stock market, but we are not asking for donations. The economy, even in the reptile business is tough, but as Carnegi once said "The successful buy when everyone is selling, and sell when everyone else is buying". Or if it wasn't him that said it, he should have! There are bargains to be had, get out there and make things happen for yourself. Until the next update, our best to you and yours and wishes for a wonderful herp filled life.
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