HTHA

What the professi onals say

How to Hold Animals Animal photographer Toshim itsu Matsu has h i Translated by ang us turvil l

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Foreword

Sometimes a pet that you’ve loved for years may bite you when it’s not feeling well. A lizard that you pick up regularly may suddenly attack you from an unexpected direction. And a snake that the encyclopaedia describes as docile may suddenly bite you if you don’t hold it in the right way. On the other hand, a spider or snake that’s feared for being poisonous may not necessarily strike, as long as you don’t make it think you’re an enemy.

Each animal has its own particular characteristics.

However experienced you may be – however brave, however kind, however knowledgeable – what you are facing is not a species, but an individual creature.

It’s important to weigh up all the information we have about the animal in front of us and try to predict what it’s going to do.

Consider its body, its condition and its mobility. Consider its stance, any sound it’s making, its smell and how aggressive it looks.

And we must always hold an animal in a way that not only keeps us safe, but that doesn’t harm the animal itself. Since we coexist with animals, this is a constant issue for us as humans.

Animal ph otogra p h e r Toshi mi tsu M ats u h as h i

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How to use this book This book describes how specialists in different fields pick up and hold animals. Their methods are based on their professional experience and on careful consideration for the safety of both animals and humans.

I f you a r e a beg i n n e r

First of all, read the book through from start to finish. Mark the parts that deal with animals you have come across before, read them again carefully and remember the holding techniques.

When you see that type of animal again, you’ll be able to try picking it up with confidence. To help you handle other animals when you encounter them for the first time, we recommend you carry this book around with you.

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I f you ’r e ex p er i en ce d

Even for the more experienced, it’s best to read through this book from beginning to end, whatever your particular interests. When you have familiarised yourself with all the ways of holding the animals described here, think about how they differ from your own methods.

For any animals in the book you have never picked up, take the methods here on board.

For animals you have held before, decide which approach suits you best. Is it your old one or the one in the book? Which is safer for you and the animal? Try out both and compare. It’s really a question of which feels better for you.

You don’t have to be tied down by either your own methods or those in the book. How you hold animals depends on personal experience and choice. You don’t have to be swayed by what other people tell you.

I f you c a n ’t sta n d th e i d ea of hol d i n g a n a n i ma l

Even you should read the book from beginning to end and keep it with you. Then, if you’re walking along and come across someone having trouble catching or holding an animal, you can show them the book. That way, you can help spread the message of how animals should be held!

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creatures AROUND YOU Fo r ewo r d 2

Japane s e rh ino c eros beetles

12

How to u se 4

Stag beetle s

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Lo ngh o rn beetle s

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Grass h o p p ers and crickets

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Praying m antis

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Drago nflies

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Butterflies

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Aq uatic ins ects

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Crayfis h

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Crabs

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Snails and s lugs

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Fro gs and toads

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Liz ards

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Snakes

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Before p ic k ing u p creatur es

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this boo k

An im a l photo gr a p he r Tos himitsu M ats u h ashi ho l ds t he m lik e this

yo u fi nd in the great outdoo r s

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Insects, Arachnids, Unusual Pets

Pe t- sho p ow ne r Ta ka hir o Goto ho lds t he m lik e this

Sco rp io ns

46

Tarantulas

48

Large rh ino c eros beetles

50

Large stag beetle s

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Co ckroac h e s and m illi pedes

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Lo ng-tailed c h inc h illas

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Ch ip m unks

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Sugar glid e rs

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Ham ste rs

62

Fancy m ic e

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Ch ickens

66

H ow to get a rhi nocer os beetle

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off you r hand getting an angry stag beetle out

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of its box

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PET MAMMALS  AND BIRDS

V e t Ke n ic hi Tam u ka i ho lds t he m l ik e this

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Do gs

74

C ats

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Ferrets

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Rabbits

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Bud gerigars

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Sunda s co p s owls

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Prairie d o gs

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Hed ge h o gs

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C UTTING CLAWS

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M Y S PECIALITY H O LD sp irit

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reptiles

Mo nito r liz ards

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Me d ium - s iz e d liz ards

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Co m m o n le o pard ge ckos

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To kay ge ckos

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Me d ium - s iz e d

R e p tile - sho p ow ne r Ka zuhisa Yam a da ho l ds t he m lik e this

no n-veno m o us s nakes

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Slow-wo rm s

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Snak e - necked turtles

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So fts h ell turtle s

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Dangerou s C reatu res

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Afte rwo rd

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C reatu res Ap p earing in This B oo k

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W here the Professio nals Wor k:

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sho p s, animal hos p ital, zoo

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Animal photographer Toshimitsu Matsuhashi holds them like this Children don’t often try to pick animals up these days. It’s not surprising. Their parents belong to a generation that doesn’t feel close to nature. They tell their children that living things are dangerous. But it’s sad, isn’t it?

I don’t say that you should try to pick up all types of animal. Many should be left to professionals. But why not try picking up creatures around you – the ones that are most familiar?

So, let’s look at those first of all.

Profile Tos h imits u M ats u h as h i Af t e r worki ng for a w h i l e at a n aqua ri u m, Tos h i mi ts u de c i de d to b e come a n a ni ma l p h otogra p h e r. H e p rodu c e s ma i nly c h i l dre n’s b ooks u s i ng h i s p h otos of c re at u re s of t h e s h ore , aqua ri u m a nd zoo, as w e l l as wildlife and unusual pets.

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c r eatur es ar oun d you

creatures around you

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Japanese rhinoceros beetles Go f or the small er hor n

The b ig g er horn lo o ks e asy to hold, b ut it m oves, so i t’s n ot the best part to go f o r.

C a r e f u l! The l e g s have sha r p c l aws f o r c l i m b i n g tr e e s.

I t ’s t h is s mal l e r h orn t h at ’s b e st f or p ic k ing u p a rh inoc e ros beetle.

Data L en gth: 5cm W h e re ?

J u n e to Se p te mb e r i n t r e es, w he r e the y feed o n sap. The y’r e also at t r ac te d to l i ght f r o m ho use s at n i ght, s o wi ll fly agai n st i n s e ct sc r e e n s.

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c r e at ur e s a r o un d yo u

You c an t ry p ic k ing it u p by t h e s ide s of its w ings , b u t t h e y are s l ip p e ry.

兜

Sometimes people hold strange insect-fighting events. Big-ticket combatants from outside Japan, such as the Caucasus beetle, stand out from the field, but Japanese rhinoceros beetles still do very well. As they battle valiantly with their larger, non-Japanese opponents, they get a lot of support from Japanese children. They seem to arouse a kind of early-years nationalism.

Their popularity must be because they’re so familiar. They’re not just found in big woods, but in city-centre parks too – in fact, anywhere that has the right environment. They fly against insect screens on windows (most of these are female) and around street lamps and campsite lanterns. Many Japanese children will have kept one for a time.

Well, you may say, they’ve got horns, so they’re easy to pick up. That may be true for males, but what about females?

They don’t have horns at all.

Females do n’t have horns , so hold them by the si des of thei r wi ngs .

H ow to h a n dl e a f e ma l e

When picking up a male, you take hold of the smaller horn. The bigger horn grows from the head and is used for fighting, so it moves a lot. The smaller horn grows from the prothorax, the part from which the front legs grow. It’s fixed, so it’s easy to hold.

But what about females, which don’t have horns? They’re pretty tough to hold. The basic method is to grip them between finger and thumb on the sides of their wings, but the wings are quite slippery and the beetles often get unsettled. If you’re having trouble, you can try holding them between the abdomen from below and the wings from above. It hurts if you catch a claw, but this approach will prevent them slipping from your hand.

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Stag Beetles Go f or ‘beside the eyes’

鍬

While the rhinoceros beetle has just four species in Japan, the stag beetle – with its sleek, racing-car appearance and aggressive, pugnacious character – has forty-eight, excluding sub-species. A typical adult in Japan could probably find at least five types in a wood, so they’re good for collecting.

This is a beetle brimming with manly romance, one to capture the hearts of adults and children alike. With a stylish beetle like this, you want to keep your cool. Okay, what do you do?

Watc h o ut f o r its b ig ma n dib le s!

N o ko g i r i stag b e e tl e

T h e b e st p l ac e to h o l d it is o n t h e p r otho r ax , ne ar i ts e ye s.

Data Yo u c a n try p ic k in g i t up by the sid e s of i ts win g s, b ut they a r e sl ip pery.

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c r e at ur e s a r o un d yo u

L e ngt h : f e ma l e 3 c m; ma l e 6 c m Wh e re ?

J u ne to S e p t e mb e r i n t re e s , w h e re t h e y f e e d on sa p, or a rou nd st re e t l a mp s at ni gh t. Th e y a l s o f ly aga i nst i ns e c t s c re e ns at ni gh t, at t rac t e d by l i gh t f rom h ou s e s .

Watch o u t f o r i ts ma n d i b l e s ! kuwagata stag beet l e

T he ku wag ata stag b e e tl e h as s ho r te r , pow e r f ul m a n d ib l e s. It r ea l ly hur ts i f you g e t yo ur f i ng e r c aught b et w ee n the m !

The way to hold any stag beetle is pretty much the same for all species. The basic method is to bring your hand up behind the insect and take the sides of the head or prothorax between finger and thumb.

If the insect is in an aggressive mood and won’t settle down, you can try the same method but from the opposite direction.

For big foreign stag beetles, you can sometimes pick them up by their large, long mandibles, but I don’t recommend this method for Japanese stag beetles, which have shorter mandibles.

P i c k i t up by t h e s id e s o f the pr ot ho r ax o r the w i n g jo in ts. Cho ose a s pot that lo o ks easy to ho ld.

I t looks like so me thi ng f r o m o u ter spac e !

Data L en gth: f e male 4 c m ; male 7cm Where?

Acti ve J un e to Se ptember.

The y hi d e i n tr e e crevices a n d ar e d i ffi c ult to find.

T h e b igge r t h e ins e c t ge ts , t h e s h arp e r and more painf u l its c l aws b e come .

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Longhorn beetles Ho l d the wing se c t i on bet w een f i n g er a n d th u m b

Big or sm a l l

Longhorn beetles have rather slippery bodies and some types have sharp spines on their prothorax, so you can’t always hold them there. Try pinching the wing segment between your finger and thumb. You can hold both small and large types in this way, and you won’t be bitten. Some types, including the shirosuji (white stripe) longhorn beetle, make quite a racket when you try to pick them up, but don’t let that bother you.

And don’t let your fingers slip.

N ot e t h e s e s h arp s p ine s .

T ry ing to h ol d t h e ins e c t h e re w il l b e painf u l !

P inc h t h e w ings f rom t h e s ide s .

T h e h ard s u rfac e s are s l ip p e ry. I f it ge ts u ns e t t l e d, j u st l e t go.

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c r e at ur e s a r o un d yo u

蠰

Eyes like sunglasses, fearsome mandibles, a sharp physique . . . a good-looker, no question! This ultracool beetle can be seen in woodland parks or towns and villages. You’ll often come across them around street lamps at night. There are lots of different types – big and small – but they’re not easy to catch. Look at those tough mandibles and sharp spines. And they fly off quickly. What can you do?

Data L e ngt h : 6cm Wh e re ?

O n h ot days f rom J u ne to Au gu st t h e y ’l l f ly a rou nd l i gh ts i n t h e st re e t a nd ou ts i de p e op l e ’s h ou s e s .

From the si des

The co o l eyes – the se a r e actually co mp o un d eyes (lots o f li ttle e y e s to gether) .

From below

D o n ’ t wa n t to g e t my f in ge r b i t te n by those m an d ib l e s!

T h e s e s h ort, s h arp mandib l e s c an c au s e a lot of pain.

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Grasshoppers and crickets g ras p the ha rder pa r t of t he t hor ax

O r i e n ta l lo n g - h e a de d lo c u st

T h is pa r t is h a r d. Ho ld f r om the sid e s.

Data L en gth: f e m al e 9c m ; male 5cm W h e re ?

J u ly to N ov e m b e r i n a r e as o f g rass; r i v er b e ds.

Th e prothorax is best

The hardest part of a grasshopper’s body is around the prothorax and the wing joints. Pick it up there from the sides between finger and thumb. Don’t squeeze too tight. Try to apply just the right amount of pressure. This method works for large grasshoppers and locusts, such as the oriental long-headed locust.

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T h e ir long l e gs k e e p k ic k ing. I t ’s s u rp ris ingly painf u l .

蝗

Grasshoppers and crickets live in grassy areas, riverbeds, gardens and parks. There are lots of different types. You keep trying to catch them, but . . . they’re awkward things. If you go for the wrong part, you may get bitten, or snap off one of its back legs or hurt yourself on its spines.

This pa r t’ s ha r d, b ut the n e c k moves, so it’ s n ot good for ho ldin g .

If you catch one in a net, try to get it into the end of the net and look carefully to decide how to pick it up.

Hold the l e gs at the joints .

The y’ r e c a r n ivo r o us, so whe n the y b ite it r e a l ly hur ts!

Ho l d in g them by t h e legs is stric t ly f o rbidden , but . . .

Normally, you shouldn’t hold an insect’s legs because there’s a risk they’ll come off. But if you can’t judge where to pick up a cricket, then one option is to take hold of both back legs together.

It’s a useful method for crickets that bite, but you can use the same method with any grasshoppertype insect.

E aste r n b u s h c r i c k e t

Data L e ngt h : 3 .5c m Wh e re ?

July to November in grassy areas and riverbeds. They sit and ‘sing’ on thick blades of grass.

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The legs have a lot of spi nes, so i t’s pai nful to hold.

J u st l e av e i t o n yo u r pa l m . . .

The emma field cricket is even tougher to hold. It has a nasty bite, for one thing.

And its legs are short and spiny, so you can’t use them to pick it up. Its body is unpleasantly soft and very difficult to grip between thumb and finger. So overall, it’s a nightmare to hold. The best thing to do is to grab it in your hand and let it move as it wants over your palm.

Data L e ngt h : 3cm Wh e re ?

Au gu st to N ov e mb e r, of t e n i n t h i c ke ts a nd b u s h e s or u nde r fa l l e n l e av e s .

Emma field cric ket

The b igge st ma n dib le s o f a n y co m mo n gr assho p p e r o r c r ic k e t.

D ou bl e lo c k

The kubikirigisu is a difficult insect to pick up, with its thin legs, small body and very strong tendency to bite. If you try holding it by its legs, it will spin around and around and you’ll think the legs are going to come off. Try holding the legs and the wings at the same time.

That way it won’t be able to move. You can also use this approach for fragilelooking bush crickets and sasakiri.

Data

Ku bikirigisu b ush cricket

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Hold the leg joi nts and wi ngs carefully between fi nger and thumb.

L e ngt h : 5c m Wh e re ?

Ap ri l to J u ly, S e p t e mb e r to N ov e mb e r, i n grass , i n ri v e rb e ds a nd pa ddy f i e l ds .

Praying mantis Watch out for thi s hood lu m of t he g r ass !

鎌

A tough, uncompromising character, lurking in the undergrowth, the praying mantis looks cool, with an elegant shape and a faintly distracted expression when on the attack. If it was the size of a cat, you wouldn’t stand a chance. If it was the size of a human, it would rule the world.

Data L e ngt h : 8cm Wh e re ?

J u ly to N ov e mb e r, of t e n s e e n i n grass i n ga rde ns a nd pa ddy f i e l ds .

H o l d its n a r r ow t ho r ax a n d the se ‘ s ho ul de r ’ jo in ts at t h e sa m e tim e .

T hat way, it wo n ’ t b e a b l e to at tac k yo u.

The joi nts are flexi bl e , s o you’ll fe e l a bi t of painf u l resi sta nc e w h e n you do t h is !

G et t h e j o i n ts !

Narrow-winge d ma n tis

A praying mantis will attack you with its scythe-like front legs, so your fingers have to duck, sway and weave like a boxer as you approach. Come at it from behind and aim to get the thorax (the thin part) between your finger and thumb. But be careful! The joints of the front legs (the scythes) are flexible and if your fingers land on the wrong spot, the scythes will hit their mark. Make sure your finger and thumb are where the front legs join the body. That way, the scythes shouldn’t reach you and you won’t be bitten either.

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Dragonflies Ge nt ly, with win g s tog et her

蜻

All Japanese people try to get dragonflies to land on their index finger by gyrating the finger in front of the creatures’ eyes. This is supposed to lure them towards you, but I wonder how many people have succeeded in catching one in this way.

If you are that close, though, there’s a better way: slowly stretch one hand out underneath the dragonfly. Then, keeping your eyes fixed on its eyes, quickly bring your hands diagonally together from front and back, catching the dragonfly between your palms. Once you’ve caught it, switch quickly to the standard holding method (see text opposite) – otherwise you’ll be bitten.

Harabiro dragon f ly

B l ack- str i p e d l esse r e m p e r o r d r ag o n f ly

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Take ca re of th e w i n g s

Dragonflies look cute, so it can come as a surprise to learn that they are committed carnivores! A bite can be quite painful, so it’s best to hold them by their wings.

Once you’ve caught one in a net or your hand, stand their wings up vertically and clasp them between your index and middle fingers. This way you won’t get bitten, and the wings won’t be damaged.

Ko n oshime dragonfly

G lo b e s k i mm e r d r ag o n f ly

Golden-ringed dr ag o n f ly

M o r to n ag r i o n da m s e l f ly

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Butterflies Th e powdery stuf f on t hei r w i n g s i s r ea l ly i mp o r ta n t!

蝶

With their bright colours and slow, floaty movement, you’d think catching butterflies would be a doddle.

But they’re very good at giving you the slip and it takes a lot of practice to catch one in a net. Your best-aimed swoosh will often leave them drifting happily away.

What a lot of people don’t like about holding butterflies is the powdery substance on their wings. But this

powder (scales, in fact) is very important.

It not only forms the pattern on their wings, it also helps them to fly when it’s wet, as well as to slip out of spiders’ webs.

Once you catch a butterfly, you must always take good care not to damage the scales, whether you’re going to keep it as a specimen or let it go. So, hold the butterfly like this . . .

Asi a n swa l low ta i l b u tte r f ly Ol d world swa llowta il b u tterfly

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Try not to remov e a n y p ow d er

The powdery scales on a butterfly’s wings are absolutely vital. If you hold the wings with your finger pads, you’re likely to get some sweat or grease on them which may stick to and dislodge some of the scales. You may also unconsciously rub your fingertips together. So, it’s best to hold the wings between your index and middle fingers.

S m a l l co p p e r b u tte r f ly

Chin ese p eacoc k butterfly Co m m o n b lu e b ottl e b u tte r f ly

S m a l l w h i te b u tte r f ly

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Aquatic insects Do n’t get bitten!

水

These days you don’t tend to see many aquatic insects. They’re becoming quite rare, so you want to look after them. But some species that suck in liquid through their mouths can give your hand a very nasty bite. So, it’s a bit difficult to know how to hold them.

Backswimmer

You co ul d sco o p i t u p i n yo ur ha n d alon g with so me wat e r , b ut as so o n as t h e wate r has g on e i t wil l b ite .

N ot r eco mme n de d.

T he r e l ative ly ha r d b ody m e a n s you c an ho l d it by i ts s i d e s.

G en t ly d o e s i t!

Obviously, you don’t want to be bitten, so the best thing is to hold them between your thumb and index finger.

Giant water bugs (tagame) are tough and hard, so you can pick them up by the sides. Water scorpions are flat, so it’s best to hold them from above and below. Water stick insects can also be held in the same way, but they are very thin, so be careful not to squeeze them.

Backswimmers are small and difficult to pick up, so it’s better not to try to use your hands – just use a net. It’s important to be gentle with all these insects, so stay aware of how much pressure you’re exerting.

G i a n t wate r b u g Ho ld i t by its si des he re.

A bi te fro m t h is bi g mouth w il l cause a v e ry heavy, du l l pain.

Data L e ngt h : 6cm Wh e re ?

May to Au gu st, s e e n i n pa ddy f i e l ds i n s ome a re as .

B e comi ng ra re r.

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c r eatur es ar oun d you

A three-poi nt hold – don’t exert too m u c h pressure.

H e r e’ s its m ou t h . Do n ’ t g e t b itte n !

Data L e ngt h : 3cm Wh e re ?

May to S e p t e mb e r, s e e n i n pa ddy f i e l ds a nd p u ddl e s .

You c a n s i m p ly ho l d on b oth s i d es to o.

Water scorp io n

Water stick in sec t

Data Here’s i ts mouth. It’s a very narrowbodi ed i nsect, but be carefu l – i t’s got a pai nful bi te.

H o l d at t he b ase o f i ts abdomen.

B e c ar e f ul not to s q u ee ze !

L e ngt h : 5c m Wh e re ?

Ap ri l to S e p t e mb e r, i n st i l l wat e r, s u c h as p onds , p u ddl e s , pa ddy f i e l ds , e tc .

Gently does i t.

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Crayfish Pick it up from behind – but don’t take your eyes off its pincers!

躄

A non-native species that sometimes gets bad press, but it’s a great choice for teaching children about looking after animals. They’re tough, easy to keep and they look good.

They’re great to observe and if all goes well, they’ll lay eggs and moult. But they’ve got sharp pincers, so you’ll get hurt if you don’t know how to hold them.

Red swa mp crayf i sh

Data L en gth: 12cm W h e re ?

You can se e the m i n st il l parts o f r i ve r s , as we l l as i n man m a d e wate rways, pa d dy fi e l ds, p o n ds, b o g s, e tc .

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Careful – i t’s pretty pai nful i f you get ni pped by these pi ncers !

H ol d t h e s ide s of t h e h ard part of the shell.

Japa n ese crayf i sh

Data L e ngt h : 6cm Wh e re ?

O nly s e e n i n H okka i do a nd s ome a re as of Toh oku.

It m ay b e sm a ll, b ut those p in c e r s c a n r e a l ly hur t.

If i t has e ggs on the unde rs ide of i ts abdome n, p u t i t straigh t b ac k i n the wat e r.

Do n’t get bitten!

As long as you keep your eye on a crayfish’s pincers, you shouldn’t have any problems. Just move your hand up from behind and pick the crayfish up by the hard part of its shell. The pincers

shouldn’t reach you there, but be careful.

A magnificent pair of large pincers won’t be a threat, but if the pincers are small, there may be a chance of your fingers being in range.

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Crabs Warning: the coconut crab is extremely strong and dangerous!

All gaz amitype c rab s hav e s h arp pi nc e rs . keep the p inc e rs f irmly in p l ac e .

These pi ncers are amaz i ngly powerful. be extremely careful never to be caught by them.

B e n i ts u k e c r a b

I hold the front legs behi nd i ts head, so that the pi ncers won’t reach me.

Co con ut cra b

Data L en gth: 40cm W h e re ?

Ryukyu Islan ds, a lon g the coast, of t e n se e n c r ossi n g r oads.

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č&#x;š

Data L e ngt h : 7c m Wh e re ?

I n roc k p ool s a nd i n t h e s e a .

Whether sea crabs or freshwater, big or small, the nimble scamper of crabs holds a fascination for us all. When you see a crab scuttling away, it's easy to forget all your responsibilities and go chasing after it. But you must be careful. A sound, spur-ofthe-moment decision must be followed by speedy implementation; any hesitation to grab and the crab may get away, or its pincers may inflict a pain of a type you have never known before.

Watch out for the p i n c er s!

The normal way to hold a crab is with index finger and thumb to the left and right of the shell. That’s all there is to it. The majority of crabs, whatever their size, can be held in this way. But it won’t do for the most aggressive types, like the benitsuke crab. A benitsuke will struggle like mad to get away and if the holder doesn’t let go, it will catch their fingers between shell and leg and snap at them with its pincers. To avoid this, we use a three-point grip, with thumb at the rear of the shell and index and middle fingers at the front, keeping the pincers firmly in place. The most dangerous variety of crab is the coconut crab. If someone gets bitten by one of them, it won’t be just a question of a few drops of blood.

The coconut crab is a type of hermit crab and doesn’t have a shell, so it’s not obvious where to hold it. I take the front legs (those next to the pincers) and hold them firmly above and behind the pincers. This means the pincers can’t move much, and so I am pretty safe.

Ja pa n e s e f r e s h wate r c r a b

i t's sm al l and di ffi cu lt to hol d.

Safest to take bot h ends o f the sh e l l .

Data L e ngt h : 3cm Wh e re ?

B e h i nd roc ks i n ri v e rb e ds , e tc .

Ho l d b ot h ends of the s h e l l .

I t may m ove s lowly, b ut b e c a r e f ul – i ts p in c e r s a r e ve ry p owe r f ul .

Land cra b

Data L en gth: 1 0 cm Where?

By the se a i n t h e Ry ukyu I s lan ds. Of te n s e en o n r oads.

31

Snails and slugs Th e y’ve got ey es at t he en ds of t hei r l a r g e r te n tac l e s !

蝸

These slimy characters are among the most frequently encountered creatures.

You may be worried about the slugs in the garden? Or perhaps the children want to keep a snail? So even if you don’t want to pick them up, it’s probably best to know how to.

T h e re are e y e s at t h e e nds of t h e t wo l arge t e ntac l e s , b u t t h e y don’t s e e v e ry w e l l .

S mal l t e ntac l e .

I t b re athe s t hr o ugh t hi s ho le .

T he she l l is s u r pr isin gly s o f t, so b e c ar e f ul n ot to s mash it.

Data L en gth: 4cm W h e re ?

A p r i l to O c tob e r , o n l eave s, walls, etc . , w he n r a i n y.

32

c r e at ur e s a r o un d yo u

M i s uj i - m a i ma i s n a i l

Data

Three- ba n d ga r d en slu g

L e ngt h : 5c m Wh e re ?

Any t i me of t h e y e a r, u nde r p l a nt e rs .

Use c ho p sti cks – b ut don’t e at me!

Sl ime avoidance

There’s no great problem holding a snail – just pick it up with your thumb and index finger. But the shell is quite fragile, so be careful not to squeeze it. The slime (mucus) snails secrete when moving can be slippery if it gets on the shell, so don’t get any slime on your fingers – if it starts to emerge from its shell while in your hand, give the shell a little shake and the snail will retreat inside. It’s hard to avoid slime with slugs, so try picking them up with chopsticks. It would be a shame to use lacquer chopsticks – and they’re too slippery, anyway – so go for used disposable ones.

T h e yama- name kuj i (mou ntain s lu g) is ab ou t 1 0 c m long and dif f ic u lt to h ol d w it h c h op st ic ks . S o, t h e re ’s not h ing f or it b u t to h ol d it in t h e pal m of you r h and. O r you cou l d always j u st l e av e it w h e re it is .

If i t gets v e ry sli my, i t’ll b e di ffi cult to pi ck up eve n wi th di sposab l e chopsti cks .

33

Frogs and toads Toads can be p ois on ou s . . . bu t t hey’r e c u te !

蛙

It’s always nice to come across frogs – in woods, rivers, paddy fields and so on. But people are often nervous about picking them up. They think they’ll be too quick and difficult to catch, for one thing. And they worry that a frog’s skin is delicate, or that it’s very small and so might get squashed.

Some people even say that the heat

of human flesh can give a frog burns.

But actually, they’re very tough. They happily sit out on leaves in the scalding sun, and tadpoles can live in water that feels hot to the touch. Of course, you shouldn’t squash them or stretch them or walk around for too long with one in your hands. But you don’t have to be too cautious. Have a go at picking one up.

T h e re are gl ands h e re t h at s e c re t e p ois on. D on’t tou c h t h is are a.

It’s not good at jumpi ng, but i t walks a lot and has a powerful ki ck.

Ja pa n e s e toa d

Toa ds ar e p o i s o n o u s

Data L en gth: 15cm W h e re ?

A p r i l to Nove mb e r , it pops up in wo o ds, g ar de ns, etc.

34

c r e at ur e s a r o un d yo u

Toads secrete poison in glands (paratoid glands) behind their eyes. If they sense danger, a white, sticky, poisonous fluid appears from the glands. It can be on their backs too. So, when holding a toad, it’s best to avoid these parts and to grip it around its hips. If it looks like it’s going to play up, wrap your other hand around its back legs.

Japanese w r i n kl ed f r og

Pick it up quickly

You can quickly pick up a wrinkled frog with a finger and thumb on each flank.

Once you’ve done that, they often stop moving. You can use this method with other frogs too, but there’s always a risk of dropping them, so don’t do it too much.

Data L e ngt h : 4c m Wh e re ?

Ap ri l to O c tob e r; t h e y l i ke f low i ng wat e r – f rom a n i rri gat i on c ha nne l to a mou nta i n st re a m.

Tokyo daru m a p on d f r og

No jump ing!

Data

Tokyo daruma frogs, black-spotted frogs, and Japanese brown frogs are all great jumpers. So, if you don’t hold them properly, they get awkward and if they start kicking, you may drop them or hurt their legs. You have to hold them firmly with your hand wrapped around their hips and back legs.

L e ngt h : 6cm Wh e re ?

May to S e p t e mb e r, a rou nd ma rs h l a nd a nd pa ddy f i e l ds .

Ja pa n ese t r ee f r og

Ho l d between you r pa l m s

Japanese tree frogs often sit on leaves. Approach quietly and, with both hands, pick one up with the leaf it’s sitting on, and hold between your palms. When you feel the frog moving on to your hand, you can gently remove the leaf. Hold your hands so that there is as much space between your palms as possible. This method is good for various other small frogs, including the Japanese gliding frog.

Data L e ngt h : 4c m Wh e re ?

Ap ri l to N ov e mb e r, of t e n on grass ne a r pa ddy f i e l ds , e tc .

35

Lizards Mo r ni n gs a re best – t hat ’s w hen t hey’r e s low e st

蜥

You see lizards near the house and in the garden, and you want to catch them, but they’re so quick. A lot of people have this problem. The solution is time of day. Lizards get fast once their bodies have been heated up by the sun, so get them before they’ve warmed up.

In spring and autumn, this means by about 9am. In summer, try before 7am.

You want to aim for just after they’ve come out to sunbathe, so keep an eye out for when this happens. When picking them up it’s important not to touch their tails. Japanese lizards, grass lizards and geckos shed their tails when trying to escape danger.

Data Schlegel’s Japanese gecko

L e ngt h : 12 c m Wh e re ?

May to O c tob e r at ni gh t a rou nd ou ts i de l i gh ts by ol d h ou s e s , pa rk l avatori e s , e tc .

G e t g e c kos at n i g h t

Geckos normally live in cracks in walls or in shutter casing. At night they come out to eat the insects that gather around the lights at your front door or window. When you see one, approach slowly and then snap it up in the same way as for lizards. They’re flat, so don’t hold the sides. Hold top and bottom near the head. Make sure you don’t squeeze the throat.

36

c r e at ur e s a r o un d yo u

Data L e ngt h : 2 0c m Wh e re ?

Ap ri l to N ov e mb e r, i n t h e s u n on conc re t e or roc ks , ne a r h ou s e s or pa ddy f i e l ds .

Japanese grass l i z a r d

Eastern Ja pa n l i z a r d

Do n ’t hold the ta i l !

A lizard that has just come out to lie in the sun has one major priority: to warm up. It won’t run off until the last moment.

Approach with a nonchalant air, as if you have not the slightest interest in catching it. Even if it runs off once, it will soon come back. Just keep still and wait. When it comes out, bring your hand down quickly over its whole body, so that its head is between your thumb and index finger. If all goes well, you can then simply pick it straight up by bringing your finger and thumb together around the top of its neck.

Data L e ngt h : 2 0c m Wh e re ?

Ap ri l to N ov e mb e r, i n ga rde ns a nd ou ts i de h ou s e s ; on conc re t e i n t h e morni ng s u n.

37

Snakes careful! They mig ht be p oi son ou s!

蛇

Some Japanese snakes – like the pit viper and tiger keelback – are poisonous. So when you come across a snake, be extremely careful. If you don’t know what type of snake it is, then keep your distance. But if you definitely know what type it is and you know it’s not

dangerous, then it’s only natural to want to have a go at picking it up.

Once you have picked it up, you may come to appreciate the fascination of snakes.

Ja pa n e s e r at s n a k e

watch out!

Japanese rat snakes can grow to over two metres long, and they have a reputation for docility. However, not all of them are docile – I myself have been bitten by rat snakes many times.

Being bitten in the great outdoors can bring various dangers, so anybody approaching these snakes should do so with the idea that they bite. To catch one, I bring my hand down in one movement over the head and grab the neck. Then I wrap its tail over my arm.

38

c r e at ur e s a r o un d yo u

Data L e ngt h : 18 0c m Wh e re ?

Ap ri l to O c tob e r, of t e n s e e n ne a r h ou s e s , b as ki ng i n t h e morni ng s u ns h i ne .

O n e to avo i d Data

This is the snake that’s most often seen near villages, by paddy fields, etc., and it’s poisonous. They’re quite docile and I’ve never been bitten by one, but their poison is powerful, so you must never pick one up. (I handle them occasionally myself and when I do I make sure I have a firm grasp of the neck.)

L en gth: 1 2 0c m Where?

I n paddy fi e l ds a n d othe r p lac e s w he r e the y fi n d t h e i r fo o d – n ame ly, fr o g s.

Tiger keelbac k sn a ke

Approach

For a young snake

When it’s in a position that makes it easy to pick up . . .

I hold it on both sides behind its mouth and lift.

. . . I bring my finger and thumb straight down on to its neck.

Then I take the rest of the snake into my hand.

39

Before picking up creatures you find in the great outdoors

Before you pick up any creature you come across in the great outdoors, you have to make a judgement about whether it’s really okay to do so. Unless you are an expert or work with animals, it’s very tough to absorb information about lots of different creatures.

Even mushroom experts sometimes eat poisonous mushrooms, and it’s a similar situation with animals.

You think you know, but you may make a mistake. So be clear about it, and if you don’t really know, or if you feel uncertain, don’t pick it up.

Making that decision is a kind of bravery.

As a photographer, I come across a lot of animals, but unless it’s really necessary – in a studio shoot, for example – I don’t go out of my way to pick them up. And, of course, I never touch an animal I don’t know about. This keeps me safe and avoids trouble for anybody who is with me.

40

c r e at ur e s a r o un d yo u

Let’s imagine I’m on an island with someone who gets bitten by a poisonous snake.

We’ve been on the island for a few hours. We’ve driven along, happily photographing snakes as we go.

We reach a park. We split up to see what we can find. Before long I hear a voice in the distance calling my name. I’m concentrating on my photography, so I ignore it.

After a while, I go back to the car and find my colleague there. ‘I found a snake,’ she says. ‘I thought you’d want to see it, so I picked it up, but it bit me.’

‘Oh dear! It’s nice of you. I’m sorry you’ve been hurt . . .’ Then I see a large pit viper in her right hand!

‘That’s a pit viper,’ I say. ‘Throw it as far away as you can!’

Then I get the poison-extractor kit from my camera bag and try sucking the poison from the wound, but it feels dry and I don’t think I’ve got the poison out. That’s not surprising. It’s already ten minutes since I heard her calling me. It’s no use. We’ll have to find a clinic. According to the map, the nearest one is twenty minutes away by car. We drive frantically to the clinic, only to find it’s closed down.

The next nearest clinic is another thirty minutes away.

swollen arm wrapped thickly with bandages. Of course, the next day’s field work and photography are cancelled. And she has to visit the hospital for days afterwards. She has a fever the whole time we are on the island. It’s a nightmare!

So . . . it’s best to be very safetyconscious. Here’s the equipment I always have with me when photographing animals:

My companion is now almost in tears. ‘It’s okay,’ I say. ‘We’ll get there soon!’ I drive as fast as I can and get there in twenty minutes.

But by this time, it’s almost an hour since she was bitten. Her arm is swollen right up to the shoulder.

She’s taken straight into a treatment room. She comes out after having serum and an intravenous drip, with her turn th e page

41

Peace of mi n d i n a bag !

Camera Photographs are very useful records. Always carry a high-quality compact digital camera and take photos of the creatures you see. Then if someone gets bitten, you’ll have vital identification evidence without having to catch the creature and take it with you.

Glove s Wh e n han dling p ote n ti al ly dangerous sn ak e s I always wear Ke vl ar o r strong le athe r g loves.

Multito o l kni fe A lot o f p eople carry p o c k e t kn i ves, but in the fi e ld, the most use ful to ols tend to b e p l i e r s and scissors.

So I m ak e s ure I have a str o n g pliers-style multi to o l (right) and a small sc issors-style multi to o l (left).

42

c r e at ur e s a r o un d yo u

P l ast ic c as e Th i s i s for c a rry i ng c re at u re s t hat you ’v e c au gh t a nd wa nt to ta ke h ome .

If you ’re b i t t e n by a s na ke you c a n’t i de nt i fy, p u t i t i n t h e c as e a nd ta ke i t w i t h you to h os p i ta l .

Torch Torches a re not j u st for night-time i n t h e w i l d.

They’re gre at for s e e i ng into da rk p l ac e s a nyw h e re , any time a nd for e xa mi ni ng bites, for e xa mp l e . An LED colour l i gh t i s b e st.

P ois on e x t rac tor A tool to e xt rac t p oi s on f rom a b i t e .

P l ac e ov e r t h e wou nd a nd s u c k ou t t h e p oi s on.

T h orn re mov e r and magnif y ing gl ass U s e f u l for p l a nt t h orns , i ns e c t st i ngs , e tc .

Plaster s Essentia l for cuts and b i t e s .

43

Pet-shop owner Takahiro Goto holds them like this Shops like ours stock all sorts of animals.

Everything has to be kept clean and that includes the animal boxes and showcases.

When cleaning out, it’s important to deal with the animals efficiently, picking them up in a way that is appropriate and quick. Of course, we also have to hold the animals when we show them to customers. And then we have to advise customers on how to look after the animals, including how to pick them up and hold them.

Our dual priorities are safety – for both handler and animal – and operational efficiency.

Together, these underlie what we call our ‘rational’ approach to holding animals.

Profile Takah iro G oto Takah i ro ru ns a p e t s h op.

B rou gh t u p i n H a na ma ki , I wat e P re f e c t u re , h e i s a n e xp e rt i n b ot h p e ts a nd t h e nat u ra l word.

H e pays re gu l a r v i s i ts to t h e loc a l pa ddy f i e l ds to c h e c k a l l i s w e l l .

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I nsects , ar ach n ids, un u sual pets

Insects, Arachnids, Unusual Pets

45

Scorpions Watch out for the da n g er t r i a n g l e!

蠍

Scorpions found in Japan are, with some exceptions, not poisonous enough to pose a threat to human life.

Some countries, though, have scorpions that are extremely poisonous. Anyone buying a scorpion in Japan has a duty to check thoroughly its type, where it

comes from, how poisonous it is and so on. If you come across a scorpion, it will be difficult to verify its type immediately, so do not touch it. But what if you happen to see a scorpion crawling into a friend’s bed? What would you do?

M a d r as f o r e st s co r p i o n

T h e ta i l c urve s f orwa r d lik e a f ish h o o k , a llowin g the st i n g e r to r e ac h an y t hi n g in f r o n t of i t. S o a p p r oac h f r om b e hin d.

Thi s i s the poi sonous sti nger.

The most dan ge rou s are a i s th e t riangl e betw e e n t h e claws and t h e sti n ge r.

D a er tr ia n g le

M or e in f o : t h i s ye llow e dl eg g e d sco r p i o n l iv es i n fo r e sts.

I t ’ s sai d to b e t h e lar g e st typ e o f s co r p i o n i n t h e wo r ld.

g

W h e re ?

S o uth Asi a, In di a.

n

Data

T h e c l aws are l arge and look dange rou s , b u t ac t ual ly t h e y ’re not v e ry painf u l .

I normal ly j u st ignore t h e m.

Approach I approach softly from behind.

I take the base of the stinger quickly bet ween thumb and finger.

I lift it.

46

I ns e c ts , a r ac hn ids, un usual pets

Data Wh e re ?

C e nt ra l Af ri c a .

Emp eror scorp i on

more inf o: w i de ly ava i l a b l e , t h e e mp e ror i s st rong, w i t h l a rge c l aws , b u t i s sa i d not to b e v e ry p oi s onou s .

Con t ro l th e sti n g e r

Scorpions’ claws are large but not especially dangerous. If I get nipped, I’ll have no more than a slight pain. What I really have to be careful of when picking up a scorpion is the poisonous stinger.

As long as I’m in control of the stinger, there’s no danger. I don’t have to worry about the scorpion’s claws waving about threateningly. My objective is to quickly take hold of the base of the stinger with my finger and thumb. If the scorpion won’t stop moving, I try to calm it by holding out my free hand in front of it to attract its attention.

Swing

If i t ben ds its body upwards , I swi ng it gently b ac k and fort h .

47

Tarantulas I k e ep my hand st i l l . . . a n d l et i t wa l k

I l e t i t wa l k f r e ely o n m y pa lm.

I f i t lo o ks l ik e i t ’ s g oi n g to c lim b u p m y ar m , I ho ld o u t m y othe r ha n d s o t h at it wa l ks t he r e i nste a d.

C h i l e a n r os e ta r a n tu l a

If it k e e p s still, I just let it f o r ge t a ll a b o ut m e .

Keeping it ca lm

It’s best not to be too pushy when dealing with a tarantula. I just put out my hand and let it climb on of its own accord. If it gets angry, it will be impossible to deal with, and some types are very shorttempered. If I feel it’s getting difficult to handle, I guide it towards its plastic case.

If it’s angry, I put the plastic case on top of it and wait until it calms down.

48

I ns e c ts , a r ac hn ids, un usual pets

angry !

A lost c au s e . I f it looks l ik e t h is , I giv e u p !

蛛

Like scorpions, tarantulas have a reputation for being dangerous, but only some types are so poisonous as to be a direct threat to human life.

Unlike scorpions, tarantulas have the disagreeable habit of being up trees, or in other unexpected places. They also have rather unpredictable patterns of movement. Some types shoot out

poisonous bristles, so even if you don’t touch the tarantula itself, contact with a bristle may lead to an allergic reaction.

The advice often given is to leave a tarantula alone: ‘Just because you see one, that doesn’t mean it’s going to attack.’

But hold on . . . What if you see a tarantula climbing up a loved one’s back? Better learn how to handle them just in case!

Data Where?

D e se rts i n B o li vi a, Ch i l e , e tc.

M or e in f o : N o r mally m ove s slow ly, b u t q ui c k whe n movi n g in o n p r e y.

C are f u l of its fangs !

S o m e ty p e s s ho ot o ut b r istle s f r o m he r e .

Approach I guide it towards my hand.

I keep my hand still as it climbs on.

I get it on to my hand.

Once it’s on, I can move.

49

Large rhinoceros beetles Ge t t he horn that d oesn ’t m ov e

兜

Large rhinoceros beetles have been available in Japan as pets for many years. You sometimes hear of children getting hurt when they put their hands in a shop display case to try to touch one. Of course, if that happens, parents should give their children a good ticking off. But how marvellous it would be if Mum or Dad knew how best to pick up these beetles – then this type of incident might be avoided altogether.

H er c u l es l i c hyi beet le

Data L e ngt h : 6 –18 c m Wh e re ?

C e nt ra l a nd S ou t h Ame ri c a .

M ore inf o: t h i s i s t h e l a rge st rh i noc e ros b e e t l e i n t h e worl d.

w hi c h h o r n do e s n ’ t mov e ?

The key is to hold the horns that don’t move, so the first thing is to look carefully and decide which these are.

Then you can make your approach.

If the beetle is being aggressive, it may be better to approach from the front. These beetles are much stronger than Japanese rhinoceros beetles, so picking them up takes some skill.

Data

C au c asu s beet l e

L en gth: 6 –1 2 cm W h e re ?

S o uthe ast Asi a.

M or e in f o : v ery b e lli ge r e n t, g e ne r al ly r e g ar de d as the st r on ge st o f t h e r hi n o c e r os b e etl e s.

50

I ns e c ts , a r ac hn ids, un usual pets

Don’t get your fi nger caught here !

D o n ’ t ho ld a la rva li ke t hi s . Yo u’ l l b lo c k th e s p i r ac l e s thr o ugh whi ch oxyg en is ta k e n in .

Pick it up while i t’ s c u r l e d u p

T hi s i s a co mmo n way of ho l d i n g a l a rva , b ut i t’s st r essf ul f o r the lava to b e he ld lik e this for a lo n g p e r io d.

When holding a larva, the important thing is not to block the spiracles on the side of its body. So it’s best that you use your fingers and thumb on its back. You can only do this when it is curled up tight for protection, so you have to move quickly.

Picking a larva up this way also protects you from being bitten by its sharp mandibles.

Data L e ngt h : 6 –12 c m

Actaeon beet l e

Larvae

Wh e re ?

C e nt ra l a nd S ou t h Ame ri c a .

M ore inf o: t h e h e av i e st rh i no b e e t l e , i t c a n ta ke u p to f i v e y e a rs for t h e l a rva to b e come a n a du lt.

カ

‘Just pick it up somehow and roll it about in your hand.’ Perhaps that’s how you’d expect to be told to hold a beetle larva. But in fact, there is a proper way of handling larvae, though it’s not well known, and a lot of people are very rough with them. So, when you go to a pet shop to buy one, see if the staff handle it in the right way. You may know better than they do!

51

Large stag beetles Lo o k ca refully at i ts m a n d i bl es

鍬

‘Stag beetles? They’re just the same as rhinoceros beetles, aren’t they?’ This kind of generalisation can lead to big mistakes. Why? Because stag beetles’ ‘antlers’ are mandibles and they both move, so getting your finger stuck between them can be pretty painful. It can be very difficult to decide where to hold a stag beetle because there are many different types, with mandibles of different sizes and shapes.

What if you’re on a family holiday abroad and you find an unfamiliar stag beetle lying in wait by the window of the hotel?

‘Catch it, Dad!’ your son says. Do you want to be someone who replies, ‘Erm, well, I’m not really much good at that sort of thing’? Probably not. So just in case, you’d better learn how to pick one up.

A lc e s stag b e e tl e

I f i t ’ s lo o k in g l i ke t his, give up ! angry!

Stag beetles from outsi de Japan have mandi bles that vary a lot i n si z e and shape.

H ol d in one of these t wo p l ac e s .

Didi eri stag beetle

52

Data

Data

L en gth: 6 –1 0 cm

Length: 6–10cm

Where?

S o uthe ast Asi a.

Where?

Southeast As i a .

M or e in f o : t h e y’r e n ot that st r on g, b ut i f the y g e t yo ur fi n ge r i t r e a l ly hurts!

More i nf o: depending on s i ze , s ome re l at e d types of stag b e e t l e s c a n hav e v e ry diff eren t ly s ha p e d ma ndi b l e s a nd may be conf u s e d w i t h ot h e r s p e c i e s .

I ns e c ts , a r ac hn ids, un usual pets

Q u i c k t hi n ki n g a nd g o o d s e n s e

Palawa n stag beetle

Stag beetles should normally be held between thumb and index finger on the prothorax or metathorax. But sometimes this may not be possible. If you’re trying to clean the beetle’s box and the creature rears up aggressively, the space may be too confined for you to get at the prothorax from behind. In a situation like this, try to get control of the beetle’s most powerful weapons – its mandibles. The best approach will depend on its shape (something which varies between types) and stance. The right decision depends on quick thinking and good sense.

Data L e ngt h : 5–11c m Wh e re ?

Th e Ph i l i p p i ne s .

M ore inf o: t h e worl d’s l a rge st a nd st ronge st stag b e e t l e .

Giraffe stag beet l e

T hi s me tho d is p oss i b le f o r t y p e s with ve ry lon g ma n d ib l e s.

If i t’s v e ry angry and you can’t do anyt h ing else, you c an try ho l ding i t li ke t h is .

Data L e ngt h : 5–12 c m Wh e re ?

F rom S ou t h e ast As i a to I ndi a , e tc .

I f i t ’ s in a n ag g r essive sta n c e, p ic k it up f r om the f r o n t, h o l d i ng b oth s i d es at the b ase of t he m a n dib le s.

Vari ati ons i n holdi ng methods

M ore inf o: a f l at b e e t l e , w i t h ma ndi b l e s t hat a re v e ry long for i ts b ody.

53

Cockroaches and millipedes Want a go at hol d i n g t hem ?

油

The cockroach and the millipede are the most hated creepy-crawlies in Japan! ‘I’m not picking up one of those!’ you may say, but then how are you going to protect your family’s sacred space from these noxious pests? Squash millipedes with tissues?

Bash cockroaches with a rolled-up

newspaper? Spray the place with insecticide? If you squash millipedes there’s a nasty smell. And what do you do with a flattened cockroach? And you certainly don’t want insecticide all over your precious furniture, do you? Well then, why not try a different method?

Yaeya ma roun d -bac ked millip ed e

Ke e p stil l.

Data L en gth: 6 –1 0 cm W h e re ?

Ya e yama Islan ds.

M or e in f o : c a n b e se e n o n the t r un ks o f tall tr e es i n woo ds at n i ght.

54

I ns e c ts , a r ac hn ids, un usual pets

Avoi d a n asty s m e l l

Millipedes don’t bite and they’re not quick, but they do give off a smell when stressed. So your behaviour can be an important factor. If you gently encourage a millipede to climb on to your hand and then shake it a little, it will curl up like this and won’t produce the smell.

Ma dagascar hi ssi n g cockroac h

Data L en gth: 5 –7 c m Where?

Madag asc ar .

M or e in f o : a n e stab l i she d p et, t h i s co c kr oac h i s wi n gle ss. Wh e n aggr e ssi ve the y c an mak e a hi ssi n g s o un d. Eggs r e m ain i n si de the fe male un ti l the y ar e r e ady to hatc h.

I f it ’s a fast mov e r, u s e a t h re e - p oint h ol d, w it h a t h u mb and t wo f inge rs .

Do n’t thin k of i t as a coc kr oac h

Cockroaches are quick to scurry off and hide, so they very often get away. And if they do, your family won’t leave you alone until you find them. Rather than taking that risk, it’s better to be decisive and get them into your hand.

Their bodies and wings are soft, so don’t hold them by their sides. Instead, hold them gently with your thumb on top and fingers underneath. The key is to imagine what you’re holding is not a cockroach at all, but something like a cricket.

Ya e ya m a mottl e d co c k r oac h

55

Long-tailed chinchillas Make it realise th at p l ayi n g u p w i l l g et i t n ow h e r e !

齧

These cute-looking rodents from the Andes have become popular and pet shops stock many varieties with different shades of fur.

Imagine you’re in love with a girl who works in a pet shop. You’re in there one day browsing aimlessly, when a chinchilla escapes. She asks you to catch it . . .

Obviously, you want to look cool and competent.

So be prepared: now’s your chance to learn how to handle a chinchilla.

Data L e ngt h : 3 0c m Wh e re ?

Chi l e .

M ore inf o: i t ’s know n as a l a b t e st a ni ma l a nd for i ts h i gh - qua l i t y f u r.

I ts b i g e a r s lo o k l i ke the y b elon g in a c a r to o n .

do n ' t p l ay a r o u n d

The y ’ r e go o d at sta n d in g up o n the ir hin d l e gs.

56

I ns e c ts , a r ac hn ids, un usual pets

Chinchillas are docile creatures, but if they’re not used to humans, they can get agitated. Hold them firmly at the back of the neck, so that they realise that acting up will get them nowhere. With your other hand grip their rear legs. The trick is a skilful adjustment of pressure: with too little pressure, you may drop the animal if it plays up; with too much, you may cause it stress.

57

Chipmunks Th is m ight look u n com f or ta bl e, bu t i t d o e s n ' t h u r t th e m

Pi ck i t u p by t h e loose f u r at t h e back of its ne c k .

Data L e ngt h : 18 –2 0c m Wh e re ?

As i a .

M ore inf o: i mp ort re st ri c t i ons me a n i t ’s not as common a p e t as i t u s e d to b e .

Chi p mu nks c a n b e v e ry u nru ly.

58

I ns e c ts , a r ac hn ids, un usual pets

縞

Some time ago, chipmunks were well established as pets in Japan, but for various reasons the numbers imported have fallen sharply in recent years.

They are normally friendly and can be trained to stay in your hand. But they are a type of squirrel, and squirrels are basically not that easy to deal with. They have very sharp and powerful teeth that can gnaw through wood, so if you get bitten, there’ll be blood, and sometimes the wound will be serious. So master how to hold them, then gradually build up a relationship of trust.

Note the ir c ha r ac te r isti c str ip e d b ac ks.

Do n’t be fooled by t he c u t e fac e

R ode nts h av e s h arp t e e t h . D on’t ge t b it t e n!

O nc e it acc e p ts t h e s it uat ion, it won’t p l ay u p.

It may have a cute face, but if a chipmunk isn’t used to humans and you suddenly put your hand out to pick it up, you’ll be bitten. So, to start off with, pick it up by pinching the loose skin at the back of its neck between your thumb and index finger and letting the chipmunk hang down.

Some people think this is cruel, but the skin at the back of their necks is like the skin on human elbows: you can stretch it a bit without it hurting.

59

Sugar gliders Cut e to look at, b u t w hat a c ry!

袋

The sugar glider is rapidly gaining popularity as a pet in Japan. With its big ears and round eyes, it captures almost every child's heart. But getting it to behave as you want it to is no easy matter.

Sugar gliders are very supple, active and agile. And they may bite. They’ll refuse to stay still in your hand, and if you try restraining them, they’ll let out an unearthly cry you wouldn’t think possible given their size. But this is how to hold one and welcome it to your home as a pet.

I t lo o ks so tin y !

The vet w rap s it i n a tow e l .

T h is is h ow a v e t h ol ds one .

60

I ns e c ts , a r ac hn ids, un usual pets

You wa n t to kee p i t sti l l , b u t yo u c a n ’ t!

If it’s not used to humans, it’s best to hold a sugar glider firmly around the body and neck. But if you restrain it too much, it will resist and let out a terrible scream. In our shop we prefer customers not to have to witness such resistance from creatures they are planning to welcome into their homes, so we try to forget our fear of being bitten and, controlling our desire to pin the creature down, we cup it between our palms. The sugar glider seems to feel secure like that and generally settles down. If you are responsive and don’t exert too much pressure, you’ll probably soon be able to hold your sugar glider like this without problems.

Data L e ngt h : 15–2 0c m Wh e re ?

I ndone s i a , Au st ra l i a .

M ore inf o: t h e s u ga r gl i de r’s you ng stay i n t h e mot h e r’s p ou c h for a b ou t s e v e nt y days af t e r b i rt h . Th e s e a ni ma l s hav e gl i di ng me mb ra ne s w h i c h a l low t h e m to gl i de for a b ou t 50m.

61

Hamsters So me bite – some d on ’t . . .

齧

Hamsters have become very popular in Japan since featuring in a cute TV animation series. Before that, I think people saw them as a strange kind of pet, but now they are very common. A lot of zoos have

areas where children can have direct contact with animals, and hamsters are often to be found there. If your daughter says, ‘Daddy! I want to touch the hamster!’ the correct response isn’t, ‘Well, I’m not going to!’ It’s: ‘Sure. Look, this is how to hold it!’

H ol d w it h f inge rs and t h u mb arou nd its ne c k .

G o l d e n h a mste r

Data L e ngt h : 8 –12 c m Wh e re ?

Th e L e va nt re gi on of t h e M i ddl e East.

M ore inf o: i n t h e 193 0 s a f e ma l e gol de n ha mst e r was c au gh t i n Syri a , a nd t h rou gh h e r de s c e nda nts , t h e s p e c i e s s p re a d a rou nd t h e worl d as a p e t.

62

I nsects , ar ach n ids, un usual pets

Data Winter whi t e dwa rf hamst er

L e ngt h : 6 –8 c m Wh e re ?

N ort h e rn Chi na , S i b e ri a .

M ore inf o: i t ’s c a l l e d ‘dwa rf ’ b e c au s e i t ’s s ma l l e r t ha n t h e gol de n ha mst e r, a nd ‘w i nt e r w h i t e ’ re f e rs to i ts f u r, w h i c h t u rns w h i t e i n w i nt e r.

So small!

They are small and often docile.

Many will sit happily in your palm.

For safety, it’s probably best to hold them between cupped palms.

It may bite

Golden hamsters like people, but at first it’s difficult to be sure they won’t bite. So when a new one arrives at the shop I always hold it from behind, with fingers on both sides of its neck. Once I’ve held it like that several times, I get to know whether it bites or not. If it’s a biter, I continue to hold it in that way; if not, I cup it in my hands.

63

Fancy mice Just like a ca rtoon c ha r ac t er !

Data L en gth: 6 –7 c m W h e re ?

M ic e ar e fo un d all ov e r the wo r l d.

M or e in f o : fan cy m i c e ar e b r e eds o f ho use m ic e. The y w e r e k e p t i n Japan i n the Edo P e r io d (1 603 –1 868) b ut late r b e c ame e xt i n c t the r e . The y s urvi ve d i n Eur o p e a n d starte d to b e k e pt i n Japan agai n .

T h e tail is st rong and c an e as ily s u p p ort t h e w e igh t of t h e b ody.

W h y not use its ta i l?

Unless you give a mouse a nasty surprise, it won’t bite you. Mice like humans and they’re clever. You can carry them in both hands or in just one – in fact, you can carry them any way you like. When cleaning their cages, it’s most efficient to pick them up by their tails. (Holding them by the tail means there’s no chance of them running away.)

Some people think this is cruel, but as long as you don’t hold them like this for a long time, it’s no problem at all. If you don’t feel happy doing this though, you may like to try having the mouse in your hand, keeping a grip on its tail at the same time.

64

I ns e c ts , a r ac hn ids, un usual pets

Y ik e s !

鼠

What we now call a panda mouse in Japan – because of its panda-like markings – seems to have been bred in the Edo Period (1603–1868). They’re small and dart about in a very charming way. They’re also very easy to look after: they soon get used

I f yo u k e e p ho l d o f its ta i l, it wo n ’ t m ove muc h.

to humans and they’re clever.

What more could you want?

They breed easily and numbers soon grow. They say that if one person has panda mice, it won’t be long before all their friends and neighbours will have some too.

Th is is the sec re t.

65

Chickens Co ckerels are rea l ly f i er c e!

Data L en gth: 40–50cm W h e re ?

K e pt al l ove r the wo r ld.

M or e in f o : d o m esti c ate d i n S o uthe ast Asi a a n d Ch i n a, b e fo r e s p r e ad i n g to E u r o p e . So m e b r e e ds o f h e n p r o duc e over 3 0 0 e ggs a ye ar .

Get it the first ti m e

Mask your intent. Approach in a carefree manner. As you get close, it will turn to walk away. Now’s your chance: pick it up from behind, placing your hands quickly and firmly over its wings. The secret is to get it done in one go.

66

I ns e c ts , a r ac hn ids, un usual pets

鶏

If you’ve ever fought with a cockerel, you’ll know how fierce they are. They attack with their feet and rip your trousers with their spurs.

They dodge your counterattack and then, with their

formidable beaks, lay straight into any weak spot. If you want to be ready to fight a truly savage cockerel, develop your strategies by practising on the more docile varieties found in pet shops.

Chick = baseb a l l?

Hold a chick as you would a baseball. Grasp the whole chick, holding gently on both sides from the neck downwards.

Held like this, the chick will be docile, with a slightly dazed expression.

Lik e ho l din g a b ase b a ll.

67

How to g et a r hi n oc er os beet l e o f f yo u r h a n d

A rhinoceros beetle has long claws to keep its large body steady on trees. If it sinks those claws into your hand, you won’t be able to pull it away without drawing blood. But if you treat it gently and use your mighty human brain, you’ll be okay.

Tap i ts rear wi th your f inger.

Tap it again.

Encourage it off.

Away it goe s .

T h e E nd.

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I ns e c ts , a r ac hn ids, un usual pets

getting a n a n g ry stag beet l e ou t o f i ts b ox

I’m assuming you keep your stag beetle in a small plastic box.

When you try to get it out to clean the box, the beetle often gets cross and starts waving its mandibles about, so that you can’t get your hand in. You begin to despair of ever getting the box clean. In that situation, try this:

Make use of the way the beetle i s standi ng.

F orc e it into t h e corne r of t h e b ox .

Pre ss you r f inge r against its b ac k and pu s h it gradual ly u p to t h e rim of t h e b ox .

. . . tak e it ou t l ik e t h is .

When i t’s far enough up . . .

69

Vet Kenichi Tamukai holds them like this If a desperate pet owner took their animal to a vet and was told, ‘We can’t deal with one of those’, they wouldn’t be very happy, would they? I try to think of all possibilities and then choose the most suitable method for the animal that’s in front of me.

I’ve loved animals since I was small and, of course, I feel confident holding any type. I’m also a wrestling fan, so I know a lot of ways of keeping them under control.

For a vet, it’s not a matter of just holding an animal – you have to keep it still, so that you can treat it. This involves what I call HOLD SPIRIT – a state of mind that helps you keep an animal still in a safe and appropriate way.

Profile K e nic h i Tamu kai H e a d of t h e D e ne nChof u Ani ma l H os p i ta l , K e ni c h i de a l s w i t h a l l t y p e s of a ni ma l s , f rom dogs a nd c ats , to ra b b i ts , re p t i l e s , p i gs a nd s h e e p, a nd has ha ndl e d 2 00 s p e c i e s to dat e . Th e y say t hat s u cc e ss as a v e t i s 8 0 p e r c e nt a mat t e r of ke e p i ng t h e a ni ma l s st i l l .

72

Pet mammals an d bi r ds

pet mammals and birds

73

Dogs Th e r e’s a sp ecial way of hol d i n g bi g d o g s !

Pyr enean mounta i n d og

Data L e ngt h : 40–100c m C h arac t e r: t h e ki ng of p e ts .

Man’s b e st f ri e nd.

big dogs

Many owners hold big dogs by their bottoms with their front legs over one shoulder. But held like that, the dog may be difficult to control if it starts playing up. And if it falls, it may hit the ground awkwardly and get injured. Also, this method can strain both your back and the dog’s. The safest method for carrying 74

Pe t m amma ls a n d b ir ds

a big dog is to hold it in both arms. One arm goes around the top of its front legs, and the other around the top of its back legs. Held in this way, the dog keeps a natural posture and you can control its whole body. If it begins to fall, you can let it down gently on to the ground into a natural standing position.

犬

In the past, most Japanese people’s dogs were mongrels. They kept them chained up all day and then set them free in the evening to exercise themselves.

Those times have gone.

Nowadays, neatly dressed women come out in the morning before the tarmac heats up and stroll gracefully along with their dogs in their arms. Yes! A dog is no longer something that must have its daily

Me dium- sized dog s

walk – it’s the woman’s valued partner in her walk. And if it’s looking tired or ot, then of course it must be picked up and carried!

Well, perhaps not quite as often as these smart ladies seem to think, but it’s true that sometimes dogs really do have to be picked up and held. So, for the good of your back and to avoid risks for the dog, why not learn how the experts do it?

Shi ba i n u

The way to hold a mediumsized dog is the same as for big dogs: pick it up with a scooping movement with one arm around its chest, at the top of its front legs, and one arm around its rear, at the top of its back legs. Try always to hold your dog correctly.

If the owner’s holdi ng i t, the dog always makes i tself comfortable. Wi th me, i t i s always held fi rmly, even i f that means i ts face looks a bi t odd.

Miniature dachshun d

S m a l l do g s

For big and medium-sized dogs, it’s vital to hold the dogs firmly and securely, but for small dogs your grasp can be gentler – more like a cuddle. But it’s important to keep control of the back legs in case it gets upset and starts playing up.

And hold the dog right against you – this makes it feel secure.

75

Cats So me cats don’t li ke bei n g c u d d l ed

Japanese cat

Data L en gth: 3 0 – 40 c m C h a r ac te r : e nj oys so li tary l if e , b ut w he n i n t h e m o o d li k e s to b e sp o i le d.

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Pe t m amma ls a n d b ir ds

猫

Many cats used to live a very free life, going out when they felt like it and coming back for food whenever they wanted. A cat with a collar belonged to somebody; without a collar, you’d assume it was a street cat. Otherwise, there wasn’t much difference. But since the 1980s, pet cats’ living environments have changed quite a lot.

Nowadays, most cats live indoors and their relationship with their owners has become closer.

Sometimes you see people walking along with cats in their arms, or even going shopping with them.

Are you holding yours in the right way? Let’s check.

C at c u dd l e

Take the cat in your arms from both sides. Have one hand on the cat’s back and the other beneath its bottom, holding its rear legs. The cat will make itself comfortable and it will be easy to hold.

But while their living environment may have changed, cats are still capricious, and some don’t like to be cuddled, so don’t force them.

For situations where you really have to keep them under firm control, see HOLD SPIRIT (p. 92).

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Ferrets Pic k a ferret up by t he loose f u r behi n d i ts n e c k

鼬

The ferret’s appeal lies in its cute face and mannerisms, as well as in its independent, self-reliant character.

In the past, ferrets weren’t popular as pets because of their aggression and strong smell. But these are no longer issues: almost all ferrets for sale these

How they ’re h el d i n p et shop s

When customers are looking at a ferret in a shop its movements don’t have to be controlled too much, so the shop staff often hold it by its chest with its front legs hanging down, or even simply carry it on their arm. But held like that it can be difficult to control if it gets excited. Even if it looks cute when it’s a bit unruly, it’s best in that situation to grip the back of its neck.

Data Le n gth: 3 0 –4 0c m Cha r ac te r : c ar n i vo r o u s, but with a sweet to oth. Ch e erful and carefree.

Ac ti ve , b ut sleeps a lot.

78

Pe t m amma ls a n d b ir ds

days in Japan have had their scent glands removed and they’ve even become good-natured. But if in the past you’ve experienced their smell or been bitten by one, you may be on your guard.

In that case, this holding method will be your key strategy.

The fur here i s loose. Gri p i t fi rmly to pic k the ferret up.

F o r tr e atm e n t

Ferrets are calmer than they were in the past, but they like their freedom, and if you allow them to do exactly as they want, they can get excited and be tough to handle. When one is brought in for treatment at the clinic, we have to stop it moving, so we grip it firmly by the back of its neck. This way it becomes very still, making it easy to carry out examinations, etc. The fur behind the neck is loose so you can grip it tightly without causing any pain.

H e l d l ik e t h is , w e c an giv e it a c h e c k- u p and c l e an its e ars .

79

Rabbits Put t he rabbit’s bac k f l at ag a i n st you r sto mac h

Data L en gth: 3 0 – 6 0c m C h a r ac te r : r a b b i ts ar e t i m id an d w he n t h e y’r e i n a b ad m oo d the y stam p t h e g r o un d.

The y ar e g o o d at g etti n g at t e n ti o n .

兎

Are rabbits always sweet and docile? No. A lot of them are very timid and hate being touched by humans, so if you approach them in a way that makes them uncomfortable, they may bite you with their sharp front teeth. And don’t underestimate the power of their back legs. Their bones are very fragile, though, and so dropping a rabbit can cause serious injury. Don’t force your love on it, thinking it’s always fine to cuddle a rabbit. Pay attention to its reaction.

Lo p - e a r e d rabbit

Th e normal way to hold

This is how rabbits are normally held in pet shops and in the home. If you hold it tight against your stomach it will feel secure and probably not play up, but you can never be sure.

Approach First take hold of the soft, furry skin behind its ears and pull it up.

Carry to a safe place.

Put your hand underneath the rabbit and support its back legs, near its bottom.

80

Pe t m amma ls a n d b ir ds

H u g f r om behi n d

Adjust the rabbit’s position.

The normal way to hold a rabbit is with one hand under its bottom, the other on its back and its tummy against yours. But if it gets upset, its back legs can give a powerful kick. So, to be on the safe side, at clinics rabbits are held from behind, with their backs against the holder’s front. One hand goes under the front legs keeping the chest area still, while the other hand supports the animal under its bottom. If the rabbit is facing the front, any kicks will be in the air and so won’t interfere that much with treatment.

Netherla n d dwarf ra bbit

81

Budgerigars A b as eba ll grip

Data L e ngt h : 18 –2 3 c m C h arac t e r: l i ke s p e op l e ; c hat t y. E gg b i ndi ng ( di ff i c u lt y pass i ng e ggs ) i s common i n f e ma l e s .

Ho l d the who l e b o dy, with o n e f in g e r o n e ac h side o f the n e ck.

Pitc h ing a fastbal l?

Sometimes a budgerigar will play up when you put your hand inside its cage.

Don’t take your hand out – just wait for an opportunity, holding your hand as though you were going to pitch a baseball. When the bird’s wings are furled, take hold of it gently from behind. Once its neck is securely between your index and middle fingers, it won’t resist.

82

Pe t m amma ls a n d b ir ds

鸚

Small birds like budgerigars and Java sparrows are light and have delicate bones, and it’s easy to cause injury when holding them. So it’s vital that they get used to perching on your fingers from a very young age. But when

they fly off around the room and don’t come back, or when you want to take them to the vet, you may have to catch them, so it’s best to know this method of holding them.

K e e p it st e ady.

T h is f inge r is t h e k e y.

How a ve t ho l ds them

Thr e e - p o in t hold Whe n givin g treatment the he a d sho uld be k e p t still.

Spread ing ou t t h e w ing When g iv ing a c h e c k- u p, we hav e to c are f u l ly c h e c k both side s of t h e w ings .

Bi rds have deli cate bones, so be careful!

83

Sunda scops owls Tr eat it as gen tly as a n ew bor n ba by

梟

With woods being destroyed for housing, the number of scops owls in Japan has declined. But some live undeterred in a more human-centred environment. Occasionally, in pursuit of prey, they fly against office-building

windows and so you may find one injured in an unexpected place one day.

If you don’t hold it correctly, you may cause it a lot of stress, but if you’ve learned how to handle one properly, you may be able to save its life.

L ik e a b aby.

Gently.

Don’t put any pressure on i ts chest.

Ca r e f ul o f its b eak!

Data L en gth: 2 0 –3 0c m C h a r ac te r : n o c tur n al . The y l iv e hi d d e n i n the da r k n e ss. If yo u f i n d o n e i n tow n , ta k e i t to a ve t o r r esc ue c e n tr e .

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Pe t m amma ls a n d b ir ds

I t ’s saf e st to w rap t h e b ird in a tow e l .

F i r st, c a l m i t d ow n

Hold fi rmly, supporti ng the neck from behi nd.

Being touched by a human causes a great deal of stress to wild animals.

In some circumstances, the shock can be so great that it causes death. It is essential to make the creature feel at ease. The best thing to do in this case is to hold it in a towel from behind, exerting light pressure behind the neck and on the legs. Then wrap the towel around it, as if it were a baby.

When the bird is relaxed, the towel can be loosened and parts of the body checked as necessary.

Whe n the towel is r e move d at the c l in ic , the l e gs a r e he l d f ir mly.

85

Prairie dogs A towel sp rea d ou t u n d er n eat h c a n hel p p r e v e n t e s c a p e

A f i rm h o l d – com p l e te co n c e n tr ati o n

First, I close all doors in case it runs off. I put the fingers of one hand around the back of its neck and under its armpits. My other hand keeps a firm hold of one of its upper thighs.

I keep up my guard and never relax my grip. Even then, if it starts to play up, it may slip out of my grasp. In case that happens, I have a towel spread out on the table beneath. If I think I’m losing control, I quickly wrap the animal up in the towel.

H ol d f irmly.

Data L e ngt h : 35–45c m Support i ts bottom wi th one hand. If i t starts to play up, ti ghten your gri p.

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Pe t m amma ls a n d b ir ds

C h arac t e r: s oon ge ts u s e d to p e op l e . N orma l ly l i v e s i n a grou p, s o w h e n i t has contac t w i t h you i t t re ats you as one of t h e ga ng.

齧

Prairie dogs are very mischievous and have powerful front teeth and sharp claws. They are really difficult to deal with, but in spite of being pretty wild and even less co-operative than a cat or a ferret, their behaviour is often very cute, and they get very fond of their owners. People like the contrasts in their character and they are very popular as pets.

Although they are not currently imported into Japan, large numbers were imported for the pet trade in the past and now the market is supplied with domestically bred animals. With so many about it’s not unlikely for a neighbour’s prairie dog to find its way into your house someday. If you don’t catch it quickly, it could make a real mess, so it’s a good idea to learn how to pick them up and hold them.

Wit h a tow e l w rap p e d arou nd t h e animal and only its h e ad s h ow ing, I c h e c k its e y e s and t h e ins ide of its mou t h .

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Hedgehogs Do n’t forget you r l eat her g lov es! D on ’ t try w i th b a r e h a n ds !

針

Hedgehogs are popular in children’s books and as pets, and always a hit at the zoo. But now certain types have achieved additional fame as invasive alien species! Yes, they are being found in the wild in parts of Kanagawa Prefecture. Well, looking on the bright side, that could mean you have more chance of coming across one. What would you do if you found one?

Whe n movin g them, I always we a r l e ather gloves. It’s not im p ossib le to do i t wi th bare ha n ds, b ut it means putti ng up with pa in f r om the spi nes – i t c a n ’ t just b e dropped when the ho l de r f e e l s uncomfortable.

I p ic k the m up by the back and tur n the m over, so that they a r e b e lly up on my palm.

I t is il l e gal to t rans p ort invas iv e al ie n s p e c ie s in Japan, s o you are not al low e d to tak e a w il d one h ome to k e e p.

I f s u rp ris e d or on t h e de f e ns iv e , t h e h e dge h og’s s p ine s w il l st ic k u p on its b ac k .

Data L e ngt h : 15–2 5c m C h arac t e r: v e ry s hy, b u t onc e t h e y ’re u s e d to you, t h e y ’l l look st ra i gh t at you w i t h t h e i r lov e ly e y e s .

Th e i r favou ri t e food i s b u gs .

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Pe t m amma ls a n d b ir ds

t ry n ot to to u c h th e m mu c h There are no spi nes on i ts undersi de.

As you’ll guess from their habit of curling up into a spiky ball, hedgehogs are very shy and wary animals, so I don’t pick them up unless really necessary.

Check-ups are normally performed by observing them in transparent cases.

When it’s necessary to hold them, I use leather or Kevlar gloves.

C h e c k- u p

I n a p l ast ic b ox , t h e h e dge h og c an h av e a c h e c ku p w it h ou t b e ing tou c h e d.

Whe n yo u p ick up a he dge ho g its spi nes wil l a lways sti ck o ut. Le athe r gloves a r e e sse n tial for yo ur sa f e ty and that o f the he d gehog.

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Cutting claws

One unexpectedly awkward thing about keeping animals is claw cutting.

If the owner tries to do it at home, the pet realises that something unpleasant is going to happen and does its best to avoid it. And I’m afraid owners tend to go too easy with the task and so often don’t do a very good job. That’s where vets come in. We always think carefully about how to cut different animals’ claws.

R ab b it: b as ic c u t I t ’s saf e st i f t h e re a re t wo p e op l e – one h ol di ng t h e ra b b i t a nd t h e ot h e r c u t t i ng t h e c l aws . Th e ra b b i t i s h e l d s e c u re ly w i t h i ts stomac h fac i ng t h e p e rs on w h o i s c u t t i ng.

F or u nru ly rab b its A o n e - p e r so n cut

The r ab b i t i s held i n the same way as w he n the r e are two p e o p l e . A o n e - person c ut i s o kay i f the an i mal i s do c i le.

90

Pe t m amma ls a n d b ir ds

If t h e ra b b i t f e e l s u ncomforta b l e a nd i s p l ayi ng u p, w e w ra p i t i n a tow e l , w i t h only t h e f e e t s h ow i ng. Th e tow e l i s w ra p p e d f i rmly a rou nd t h e ra b b i t ’s h e a d a nd b ot tom, s o t hat t h e a ni ma l c a n’t ge t away.

P r a i r i e do g s w i ll d e f in i te ly p l ay up, so I wr ap the m fi r m ly i n a tow e l w i th o n ly t h e ir fe e t show i n g.

Thi s way I c an ke e p co n t r o l an d wo n ’ t b e b i tte n .

Pr a ir ie dog F e rre t

Sugar gli der

I c u t a f e rre t ’s c l aws c au t i ou s ly w h i l e h ol di ng i t by t h e s c ru ff of t h e ne c k. H ol di ng i t l i ke t h i s ma ke s i t more doc i l e for b ot h c h e c k- u p s a nd c u t t i ng.

I hold the anim a l f rom behind in a lau ndry ne t, so that the claws come through the hol e s a nd I cut them from ou ts i de t h e net. This method i s a l s o suitable for sq u i rre l s .

He d g e ho g

Tortois e /t u rt l e

Yo u c an ’t c ut a hedgehog’s c l aws w hi le holding it, so w e p ut i t o n fi rm wire mesh an d c ut the c laws from un de r n e ath. Sometimes they do n ’t e ve n se em to notice.

One pers on h ol ds t h e a ni ma l by its s h e l l a nd f ront l e gs , while a not h e r c u ts i ts c l aws .

Torto i s e a nd t u rt l e c l aws c a n get su rp ri s i ngly long, s o i f you’re conc e rne d, ge t t h e m c u t.

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My sp eciali t y HOLD SPIRIT

Normally, the holding techniques I’ve already described are enough, but sometimes animals require special control for treatment.

We have to consider size, delicacy of bones, state of health, etc.

Do gs

I p ut m y ar ms around the d o g’s low er back an d use m y b o dy weight to p r e ss d ow n on the an i m al. I k e e p control o f i ts fr o n t paws and he ad. If i t sti ll plays up, I p ull i ts front legs fo rwar d, so that its tum my i s fl at against the flo o r o r other sur fac e . Thi s makes it d i ffi c ult fo r t he dog to move . He ld in this way, i t’s p ossi ble to ad m i n i ste r i n jections, e ve n fo r the most r e luc tan t do gs.

Cats I hol d i ts fou r l e gs f i rmly, press i ng dow n w i t h one arm on i ts ne c k a nd t h e oth e r on i ts t h i gh s . I a dj u st the p re ss u re , de p e ndi ng on how u nru ly t h e c at i s .

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Pe t m amma ls a n d b ir ds

Reptile-shop owner Kazuhisa Yamada holds them like this Most reptiles are wild, and don’t develop attachments to humans. But I’m selling them to be kept as pets, so of course, I have to handle them. The first thing is to know about the species. Then I consider carefully the condition of the particular animal in front of me. I don’t want to damage it, of course – nor do I want to get injured myself.

Profile Kaz u h isa Yamada R e p t i l e - s h op ow ne r Ka zu h i sa ta ke s p ri de i n ha ndl i ng l a rge a nd da nge rou s re p t i l e s a nd a mp h i b i a ns . Th e store ’s mot to i s : i f w e s e l l i t, w e c a n h ol d i t.

94

Re p til es

reptiles

95

Monitor lizards Th e y’re temp eram en ta l a n d t hey’v e g ot s h a r p te e th

大

Some monitor lizards grow to over two metres. Their bodies are strong and their movements aggressive.

They swish their tails when angry and sometimes jump at you. They’re dangerous!

A monitor lizard isn’t poisonous, but its mouth is full of bacteria and its sharp teeth tear things to shreds.

Then there are the claws. A monitor lizard is a big animal and it climbs trees, so you can imagine how sharp and powerful its claws are. They can rip human flesh.

Finally, we have to keep an eye on its long, whip-like tail. Anybody caught by that will be lucky to get away with just a nasty welt on their skin. If things aren’t done properly, there’ll be real problems so anybody dealing with monitor lizards has to really know how to hold them.

The tai l moves l ik e a whi p. Be care f u l !

A lot of s h arp t e e t h ; a b it e is e x t re me ly dange rou s .

Data L en gth: 1 40 – 2 5 0 c m W h e re ?

R i v er s an d l ak e s i n S o uthe ast Asi a.

M or e in f o : e ats man y d i ffe r e n t t h i n g s, i n c ludi n g m a m mals, b i r ds, f i s h , p r aw n s, c r ab s, e tc . Ge ts use d to pe o p le e asi ly.

S o m eti me s fe male s r e pr o d uc e thr o ugh pa rthe n o g e n e si s – a t y pe o f ase xual r e pr o d uc ti o n .

The claws are sharp and can gouge i nto human flesh.

Great care i s requi red.

As i a n wate r mo n i to r

Approach I hold my hands out straight above the animal and bring them both down at the same time.

When I have it under good control...

I take a firm grip.

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R ep t i l es

…I lift it up, placing the tail under my arm.

R o c k m o n i to r

Data L e ngt h : 150–2 00c m

A docile sp ecimen

Even a docile specimen may turn on the handler, so great care is required.

Just as for other specimens, one hand should hold the neck and front legs and the other the back legs and tail. This way, the handler can control it quickly. It’s especially important to keep a firm grip on the neck in case it tries to bite.

Wh e re ?

Sava nnah a nd roc ky p l ac e s i n s ou t h e rn Af ri c a .

M ore inf o: e ats b i rds a nd ma mma l s . Th i s s p e c i e s has a c ha rac t e ri st i c sw e e t s me l l . i t doe s n’t cop e w e l l w i t h col d t e mp e rat u re s .

A v i c i o u s s p e c i me n

When I’m dealing with a vicious specimen, I always keep a very firm hold – for both my own safety and that of the animal. I grip the neck and front legs with one hand and the back legs and the root of the tail with the other, and I make sure the tail goes securely under my arm where it can’t hurt me.

Unless I get this hold right straight away, I’m almost certain to be injured.

I g r ip its hip s a n d tuc k its ta il un de r m y a r m.

I keep a f irm h ol d of its ne c k .

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Medium-sized lizards Smal ler than mon i tor s, bu t st i l l p ow er f u l a n d o b sti n ate

中

Just because someone can hold a monitor lizard, that doesn’t mean they’ll find it easy to hold a medium-sized lizard. It’s a different type of challenge, and we have to keep our guard up. It may be smaller, but its jaws are still powerful and its numerous teeth very sharp, so the risk is basically the same.

Those teeth can tear human flesh.

S u da n p l ate d l i z a r d

A mome nt ’s loss of conc e nt rat ion and t h e l iz ard’s t e e t h w il l b e dril l ing into t h e h andl e r’s f l e s h .

Data L en gth: 40–50cm

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W h e re ? d ry ro c ky p l ac e s i n A f r i c an savan n ah.

I n ev er r e l ax my g r i p

M or e in f o : e ats c r i c ke ts an d ot h e r i n se c ts. In the w i l d so m e ti me s li ves o n an t hi l ls. Ca n co p e w i th c han g e s i n h um i di ty an d t e m p e r atur e . Ge ts us e d to hum an s an d i s easy to ke e p.

A temperamental mid-sized lizard is extremely hard to hold. I don’t worry too much about the claws, but I know that it will definitely try to bite. And it won’t give up easily. It’s got a lot of stamina and it’ll carry on struggling. So I have to keep a firm hold on the neck and the root of the tail and try to make it give up.

I can’t relax my grip for a moment.

R ep t i l es

Medium-sized igua n a

This is held in the same way as a Sudan plated lizard. Be as careful of its claws as of its mouth. As long as it’s held firmly it will stop playing up, so it doesn’t always have to be held too tight. But unless you're used to handling them, it's a difficult call to make, so it would probably be a mistake for inexperienced handlers to loosen their grip once they’ve got a good hold.

C u b a n r o c k i g ua n a

Data L e ngt h : 100–12 0c m Wh e re ? s u nny p l ac e s i n cuba.

M ore inf o: de s p i t e a p p e a ra nc e s , i t ’s a h e rb i vore , e at i ng p l a nts a nd f ru i t.

I t ge ts u s e d to p e op l e e as i ly. A h i gh ly e nda nge re d s p e c i e s a nd st ri c t ly p rot e c t e d. W i de ly b re d ou ts i de C u b a .

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Common leopard geckos Ho l d it gen tly in you r ha n d, l ayi n g your th u mb o n i ts b ac k

豹

Other lizards – particularly the frilledneck lizard – have had their share of press in the past, but it’s hard to think of any member of the lizard family that has earned as sure a place in the Japanese heart as the common leopard gecko.

Celebrities have them, children have them – people of all sorts love their common leopard geckos. Travel on any train or go into any café, and the chances are you’ll overhear a girl chatting about hers, while at the airport you may hear a little boy asking if his can go in cabin baggage.

Well, reptile fans, here’s how to hold this lovely creature – and make sure you master both the approach and the subsequent handling.

Approach Move your hands towards it from both sides.

That’s it.

Push it up on to your hands.

100 Re p til es

A lways b e g e n tl e

Data L en gth: 2 0 –3 0c m Where?

D e se rt an d d ry w ildernesses i n the Mi ddle East.

The common leopard gecko is actually pretty difficult to hold. If you try to control it by holding tight, it may shed its tail or you may get bitten. So just get it on to your hand and lay your thumb lightly on its back.

Always be gentle.

M or e in f o : a l most all co mmon leopard g e c kos that yo u s ee in Japan are b r e d i n c ap ti vi ty. There’s very l ittl e tr ad e i n w i ld ones. Breeding i s s i m p le an d the y eat bugs and p r o c e sse d r e p ti l e feed. They are w e ll e stab l i she d as pets.

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Tokay geckos A f l amboyant gecko w i t h a br ash c ry – a d o dgy c h a r ac te r

鳴

Southeast Asia. A lodge in the dead of night. A strange cry shatters the silence. Fighting my fear, I switch on the light and, to my horror, find a huge, brightly coloured gecko on the wall above the bed. My wife is dumb with

fear. My daughter is screaming. How can I sort this out? What shall I do? It was supposed to be good, this place . . .

Cost quite a bit . . . Well, be prepared.

Now’s your chance to learn how to pick up a tokay gecko!

Hold w it h f inge rs on eac h s ide , behi nd its mou t h .

Data L e ngt h : 2 5–35c m Wh e re ?

I n a nd a rou nd h ou s e s i n S ou t h e ast As i a .

M ore inf o: t h e ma l e ’s c ry i s ‘tokay’, w h i c h has b e come t h e ge c ko’s na me . I t e ats c ri c ke ts a nd ot h e r i ns e c ts , b u t i s s u rp ri s i ngly di ff i c u lt to ke e p.

Th e tokay i s t h ou gh t to b ri ng lu c k i n I ndone s i a .

102 R ep t i l es

Approach Its standard reaction is anger.

Adjust your hold.

When you see your chance, bring your hand down swiftly so that it can’t move.

Lift it up.

B it t e n!

I t’ s w i n o r los e

The tokay is a large and vicious gecko. I’ve seen quite a few, and none of them has been docile. They always open their mouths wide and give a loud, threatening cry. Being a gecko, its tail can come off, so pin the gecko’s body down quickly with your palm, and position one finger on each side behind its mouth.

Unless you try to grab the tail itself, it probably won’t come off.

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Medium-sized non-venomous snakes Most ty p es bite – a n d p r oba bly w i l l ! B u t th e y ’ r e n ot p o i s o n o u s

蛇

People who don’t like snakes tend to find them, but that’s because they’re looking out for them. It’s part of a human’s wonderful instinctive security system. If you see one in good time, it’s easily avoided. But what if you just suddenly step on one? Or what if there’s

one up a tree that you have to walk under? Wouldn’t you feel a bit better if you knew how they’re handled?

Of course, I’m not recommending that you pick up a snake that you don’t know for certain is safe.

Approach I go for the head.

I pull it sharply away.

104 R ep t i l es

I take a firm grip.

And hold the head like this.

Data L e ngt h : 12 0–18 0c m Wh e re ?

I n t re e s i n t h e ra i nfore sts of I ndone s i a a nd N e w G u i ne a .

M ore inf o: t h e y s p e nd most of t h e day c u rl e d u p i n t re e s . Th e y l i ke e at i ng ma mma l s a nd b i rds .

M ost a re ne rvou s a nd w i l l b i t e h u ma ns . T re e s na ke s hav e longe r fa ngs t ha n grou nd s na ke s , s o t h e i r b i t e s a re pa i nf u l .

G r e e n tr e e py th o n

Blo odshed inev i ta bl e!

Given the chance, green tree pythons and other treeliving boas and pythons will almost always bite. They’re not poisonous, but their teeth are long, so if a handler gets bitten, there’ll be quite a lot of blood. In our shop we don’t want that to happen in front of a customer, so everybody has to learn to control the snake’s head.

This means a three-point hold, with the handler’s thumb and middle finger on either side behind its mouth and their index finger on the top of its head. Then they wrap the snake a little around their arm so that it will relax and not play up. When releasing the snake, the handler starts by removing the tail from their arm. The head should be released last.

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A kam ata – c e r ta i n to b i te

Akamata (Ryuky u odd-toot h snake)

Data L en gth: 9 0 –1 40 c m W h e re ?

Fo r e sts an d fi e l ds, e tc . , all ove r the O k i n awa Isl an ds a n d A mami shi m a.

M or e in f o : e ats b ug s, m ammals a n d b i r ds, as w e l l as t he i r c ar c ase s a n d e ggs. It’s e xc itab le an d a lways tr i e s to b it e w he n he l d.

106 R ep t i l es

There are a lot of TV programmes in Japan with fall-guy comedians getting into a fuss about being bitten. Normally, the snake involved is an akamata (Ryukyu odd-tooth).

The akamata is a colubrid that lives in Okinawa and Amami shima. It’s a tricky customer, guaranteed to bite. We hold it by the head with one hand and support the body with the other, about halfway along.

An akamata ready to attack.

Approach Here, I got my timing wrong and was bitten.

I bring my hand down decisively on its head.

I get the timing right this time.

I take a firm grip on both sides behind its jaws.

A bi te – but not much of one.

Mi l k sn a ke

Data L en gth: 5 0 –1 90c m Where?

Fo r e sts i n No rth, C en tr al an d So uth A m e r i c a.

M or e in f o : t h e co lo ur an d patte r n i n g mi mi c t h e hi g hly ve n o m ous co r al sn ak e . The y have lo n g b e e n k ept as p e ts i n the US and a r e w i d e ly b r e d.

A colu br i d t hat d o e s n ’ t b i te

Many people think that all snakes always bite, but that isn’t the case with milk snakes. I hold a milk snake gently, about halfway along its body, and wrap its tail around my arm. I allow its head and the front half of its body to move freely, and just control the basic direction. If a handler tries to grab or control the head, they may get bitten. So, we always have to be careful.

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Slow-worms A s nake- like liza r d – i t ’l l sp i n to g et away !

European s low-wor m

足

Who is this? Handsome, imposing – but legless. A snake? A supernatural being? If you suddenly encountered a creature like this, you’d certainly want to know its identity. This bizarre individual is more difficult to hold than either a snake or a normal lizard – it takes nerve, but it has to be done: unlike a typical lizard, I can’t grab it by the tops of its legs – it hasn’t got any; and unlike a snake, I can’t wrap it around my arm – its body is not flexible enough. So what do I do?

108 Re p til es

Just the right amo un t of p ressu r e

I hold it firmly, with one hand around the neck, so that it can’t bite, and the other about where the back legs might be if it had any. A slow-worm can be very tough to keep a grip on and often resists by spinning around like a drill. If it starts doing that, I don’t try to stop it, but I make sure my hand is always in a position where it can’t be bitten. It won’t give up easily, but if I give up first, I’ll have lost.

B re at h tak ingly h ands ome .

Data L en gth: 1 0 0–1 2 0 c m Where?

D ry p lac e s i n E u r o p e , Russi a, e tc.

M or e in f o : l ik e a sn ake , the s low-wo r m has n o l i mb s, b ut i t i s in d i sp utab ly a l izar d. It c an li ve fo r up to fo rty y e ar s – lo n g- li ve d fo r a li zar d.

It’s v ital to cons ide r t h e creat u re ’s temp e rame nt.

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Snake-necked turtles Th e y’ve got long n ec ks, so t hey c a n bi t e i n a l l di r e c ti o n s !

亀

With its extraordinarily looooong neck, most ordinary folk find this creature very odd. But for turtle maniacs it’s hugely popular and very valuable. Some types can set you back several million yen. Sound interesting?

Well, this top-price turtle is tough to control and bites a lot. How would I hold one of these?

No rthern snak enecked turtle

I t st ic ks its ne c k ou t of t h e wat e r to b re at h e .

I ts ne c k re sts h e re b e t w e e n t h e u p p e r and low e r s h e l l s .

Data L e ngt h : 2 5–35c m Wh e re ?

R i v e rs a nd swa mp s i n I ndone s i a , N e w G u i ne a a nd Au st ra l i a .

M ore inf o: a gre at sw i mme r, i t e ats f i s h , p raw ns a nd c ra b s . U nl i ke nat i v e Ja pa ne s e t u rt l e s , i t c a nnot h i de i ts ne c k a nd h e a d comp l e t e ly u nde r i ts s h e l l – i t ’s a t y p e of s i de ne c ke d t u rt l e ( p l e u rodi ra ) , w h i c h only l i v e i n t h e O c e a ni a re gi on.

110

R ep t i l es

i t l ive s in the wate r , so its s h e l l is cove r e d i n s c a le s.

I hold the tops of i ts back legs.

W here m y h a n ds g o

T he k e y p o in t: I g et m y thum b f i r m ly aga in st o n e o f its b ac k l eg s a n d ho ld t he lowe r s he l l tig ht.

For most turtles the handler simply has to hold the sides of the top shell. But for this one, that won’t work – the handler will just be bitten. With a neck that long, the turtle can bite from every angle.

Holding the back of the top shell is an option, but it has a powerful kick and long claws, which can be pretty painful.

So the best thing is to control the lower shell with one hand and have the other hand firmly around the turtle’s neck.

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Softshell turtles careful, they bit e!

I grip t h e re ar of t h e s h e l l f irmly.

Africa n s o f tshell turt l e

鼈

‘If it bites, it won’t let go till it hears a clap of thunder.’

A lot of people believe that old saying about the very familiar softshell. It’s very quick and has a very long neck – and if it’s upset, it will bite. Its jaws are powerful, so if this happens, the handler will be badly injured. You’ll often see softshells in marshland and park 112

R ep t i l es

lakes and ponds. If anyone picks one up, they should be sure to do so in a way that prevents the softshell biting them. If it does bite and it’s kept up in the air, it will hang on for a long time. But the softshell’s victim won’t have to wait for thunder! If they put it on the ground or in water, it’ll let go quite quickly. So have a go!

Data L en gth: 5 0 –80c m Where?

N o rthe r n an d c en tr al A fr i c a; t h e A r ab i an P e ni n sul a. Ri ve r s, p o n ds an d l ak e s a n d o cc asi o n ally t h e se a.

M or e in f o : a lar ge sp e c i e s, pa rti c ular ly the f em ale s. e ats fi sh, s h r i m p s, c r ab s, e tc.

I keep the low e r shell steady by putti ng a finge r and thumb firmly under the top s of i ts back le gs .

D on ’t be bi t t en !

Softshells are popular as pets these days and they’re pricey, so we dealers are very careful handling them.

The last thing we want is to get bitten in the shop and find ourselves dropping one or banging it against the floor in front of a customer. Normally, we hold the back of the shell tight in both hands. But even then, the softshell can cause problems if it gets upset. So, to be really safe, we hold the under-shell, with fingers and thumb firmly under the tops of its back legs.

Ev e n s mal l one s h av e a v e ry nast y b it e !

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Da n gerous c r eat u r es

Now that you’ve seen how we pick up and hold all the creatures in this book, you will probably want to test your skills. You’ll find techniques in the book that can be applied to most creatures – but there are some animals that you should never try to hold: dangerous ones, like poisonous snakes, large snakes and crocodiles. You’re not going to come across them in the street, but I’m saying this just in case.

I visited iZoo, where I got special permission to handle some dangerous creatures. For the most dangerous ones, I had help from Tsuyoshi Shirawa, the head of the zoo, who has probably handled more dangerous creatures than anybody else in Japan.

A l a r g e b ut agi le softshell

Not all softshells are small. The bigger they are, the more powerful their bite; and they’re still very agile in the water, so they can be really dangerous. It’s vital to avoid being bitten at all costs – a bite could break bones. So, to lift it up, the handler has to get behind it and take a firm hold of its back legs, always being very careful that it can’t bite the handler’s legs.

Too cool. A l l igator s nap p ing t u rt l e

At one time, the alligator snapping turtle was a popular pet, but a number escaped or were set free by owners who couldn’t cope with looking after them. They’re fierce and will snap at anything. So, when picking one up, the handler has to approach from behind. They take a firm grip on the front of the upper shell above the neck with one hand and on the rear of the upper shell with the other. Then they lift it up, with the animal in front of them and facing forward. Held like that, it won’t be able to bite, however hard it tries.

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R ep t i l es

L ar g e sn a k e s To b e avoi ded, e v e n by co m mitte d masochi sts

Nobody can deal with a large snake alone. Even if it’s not hungry, it may coil itself around a person in a way that makes it very difficult to escape if there’s no one else there.

They squeeze their prey to death before swallowing it, so the more the person squirms, the more the snake will squeeze. So there must be at least two people there. One person should hold the tail firmly, the other should hold the head and control movement. It’s best to keep the head under control so that nobody gets bitten. If the snake is smaller, one experienced person may be able to hold it on their own, but somebody else should always be present.

Anaconda – A lways expect it to b it e !

If someone is bitten by an anaconda and tries to pull away quickly, they’ll rip their flesh. It will be agony. And an anaconda will always bite, so the handler has to have a very firm grip on its neck straight away. Of course, it’s got to breathe, so mustn’t be held too tight. Anacondas are very slippery, so leather gloves help. (And they give the handler just a little protection in the event of a bite.)

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Poi s onou s s nak e s – h andl e rs always u s e a t h re e - p oint h ol d

The handler positions their thumb and middle finger to left and right of the neck so that it cannot move from side to side. Their index finger exerts pressure on the head. With this three-point hold, it won’t be able to bite. If it’s kept steady, with its body or tail wrapped securely around a snake hook, it won’t get too upset.

Approach

T h e rink h al s s p its p ois on t h rou gh t h e air, s o goggl e s are worn f or p rot e c t ion.

I pin the head down with a snake hook.

Without moving the hook, I bring my hand down.

I take a threepoint hold.

Then I lift the snake.

Po iso n o us lizards a r e ve ry e xc itable

It’s not only snakes that are poisonous – there are poisonous lizards too! As with other lizards, they are held by the head and the root of the tail. If their bodies have warmed in the sun, they tend to be very aggressive, so handlers wear a leather glove on the hand they use to hold the head.

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R ep t i l es

Rattle s nak e s make a fri gh t e ning noi se.

C r oco d ile s a r e r e a lly strong

If they're small, handlers hold small crocodiles using the same method as for lizards, with one hand on the neck and one at the root of the tail – but dealing with a big one is a different matter. Keeping an eye on its powerful tail, one handler steps on to the crocodile’s mouth and puts a thick band of rubber around its jaws. The jaws have tremendous force when shutting, but not so much when opening, so a strong band around its mouth will stop it biting.

Then, still wary of its tail, two handlers pick it up.

The key is for them not to loosen their grip or let their guard slip for a moment.

Approach First a noose is placed around the crocodile’s neck.

One handler puts a foot on its head so that it can’t bite.

The crocodile is dragged out.

A thick band of rubber is placed around its mouth.

When the crocodile has quietened down . . .

Now they can feel safer.

. . . t wo handlers heave it up.

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Afterword

I’ve loved all types of creatures since I was a child. I used to catch them and look after them.

I got bitten, stung and injured.

Occasionally, through my ignorance, the creatures died.

People who have that kind of interest in and experience of animals as children automatically stay very conscious of animal habitats as adults.

Children are sometimes told off if they catch living things. If it’s private land or a conservation area, then that can’t be helped.

But the same can happen if a child brings a creature home from a local stream, for example.

If they’re told they’re not allowed to catch living things, their interest goes elsewhere. As a result, ignorance about nature grows.

That’s what I’m like.

Nowadays, education around animals and nature stresses conservation and protection, encouraging people to watch and treasure things. Against that background, catching animals and keeping them tends to be frowned upon.

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Children’s minds aren’t stimulated by bossy adults. They learn through painful experiences, by failing and people getting cross with them. What you learn through failing sticks much better than what you’re taught by someone, and it leads to real understanding.

For me, to just watch animals is the same as not being interested in them. Rather than talk loftily about animal protection, I’d rather pick an animal up, show it to children and give them some practical advice:

I like to encourage children to get outside, come into contact with animals and spend time with them. ‘Go camping, have a barbecue – and if you make a mess, clear it up before you go home!’

‘Hold it like this.’

I really hope more adults in the future will talk like that to children. I think knowing how to pick up and hold animals is one way of being cool as an adult.

‘If you hold it like that, the animal won’t be comfortable.’

‘You’ll catch your finger if you hold it like this. It’ll hurt.’

‘You could take this home and look after it. It would be interesting.’

So, pick up an animal and be a great grown-up!

Animal photogra p h e r Toshi mi tsu M ats u h as h i

‘If it’s difficult to look after, let it go.’

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creatures Actaeon beet le

51

A lces stag beet le

52

A frican softshell tu rtle

112

a kamata ( Ry u kyu od d -tooth sn ake) Asian swallowtail bu tterfly

24

Asian wate r mo nitor

96

B ackswimme r

26

B enitsu k e crab

30

B lac k- strip ed lesse r em p eror dr agon fly

22

B u d gerigar

82

C au casu s beet le

50

C hick en

66

C hilea n rose ta rantu la

48

C hinese p eacock bu tterfly

25

C hip mu nk

58

Coconu t crab

30

Common blu ebottle bu tterfly

25

Common leopard gecko

120

106

100

C uban rock iguana

99

Did ie ri stag beetle

52

Easte rn bu sh cric k et

19

Easte rn Japan lizard

37

Emma fie ld cric k et

20

Emp eror S corp io n

47

Eu rop ea n slow-wo rm

108

Fancy mo u se

64

Ferret

78

Gia nt water bu g

26

Giraffe stag beet le

53

Globe sk imme r d ragonfly

23

Go ld en hamste r

62

Go ld en- ringed d ragonfly

23

Gree n tree python

105

H arabi ro d ragonfly

22

H ed gehog

88

H ercu les lichyi beetle

50

Japanese cat

76

Japanese crayfish

29

Japanese freshwater crab

31

Japanese grass lizard

37

121

Japanese rat snak e Japanese rhi noceros beetle

12

Japanese tree frog

35

Japanese toad

34

Japanese wrink led frog

35

Konoshime d ragonfly

23

Kubi k irigisu bu sh cric k et

20

Land crab

31

Longhorn beet le

16

Long-tailed chinchilla

56

Lop - eared rabbit

80

M adagascar hissing coc k roach

55

M ad ras fo rest scorp io n

46

M i niatu re dachshu nd

75

M i lk snak e

107

M isuji- maimai snai l

32

M ortonagrio n damse lfly

23

Narrow-winged ma ntis

21

Netherland dwarf rabbit

81

Nokogiri stag beet le

14

Northern snak e- neck ed tu rtle ku wagata stag beetle O ld world swallowtail bu tter fly

122

38

110 15 24

O rie nta l long- head ed locust

18

Palawan stag beet le

53

Prai rie d og

86

Py renean mo u ntain d og

74

Re d swam p crayfish

28

Rock mo nitor

97

S chlegel's Japanese gecko

36

S hiba inu

75

S ma ll cop p er bu tterfly

25

S ma ll white bu tterfly

25

S u dan p late d lizard

98

S u gar glid er

60

S UNDA S CO PS OWL

84

Three- band gard en slu g

33

Tiger k eelback snak e

39

Tokyo daru ma p ond frog

35

Tok ay gecko

102

Wate r scorp io n

27

Wate r stick insect

27

Winte r white dwa rf hamste r

63

Yaeyama mottled cock roach

55

Yaeyama rou nd - back ed millipede

54

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Where the Professionals Work: shops, animal hospital, zoo

Ta kahi r o G oto’s shop Ke iyo d o 3 - 9-7 Mukaiha ra, Midori-ku, Sagamiha ra C i t y, Kan agawa Prefecture 252-0104 Te l : 0 4 2 -783-1081 At Ca i n zu Home, Shiroya ma Store and ma ny othe r locations. a m e b lo. jp/kei youdou

Ken ich i Ta m u ka i ’s a n i m a l hosp i ta l De n e n c hofu Ani mal Hospi tal 2 -1 -3 De nenchofu, Ota-ku, Tokyo 145-007 1 Te l: 03 - 5483-7676 Fax: 03-5483-7656 Ho ur s: 9.00–12.15 16.00–19.15 Close d on Thursdays 5f. b ig lo be.ne.jp/~dec-ah/

Ka zuh i sa Ya m a da’s shop TOKO CAMPUR 1 F Ao k i Copo, 1-20-13 Asah i-cho, Atsugi C i t y, Kan agawa Prefecture 243-0014 Te l a n d Fax: 046-227-2233 Ho ur s: 1 2.00–22.00 Close d on Mondays asia jp. n et

Wi th thanks for special co-operation

Watch ! Tou c h! A m a z i n g !! iZoo Japan ’s largest amphibian and reptile zoo: a se n so ry zoo that gives visitors expe ri e nc e s the y’ve never ha d anywhere before.

4 06- 2 HAMA Kawaz u-cho, Kamo-gun, Shizu oka Pr e fe c ture 413-0513 Te l: 0 5 5 8 -34-0003 izo o.co. jp

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toshimitsu matsuhashi Having worked at an aquarium, Toshimitsu decided to become an animal photographer. He produces children’s books using his photos of creatures of the shore, aquarium and zoo, as well as wildlife and unusual pets.

He also runs animal-holding workshops to give children opportunities to come into contact with animals. matsu8.com

Photographs taken with the cooperation of: Kaito Shimizu, Kenji Tamura, Shinta Kano, Itsumi Kano, Naoto Tokozumi, Hidemi Matsunae, Riona Hayakawa, Yui Shimizu.

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First published in Great Britain in 2020 by Quercus Editions Ltd Carmelite House 50 Victoria Embankment London EC4Y 0DZ

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

An Hachette UK company Copyright Š 2015 Toshimitsu Matsuhashi All rights reserved.

First published in Japanese as IKIMONO NO MOCHIKATA by Daiwa Shobo Co., Ltd. Translation Š 2020 Angus Turvill The moral right of Toshimitsu Matsuhashi to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

HB ISBN 978 1 52940 453 1 Ebook ISBN 978 1 52940 454 8 Every effort has been made to contact copyright holders. However, the publishers will be glad to rectify in future editions any inadvertent omissions brought to their attention.

Quercus Editions Ltd hereby exclude all liability to the extent permitted by law for any errors or omissions in this book and for any loss, damage or expense (whether direct or indirect) suffered by a third party relying on any information contained in this book.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Typeset and designed by Sarah Greeno Original design by Kasumi Wakai Printed and bound in China

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