Exotics Keeper Magazine November 2021

HOGGING THE LIMELIGHT

Is this the world’s most charismatic snake?

• Digital Temperature & Humidity Control with easy-to-read LED display screen

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• The unit includes 1 USB humidifier

• Ideal for use with the Exo Terra Incubation Box (not included in the unit)

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MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY Peregrine Livefoods Ltd Rolls Farm Barns Hastingwood Road Essex CM5 0EN

Print ISSN: 2634-4683

Digital ISSN: 2634-4688

EDITORIAL:

Thomas Marriott

Aimee Jones

DESIGN:

Scott Giarnese

Amy Mather

We’re officially one year in! In the last 12 months, EK has grown massively. Throughout the year, I’ve been fortunate enough to speak to so many animal enthusiasts, reptile breeders, private keepers, zookeepers, and conservationists and round up the year by talking to subscribers at the Doncaster IHS Show. This is an entirely different world to the one we were in when the magazine was launched during the height of lockdown in November 2020.

We have seen zoos bounce back, researchers return to their in-situ efforts abroad, universities and colleges resume vital animal management and zoology training and so much more. With events, shows, meet-ups and open days resuming (as well as more staff and longer opening hours in shops), expert advice is easier to access, which will no doubt accelerate improvements in the hobby once again. UVB/ LED bulbs are also here, which I think will open the door to some exciting welfare improvements

too. At a time when aspects of the hobby are under more scrutiny than ever, it’s brilliant to see such massive leaps forward in animal care.

The EK team are extremely proud of the growth we’ve seen this year and hope that our readers have been educated, entertained, and inspired by the last 12 months of content. To everyone who has supported EK this year, thank you.

The Exo Terra Precision Incubator PRO makes incubating reptile eggs safer and uncomplicated.

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02 EXOTICS NEWS

The latest from the world of exotic pet keeping.

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Large 70g+ | Small 100g+ | Small/Medium 130g+ | Medium 160g+ | Medium/Large 200g+ | Large 250g+

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06 BACK TO THE WILD

Reintroducing the world’s most trafficked tortoise species.

17 SUCCESS IN THE SAND

Collaborative captive breeding helps support the UK’s rarest lizard.

22 24 33

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

Focus on the wonderful world of exotic pets. This month it’s the Vulturine guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum).

24

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

An inside look at the training methods used by Chester Zoo.

33 HOGGING THE LIMELIGHT

Is this the world’s most charismatic snake?

43 FASCINATING FACTS

Did you know...?

45 XMAS GIFT GUIDE

Our guide to the perfect gift for the herpetoculturist in your life.

EXOTICS NEWS

The latest from the world of exotic pet keeping

Rescued Servals

Two servals rescued from the “illegal pet trade” are currently being cared for at the AAP Primadomus exotic `animal holding centre in Spain, prior to being rehoused at The Wildheart Trust (Formerly the Isle of Wight Zoo). The pair, named “Tafkap” and “Xirus”, are to arrive on the island in September where they will begin their new life. Rescued Serval.

Bristol Zoo

For the third year running the zoo have successfully bred the bluespotted tree monitor (Varanus macraei). In 2019 the zoo achieved a UK first zoo breeding with two lizards hatching, this was followed in 2020 with two more being born and now two more have been produced.

Senior Reptile Keeper, Adam Davis, who oversees a European breeding programme for this species, said: “It is always so pleasing to see them hatch and because this is the third year in a row we feel confident that what we do works well.” Adam said curators from other UK zoos have visited to look at how he and his colleagues care for the lizards and their eggs.

The newly-hatched blue-spotted tree monitor lizards are important

because the species is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The first of the tiny blue-spotted lizards broke out of its egg just 48 hours before the second. Both eggs, which were about the length of Cadbury creme eggs, had been kept in an incubator for five months at a constant 30°C. The juveniles weighed just 12.5 grams at hatching and were about 27cm long, but almost two-thirds of that are their tails. When they are fully grown they will measure 1.1 metres (3.5 feet). But it will be sometime until keepers can be certain whether they are males or females. The young lizards can now be seen in the Reptile House.

Adam’s work in breeding bluespotted tree monitors earned him a silver award in the Animal Husbandry Care and Breeding category of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums annual awards recently.

Blue-spotted tree monitors were only discovered in 2001 in tropical forests on the island of Batanta, which is roughly the size of Merseyside, off the coast of Indonesia. But by 2017 they were already listed as Endangered. They are at risk largely because many are taken for the international pet trade. Adam said: “Very little is

known about these animals in the wild, but the breeding programme aims to ensure a healthy population in European zoos and help us better understand them.” The captive population currently stands at just 91 animals in Europe, of which just 17 are in the UK.

Over at Bristol`s sister collection the Wild Place Project the fourth oldest okapi in Europe “Lodja” has sadly passed away aged 19 following a sudden deterioration in health.

Paignton Zoo

At the start of July, Paignton Zoo became one of only a few collections in the UK to house Lake Titicaca water frogs. The frogs were kindly donated by the WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.

The frogs have also laid clutches of fertile eggs that have recently started to hatch. This is good news for the fast-declining species, which has reduced in numbers by as much as 80% over the past 15 years. This endangered species were brought into the UK for the first time ever a few years ago. They are an extremely unusual species that have been getting a lot of interest from the visitors.

A total of 20 Lake Titicaca frogs are also now on show at Chester Zoo too.

First Breeding of Raggiana Bird of Paradise in 20 Years.

The Port Moresby Nature Park in Papua New Guinea is proud to announce the successful captive breeding of a Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise. This success comes as part of the ongoing breeding program which has been a focus of the Nature Park to breed this species for a number of years. This is the first time in 20 years that the Raggiana Bird of Paradise has been bred in captivity in Papua New Guinea. This is a significant achievement for Port Moresby Nature Park and Papua New Guinea, as this is the National animal for PNG.

The Port Moresby Nature Park is an international welfare accredited zoo through the Zoo & Aquarium Association of Australasia and is heavily committed to conservation and education, research and most importantly, dedicated to protecting PNG’s wildlife.

Release of Endangered Curlews

In a project led by Natural England, several eggs from the endangered Eurasian curlew were initially collected from Ministry of Defence (MOD) sites –apparently “eggs at MoD sites are usually destroyed as they pose a huge danger to aviation” according to Pensthorpe Natural Park. A total of 147 eggs were taken from eight military and civilian airfields across England. Over 100 eggs were taken to a rearing facility at Pensthorpe Conservation Trust and a further 41 eggs were taken by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust for a project in Dartmoor, where over 80 chicks hatched and were hand-reared. The UK is home to almost a quarter of the global breeding pairs - about 58,500 pairs - but the species has declined significantly since the 1970s, due to loss of habitat and predation.

Dozens of the fully-fledged chicks are now being released at two Norfolk sites - the Sandringham Estate, and Wild Ken Hill, a sustainable farming project bordering The Wash.

“The release on the Sandringham Estate marks a significant milestone for the recovery of this iconic bird,” said Tony Juniper, chairman of Natural England. “We hope that the translocation of curlews at this large scale, a method that has never been tried before, will make a real difference to the population in the east of England.”

Prince Charles said he had “always cherished the evocative call of the curlew” and was delighted the Sandringham Estate had been able to assist in the project.

Chrissie Kelly, head of species management at Pensthorpe Conservation Trust, said staff had reared “more than 80 curlew chicks to fledge this year” and described it as a “significant step” to safeguarding the population of the birds in the wild.

The project aims to boost the birds’ population in the east of England.

A Steppe in the Right Direction. The latest aerial census of wild saiga in Kazakhstan has recorded an estimated 842,000 animals, which is over half a million higher than the last recorded number in 2019. So this is very encouraging news, considering the catastrophic collapse in numbers in 2015 when 200,000 saiga antelopes were wiped out by a mystery bacterium. It is remarkable how well this species seems to bounce back, however with the loss of so many animals within a single population, it makes you wonder what the future holds for a species that surely must have an ever-decreasing genetic diversity and/ or concentrated genetic pool, potentially leading to a higher in-breeding coefficient?

© APP © Adam Davis © Paignton Zoo

Cinerous Vulture Increase

Recently record numbers of cinerous vultures have been spotted in the Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park in Bulgaria, outside of their breeding colony in the Eastern Rhodopes, Greece. This is a record-breaking number of this rare species for the entire Balkans. This increase in the population can be credited to the important work carried out by the Vultures Back to LIFE Project, who have been successfully breeding and releasing cinerous vultures in the local area since 2020. The project team released two cinereous vultures in the area in mid-July, bringing a total of 9 birds released in 2021. In addition seven birds released in 2020 have survived and have remained in the area. The species has been considered extinct in the Vrachanski Balkan region for the past 70 years.

Ice Age Lion Cubs Found

In a paper published in early August, researchers confirmed the identity of two very-well preserved mummified cave lion cubs. The first cub, a male named “Boris” was actually found in 2017 along the Semyuelyakh River in Yakutia, Siberia by local resident and licensed mammoth-tusk collector Boris Berezhnev and was named after him. This male cub was thought to be an incredible 43, 448 years old. Then, a year later, a female cub was found 15 metres away from the other cub. She was named “Sparta” and was thought to be around 27, 962 years old. She was probably the best preserved ice age specimen ever found, even the colour of their fur is likely to be the same as when they were alive. Both cubs were found at a depth of 10 to 12 metres deep and were about the size of an adult domestic cat. It is thought they were only between one and two months old when they were mummified, possibly after being buried under the ice by a landslide? Both cubs have

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some skull and rib damage, but no signs of being killed by another predator.

Two previous cubs were found in the same river basin, leading to the theory that the site was, a common breeding area for cave lions. Cave lions were similar to modern day African lions, but about 20% larger, they lived across Europe and Asia until their extinction around 10,000 years ago. These two specimens are particularly important due to their well-preserved state.  Dalen, a member of the Stockholm University’s Centre for Palaeogenetics research team said “They were adapted to cold environments, and were a top predator in the mammoth steppe ecosystem.” Cave lions are particularly interesting because of the number of prehistoric paintings depicting them, helping researchers learn about the extinct animal’s anatomy. “The cave paintings only show lions without manes”. “So one hypothesis based on the cave art is that the males lacked manes, something that we can possibly test using genetic methods in the future.”

Collated and written by Paul Irven.

© The Centre for Palaeogenetics

BACK TO THE WILD

Reintroducing the world’s most trafficked tortoise species.

Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)

The radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) is considered the most illegally trafficked tortoise on the planet. Previously one of the most abundant tortoises in the world and protected by Malagasy ‘Fady’, socioeconomic struggles have eroded these traditions and forced local people into harvesting animals to meet international demand. Now, the radiated tortoise is ‘critically endangered’ but with the combined efforts of Turtle Survival Alliance and Malagasy authorities, reintroductions of seized animals are finally beginning to take place.

A bleak picture

Back in 2018, more than 10,000 tortoises were discovered by local police in an undisclosed private residence in Toliara, Madagascar. Multiple rooms were filled with tortoises that had no access to food or water which caused hundreds to die over the following weeks. Experts from the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) and several zoos and aquariums were dispatched with veterinary supplies to administer medical care for the sick or injured tortoises.

This incident prompted widespread concern and shined a light on the illegal pet trade that sees animals subject to substandard conditions to bypass regulations on exporting animals. Madagascar, due to its huge ecological significance and massive numbers of endemic

species, has a ban on trading any animals for the exotic pet trade. Unfortunately, in a country that has such huge rates of extreme poverty, this has pushed the market underground, creating an illicit trade. Whilst tortoises are generally the easiest catch, other species are likely to be affected by the minority of individuals who have found routes to export wild animals in unregulated quantities all over the world.

Rick continued: “There are two markets. The bushmeat trade takes the large adults. In the two main regions where this tortoise remains, generally, the people don’t harm the tortoises. However, we’re seeing more outsiders coming in to poach from a region called Fotadrevo. The juveniles, on the

other hand, are harvested in large numbers for export. We believe the large stockpiles were destined for Chinese shipping vessels.”

“They say this is the worst drought we’ve had in four decades. It’s been in the news a lot about how climate change is affecting impoverished communities. This year was really bad in that the rains were delayed by 3 months, it was just brutal. Trees were losing leaves, cattle were dying, people were dying and we’re trying to keep 26,000 tortoises alive and all we had was cactus. We curse prickly pear a lot because it’s so invasive, but had it not been for prickly pear cactus, a lot of these tortoises would have died, and a lot of people would have died. We’ve also had epic heat waves and I would blame climate change.”

TSA

At present, more than 50% of the world’s 359 turtle and tortoise species are threatened with extinction. Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) is a global conservation charity that aims to protect turtle species all over the world. The initiative was formed in 2001 in response to the rampant and unsustainable collection of Asian turtles supplying Chinese markets. TSA employs a three-pronged approach to turtle conservation by “restoring populations in the wild where possible”, “securing species in captivity through assurance colonies”, and “building capacity to restore, secure and conserve species within their range countries”.

Rick Hudson, President of TSA told Exotics Keeper Magazine: “The radiated tortoise is generally considered one of the most beautiful tortoises in the world and is certainly an iconic tortoise representative of the arid spiny desert of southern Madagascar. It is also one of the most highly trafficked tortoises in the world. It has undergone catastrophic declines in the last 20 years. From an estimated 12 million, we dropped to 6 million in the 90s, and that number has possibly been halved again in recent times. The rate of decline is shocking. It’s a

really sad situation and we’re doing everything we can to stop it.”

“We thought we were making inroads in 2012. Then, poaching started picking up again in 2015. We started seeing lots of confiscations at international airports. Then in 2018, the poaching really spiked again, with two really big seizures of 10,000 and 8,000 animals. It’s an overwhelming task taking care of all of these tortoises, but we don’t want this species to end up like the ploughshare.”

Although large numbers of these animals still exist, the rate of decline is extremely alarming. Both bushmeat and pet trade markets (particularly in Asia) are fuelling this decline. Socioeconomic pressures from droughts as well as people moving around the country have meant that ‘Fady’ which is Malagasy for ‘taboo’ is no longer giving these tortoises their revered status. Previously, certain species thought to be a ‘bad omen’ were avoided by local people, which would in turn protect the species. As desperation to afford food and drinking water increases, so do the number of animals plucked from the wild.

A global problem

The radiated tortoise is prized in Asia for its highlydomed shell and the demand is high. This is partly why population numbers have declined almost 80% in 30 years, meaning the species could go functionally extinct within the next two decades. Now, with greater stress on the sourcing of income and sustenance as well as competing with wider problems attributed to climate change, the need to tap into wildlife as a natural resource has become greater. Consequently, thousands of tortoises are seized by law enforcement and placed under TSA’s care each year.

Rick continued: “Southern Madagascar is going through extreme droughts and famine, yet the customer is the country with the fastest-growing population under 12 years old. So, you have all those things combining that are working against the radiated tortoise.”

“The demand is not going to go away and the rarer the tortoise becomes, (we saw this with the ploughshare) the higher the demand and the higher the price. This intensifies the pressure to harvest them. We have a lot of people breeding a lot of radiated tortoises, but those animals are not going to make it to Asia where the demand is. It’s just easier to buy a smuggled tortoise that’s *this* big than spend $1000 on a hatchling that’s *that* big. It’s just economics.”

Although TSA has managed to save tens of thousands of tortoises in Madagascar, there are undoubtedly huge numbers of animals that are smuggled out of the country, where levels of enforcement vary.

Rick added: “A traffic report several years ago based on surveys from Indonesia and Bangkok confirms this is the most heavily trafficked tortoise in the world. How can a species that is CITES Appendix 1 be so heavily trafficked? Well, it just lacks enforcement. Madagascar doesn’t have the funds to do this. We had a weekly flight going directly to Bangkok, but the baggage machine wasn’t working! Once animals are in Thailand, they’re

not going to enforce protection. There’s almost no enforcement on the receiving end. Once they reach China, Bangkok, etc they’re gone. Malaysia and Singapore are good at intercepting animals, but Thailand is a black hole.”

“If we can’t figure out a way to improve enforcement in judicial capacity, we are really going to struggle. We’re seeing signs of hope in Madagascar as jail sentences are much harsher than before. But you know, they don’t have large jails there. They fill up quickly.”

Although discovering live animals is considered a success and breathes some optimism into the organisation’s goals, it also presents its challenges. With huge numbers of tortoises being seized in Madagascar, the animals that are intercepted when they reach international ports present an even bigger challenge.

“When an animal leaves and returns you have the risk of transmitting exotic pathogens” explained Rick. “These animals have to be isolated, tested, then these samples have to be shipped to a lab that can afford to do it. It’s not cheap, even though many companies have been very generous with us. We have animals that have been in our facilities for 2 years waiting for these test results. It creates headaches when we bring them back.”

Private keeper responsibility

As private keepers who are passionate about the reptiles we care for, it can sometimes be easy to detach ourselves from the reality of keeping wild-caught animals and therefore captive-bred animals should always be prioritised.

Captive husbandry has massively benefitted our

understanding of countless species and contributed to some incredible conservation achievements. However, herpetoculture is a global interest and we know that every individual will perceive aspects of the hobby in different ways.

Rick continued: “Radiated tortoises certainly haven’t reached the value of ploughshares, so you don’t get that factor driving the collection of the last few adults. Ploughshare tortoises were fetching astronomical prices, radiated tortoises don’t go for that. They are largely being bred in captivity so I don’t think you would see that kind of effort to harvest the last adults. But, if we can’t figure out a way for communities to benefit from keeping tortoises abundant, it’s not going to work. Once, these people saw a tortoise crossing the road, now they see a dollar bill. Now there’s a value on them, people will pick them up. Madagascar has allowed the first commercial production permits to a guy on Mauritius to start breeding F2s which can then enter the commercial trade.”

Captive breeding often helps protect certain species as a greater supply can meet higher demand, however, that is not always the case. Without significant study into the intricacies that create the demand, it can be difficult to understand the scope of supply required to meet it.

Jordan Gray, Communications and Outreach Officer at TSA added: “If you look at the sulcata tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) it’s a classic example of an animal that has been widely bred. It’s one of those converse situations where the demand doesn’t control the supply, the supply controls the demand. With sulcata tortoises, they’re still being illegally poached even with that amount of supply. You can put a dollar on anything, for example, a ‘new bloodline’ or ‘tortoises from this region get a few centimetres bigger’. In places like Indonesia, Singapore, South East Asia and the Middle East, will we ever (using the Sulcata as an example) quench the thirst or will the supply become the driver of the trade?”

“There are some things that people can do. Of course, always buy captive-bred. I think one thing to consider is to focus on supporting conservation efforts of the species in the country of origin. That is really important. One for the private keepers: when you breed, breed responsibly and legally. There are a lot of bloodlines of these animals out there so breeding responsibly means not looking to source new bloodlines that are illegally acquired.”

Into the wild

The TSA has recently embarked on a project to release 1000 tortoises back into the wild. The pilot scheme is expected to inform a strategy for the eventual release of more than 26,000 confiscated tortoises. The release is not only incredible for the illegally harvested animals but represents a major win for collaborative efforts between NGOs, zoos and authorities in Madagascar.

TSA-Madagascar Director Herilala Randriamahazo said: “This historic reintroduction represents a critical juncture for the TSA-Madagascar program and our country’s iconic radiated tortoise. If we can establish a reliable and effective method to return confiscated tortoises to their native landscape in protective communities, then we can begin to draw down the massive numbers we are supporting in captivity. Through the implementation of a successful working model to follow, we will have made a giant step towards initiating our Confiscation to Reintroduction strategy. The persistence of our treasured Radiated Tortoise in nature depends on it,”

released” explained Rick. “The community have been very receptive to having tortoises here, back in their forest. They had undergone 2 years of training on how to steward tortoises. Our people are still there, we’re building an office centre so we will have a steady presence there. We have spent a lot of time and effort in saving these tortoises and we’re not going to put them back in harm’s way. We need to really invest in the communities that will protect them and keep poachers out. It’s worth the extra effort before we return them to the wild.”

TSA have just released 500 tortoises from their prerelease enclosures into the community-managed forest, with another 500 to be released next year. A subset of the tortoises will be equipped with radio-transmitters and GPS trackers to monitor their movements, habitat use, and survival. This information, combined with community’s ability to protect and manage the tortoises and their habitat, will help guide future releases.

DID YOU KNOW

In November 2020 (Issue 1) Exotics Keeper Magazine covered the plight of the Ploughshare tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora). This year, we spoke to Turtle Survival Alliance about another species endemic to Madagascar, the radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata).

“At present, more than 50% of the world’s 359 species of turtle and tortoise are threatened with extinction”

“As turtle populations plummet globally, illegal collection is the frontand-centre issue facing species in decline. For those working to combat illegal wildlife trade, confiscations of popular and high-value species continue to mount. These confiscations not only place a burden on those caring for them, but signify the loss of turtles from their wild populations.” -

Rick Hudson, President of

What next?

The future of the radiated tortoise is uncertain at best. Despite incredible efforts to save the species and impressive conservation milestones, it is clear that TSA is fighting issues on a vast scale. International trafficking, poverty, climate change, cultural shifts and various other obstacles stand in the way of the preservation of the radiated tortoise.

Jordan described TSA’s goals as “stepping-stones,” adding: “News media often uses the word ‘success’. In my opinion, success is a moving target and will continue to be a moving target. Now humans have proliferated around the world, and we have issues with the climate we can’t really predict what’s going to happen, even though we have scientific models. For any conservation organisation, being

able to recognise that is really important to create long term goals and sustain a project.”

“With any conservation organisation, being able to cultivate the relationships with the communities, being able to care for the tortoises, being able to survey new sites, it all takes a lot of manpower and resources. All of these resources run on donations and grants.”

The preservation of the radiated tortoise is something that amalgamates many intercepting issues and obstacles. Readers are encouraged to make informed decisions whilst always sourcing captive-bred animals where possible. For those wishing to support the TSA further, more information can be found on their website: www.turtlesurvival.org.

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Turtle Survival Alliance.

SUCCESS IN THE SAND

Collaborative captive breeding helps support the UK’s rarest lizard.

Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis)

Earlier this year, Exotics Keeper Magazine joined Amphibian and Reptile Conservation at the New Forest to discuss the importance of heathland to our native species. Recently, the charity, along with Marwell Zoo and Forestry England have rewilded 140 rare sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) into suitable habitats across England.

Successful breeding

Captive breeding is very often a last resort for conservation efforts. It requires lots of time, research and resources, but also represents a huge step forward in preserving a species. However, once a healthy genetically-sound population is breeding, it offers hope for reintroduction.

The young sand lizards bred by Marwell Zoo were reintroduced on Forestry England land in Dorset and follow on from a group of 200 released in the same spot last year. Despite an unfavourable spring, many lizards managed to lay two clutches of eggs and the lack of prolonged hot or wet periods over the summer helped these to remain in good condition, prior to being excavated and incubated until hatching.

Rachel Gardner, Ecologist at Marwell Wildlife Park, said: “Our conservation breeding population of sand lizards has had another exceptional year. This is Marwell’s thirty third year of involvement with the sand lizard reintroduction project and prior to this we have contributed over 2,200 lizards to releases in the south of England.  Marwell Wildlife is committed to the restoration of species and habitats and we are thrilled to be able to continue supporting this vital conservation work.  More widely we have seen favourable trends for native wildlife populations in 2021 across the protected areas we have restored and manage.  It is wonderful that this is reflected in our contribution of sand lizard hatchlings to the release in Dorset this year.”

Want to know more?

To watch our exclusive look at heathland habitats with Owain Masters of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, please visit the Exotics Keeper YouTube Channel.

To find out more about ARC’s national sand lizard reintroduction programme visit https://www.arc-trust.org/pages/category/saving-species

Declining habitat

Once widespread in England, sand lizards have declined considerably owing to loss of suitable habitats and are now only found in a few isolated areas of southern England and Merseyside. Reintroductions in several locations across the UK are seeking to boost numbers and restore the habitats these rare animals need to thrive. Dorset is one of the key strongholds for sand lizards with over 70% of the remaining UK population found here.

In the UK sand lizards are dependent on dry, sandy lowland heathland or coastal sand dunes. Growing to around 20cms long, females can be identified by their sandybrown colour with rows of dark and white spots called ocelli along their backs. Males have vivid green flanks which are particularly distinctive during the breeding season.

The restoration of sand lizards to heathland habitat is a vital part of a wider conservation and environmental recovery. Sand lizards are good indicators of a healthy ecosystem where flora and fauna are thriving.

“Dorset’s heathlands and forests are home to some of the UK’s rarest wildlife and we work hard to ensure they have the right habitats to thrive here” added Mark Warn, Wildlife Ranger at Forestry England. “Projects like this require commitment over the long term and whilst there is still much more work to be done it’s really encouraging to see the positive progress being made by the sand lizards released over the last few years. We hope today’s release will further boost their population.”

Captive breeding and rewilding

There are lots of intersecting aspects with conservation and captive breeding. First and foremost, understanding the breeding conditions of a species. In captivity this extends to developing the skills required to successfully breed the animals, as well as understanding the intricacies of how to ‘head-start’ the offspring,

can be extremely beneficial. Sharing this information, research and observations to the public is a great way for private keepers to assist in global and future conservation efforts.

Of course, properly sanctioned facilities such as Marwell Zoo, in collaboration with properly managed field conservation and surveys is paramount to successful reintroductions. The sand lizards released in Dorset over recent years have been bred at Marwell’s specialist reptile breeding centre, Forestry England’s Reptile Centre, Avon Heath Country Park and by local wildlife specialist Martin Noble. Private keepers should never breed animals for their own rewilding operations without first venturing down all the correct channels. This can sometimes take years of research before a population is ready to be released.

Nick Moulton, Reptile Conservation Officer for ARC, said: “We are delighted to be able to release an encouragingly high number of sand lizards again this year. Conservation projects like this rely on the hard work and support of multiple agencies. We are extremely grateful to Forestry England for supporting the releases and their ongoing management of key habitats, and to Marwell Zoo and our breeding partners for their captive breeding expertise and ongoing support of this project.”

“The amazing work taking place to restore and care for heathlands is playing a vital role in re-establishing the UK’s population of these incredible reptiles. It is still early days, but data from our introductions in Dorset over recent years is showing promising signs of ongoing breeding and the establishment of populations across a growing area. Today’s release of the next group of young sand lizards is another important milestone in continuing this recovery of a critical species.”

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

The wonderful world of exotic animals

Vulturine guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum)

The vulturine guineafowl is a striking bird that forms complex social groups. Coming from sub-saharan Africa, this is one of the largest guineafowl species and can be seen foraging around grassland habitats in search of seeds, tubers, insects, fallen fruits and small vertebrates.

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Vulturine guineafowl group dynamics do not necessarily follow a structure, instead these birds will develop relationships with other guineafowl they have grown up with, much like people. Interestingly, studies have proven that the speed and efficiency of each group moving around their environment is largely determined by group size.

Scientists discovered intermediate-sized groups of 33-37 birds were more efficient at moving around their environment, covering more distance, and encountering more resources than smaller or larger groups. However, their success in movement patterns inevitably produced more chicks, which would then limit the groups movements to protect them from predators. This gives us great insight into the social dynamics of animals in general.

The vulturine guineafowl is considered ‘Least concern’ by the IUCN and currently has a stable population across its range. Because of its impressive size and plumage, this species is exhibited in many zoos but rarely bred for food and eggs like the domesticated form of Numida meleagris (helmeted guineafowl) which occupy some areas of UK.

Mixed Desert Substrate

A blended substrate to help create the ideal environment for Leopard Geckos and other desert species.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

An inside look at the training methods used by Chester Zoo.

Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)

Komodo dragons can be some of the most ferocious reptiles on the planet. As apex predators capable of hunting water buffalo, working with these animals can be challenging. We spoke to Matt Cook, Lead Keeper of Reptiles and Amphibians at Chester Zoo about how experts at the zoo train komodo dragons.

Life will find a way

Komodo Dragons are fierce Varanids from East Indonesia. These giant lizards inhabit the islands of Flores, Rinca and Komodo (as well as a few small neighbouring islands). Throughout the years, scientists have made countless discoveries relating to the dragon’s natural history. From misconceptions around their hunting techniques and venom glands, to better understanding their habitat requirements and distribution. Much of these breakthroughs were the result of collaborative efforts between zoos and local rangers in these extremely remote areas.

Matt Cook is the lead keeper of the komodo dragons at Chester Zoo. He has completed various field work projects across Komodo and Flores, most recently supporting projects which outlined the Komodo Dragons natural distribution. “Working with Komodo Dragons is a privilege” explained Matt. “I’ve worked with numerous Varanids but Komodo Dragons are so unique in how they move, the way they look and their

characteristics. Even the Salvador monitors (Varanus salvadorii) in Papua New Guinea are beautiful animals with a similar appearance, they’re huge, but they’re not Komodo Dragons.”

The temperament of Komodo Dragons both in captivity and in the wild can be somewhat misleading. Tourists visiting Komodo have returned with anecdotes of lazy, unthreatening animals. Some international zoos also walk their dragons around the park, to get closer to visitors. Yet, zoologists throughout the centuries have reported violent aggression particularly around breeding season. Both narratives seem true, and Chester Zoo chooses not to take any chances. Matt continued: “Dragons are very calm a lot of the time but it’s when they turn into feed mode that they turn into a genuine threat to humans. You would never want to be in a situation where a dragon could mistake a human for food. For this reason, we don’t use contact when working with

komodo dragons. One weird smell, one weird movement or one weird sight such as gloves etc can cause the dragon to associate it with food, and that can be dangerous.”

With most reptiles in the herpetoculture hobby posing very little risk to humans, it’s easy to underestimate the day-to-day tasks involved in caring for an apex predator. Therefore, training is crucial to allow keepers to manage their animals in the safest and most stress-free situation for both the animal and keeper.

Training methods

Various training techniques are used in zoos across the world for animals for a huge range of taxa. Some private keepers also try to implement many of these target training practices with their own animals, particularly the large clever ones, such as monitor lizards.

“Training dragons is not unlike training a lot of our other animals” explained Matt. “Komodo dragons will respond really well to training as they’re an intelligent animal. The best advice I can give is to keep it

basic. Most of the training we do is target training or using a sound.”

“If you can get a dragon to stay still, that’s exactly what you want. So, for x-rays, weighing, any data collection on the animal, you’ll want it to station in an area. This can be done with a target, which is what we’re doing with the komodo dragons here at Chester Zoo.”

“It is just about associating the target with food. Just a yellow ball on the end of a stick, then click, reward, click, reward, click, reward.

The idea is that the animal pairs up the target with food. Obviously, dragons are a little different with their feeding habits. If a dragon’s really full and it’s eaten well, it won’t respond particularly well to a little treat. When I say little, I mean tiny. However, dragons are scavengers. When you see a giant animal in the wild turning its huge head to pick up a tiny bit of meat, you know you’re dealing with a scavenger. This can make things easier for us when it comes to training, compared to other animals that won’t respond to small items at all.”

Training Varanids

For private keepers, training their own Varanids can be challenging. Naturally, the physical resources of private keepers can be much more limited than those in zoos. For example, even the largest enclosures are unlikely to provide enough space for a keeper to stand within, but that is not to say that training is impossible.

Matt continued: “There is use for training Varanids. It’s a little trickier as you need to use a lot of space and I wouldn’t encourage anyone to just do it without thinking it through as you can develop bad habits and you can put yourself in a worse situation.

“Obviously, if you’re starting to build a feed and training response with your target and your animal is loose with you, the worst thing you can do is not realise that the animal doesn’t understand that the target is where you want it to go. You might think it’s coming to the target but it’s actually coming to you, so it could think you’re the target, and if it thinks you’re

the food you can put yourself in a dangerous position. Even the smaller Varanids can give a nasty bite. Keepers often feed with tongs, so it might have already associated the keeper with food, but you really want to give a bit of distance between yourself and the target to make sure the target is the focus of attention.”

Target training is certainly the most widely used training methods for reptiles and possibly a good start for keepers of Varanids to experiment with. However, anyone aiming to train their own Varanids can find that it could be detrimental to the keeper/ animal relationship without prior research. Just like the training methods of dogs, if mistakes are made early on and continually reinforced, the animal will not behave in the desired way.

Matt told us some of his top tips for anyone aiming to train their own monitor lizards: “Firstly, you want to distance yourself away. For some of the really small dragons we have a huge pole, made from a lot of piping with a yellow ball on the end. That helps the animal go towards the target, you need to give the animal some leeway.”

“The other mistake I see is when people hold the target out and also has a pair of tongs with the food. Although they look very different to you, to a monitor lizard it doesn’t look all that different. You’re not making it easy for the animal.”

“I would urge caution when it comes to training and maybe even learn a bit from dog trainers, even just the principals. It’s about positive reinforcement, ignoring the negative responses, eventually the animal will pick up on what it’s supposed to do, but the best tip is to make it easy for the animal. When we first started, we used a target and then threw the food, so there was no connection to the keeper.”

Komodos in captivity

The first Komodo dragons to be exhibited in a zoo were a pair on display at London Zoo’s Reptile House in 1927. Since then, various collections have exhibited these animals in a bid to inspire people of all ages and interests to care for and understand reptiles. Having bred successfully in captivity now for many decades, Komodo Dragons are increasingly popular in zoos across the world.

Many people do question why the animals in zoos typically look much smaller than their wild counterparts. Though extensive DNA analysis and research has not taken place yet, experts are beginning to theorise their own ideas.

Water buffalo and deer were introduced to the islands of Komodo and Rinca by early Dutch settlers for farming and agriculture. These large prey items required an equally large predator to hunt them and thus natural selection may have swayed the survival odds in favour of the largest dragons. However, the animals on Flores are typically smaller and leaner, as their largest prey items are fruit bats and arboreal mammals. Eventually this could have created contrasting morphological differences between the two. As Flores is the largest of the islands with much better infrastructure, it is thought that the dragons that first entered zoos were possibly sourced from this locale. Although none of this theory has been scientifically documented or published and researchers have confirmed that all locales belong to the same nominate species Varanus komodoensis, it is an interesting and little-known theory about Komodo dragon adaptability.

Threats facing dragons

This year, the Komodo Dragon was recategorized as ‘Endangered’ after more than 20 years of the species being considered ‘Threatened’. This poignant chapter was marked by the IUCN at the World Conservation Congress in September 2021. Research suggests that rising sea levels are a major threat to the dragons who only inhabit islands at low elevation. This is also paired with habitat fragmentation due to agriculture which is in-turn affecting the genetic diversity of these already extremely limited populations.

Although the remoteness and limited range of the Komodo dragon makes it much more vulnerable than widespread species, it also means conservation efforts can be concentrated on the individual communities that can protect the dragons. “All zoos that manage dragons are working under the same breeding programme” explained Matt.

“Obviously each zoo can manage komodo dragons in their care how they like to an extent, but everyone is working together and collaborating. One of those collaborations is funding so everybody is putting money together per year that goes directly to the Komodo Survival Programme. Having dragons in zoos is directly funding the conservation work in Indonesia, which is incredible. It doesn’t work like that with every species, but the money from Komodo Dragons is literally impacting the wild populations. Anyone who loves animals should want to see them here long term and the work that zoos do impacts on their numbers. Not just their numbers, but their habitats and the people. The people that live on Komodo and Flores don’t have a vast income as it’s not a hugely wealthy country, and, in the past, they have exploited dragons. Their farming is hugely important

to their livelihoods, but dragons do eat their livestock, and that’s a massive problem for them. You can’t just tell them to look after the dragons after the equivalent to a burglar has just come in and stolen their livestock. So, the Komodo Survival Programme helps the local people create other ways to build income. One of them is eco-tourism, another is creating wooden dragons, there’s snorkelling and guides etc. They’re all trying to generate money for these people and if the people that live alongside dragons care about them, that’s going to help protect them. By generating that income, we protect the entire ecosystem in that part of Indonesia.”

For more information on how Chester Zoo keep their Komodo Dragons, a video interview and enclosure tour with Matt Cook can be found on the Exotics Keeper YouTube Channel.

HOGGING THE LIMELIGHT

Is this the world’s most charismatic snake?

Hognose snake (Varanus rudicollis)

It is impossible to turn your nose up at the downright adorable face of a hognose snake. Their timid nature and dramatic personalities make them one of the most appealing groups of snakes for people to keep. Combined with straightforward care requirements and a rich scene of morph breeding, the hognose snakes are responsible for a whole sector of exotics keeping, brimming with passionate hobbyists and doting pet owners alike.

Species spectrum

The term ‘hognose snake’ refers to thirteen species from three separate genera of snakes, all with upturned noses designed for burrowing and all rear fanged. However, these genera are widespread across three separate continents; Heterodon are from North America and contain the most popular species within the hobby, Xenodon (formerly Lystrophis) are much less popular in the hobby and widespread across South America and Leioheterodon are found in Madagascar with very small amounts in captivity.

The western hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus) is by far the most popular. Being a terrestrial, burrowing snake that stays relatively small and has a “showy” yet docile temperament, the western hognose has become a very popular pet. As

such, dedicated breeders have discovered many co-dominant genes, the most popular of which are the ‘anaconda’ and ‘arctic’ variants, but also include a handful of others. There are also further dominant forms, which combine to produce incredible morphs. This has created a rich network of professional breeders and subsequent resources for first-time keepers which has accelerated the popularity of these animals in captivity.

Devonshire hognoses

Emily Reed is a hognose snake breeder and runs Devonshire Hognoses. After finishing her course in Zoology with Herpetology at Bangor University, she embarked on a hognose breeding project. Emily keeps 5 species of hognose snake, spanning two

of the three genera. This year she has successfully hatched 54 eggs. She shared some of her young snakes at the Doncaster IHS Show in September. “It’s the attitude and the wide range of morph combinations that I love” explained Emily.

One defining feature for hognose snakes, particularly “Westerns” is their charismatic behaviour. As a snake that will often ‘feign death’ in the wild, their defensive strategy is extremely submissive. They will sometimes puff out their necks to appear bigger and even ‘fake strike’ despite rarely being able to latch onto the handler.

Emily added: “Although some of them don’t have it, a lot of them do. My Mexican hognose is 100% sassy, she’ll never change. They cobra up and fake strike and it’s so cute. I find myself doing baby talk when they do it. When I was at the end of my first year, me and my friend had a plan that she would buy a female and I would buy the male. I kind of just got carried away from there and now I have loads!”

Heterodon husbandry

Hognoses in the Heterodon genus are very hardy animals. They will typically awake from brumation in early spring in relatively cool temperatures around 20°C, but with low lying vegetation and open areas of hard soil, the ground temperatures will be much hotter, well up to 26°C. Throughout summer these ambient temperatures reach upwards of 30°C, with ground temperatures even hotter.

Recent research suggests that western hognose snakes adapt their behaviour as temperatures increase. They will leave the hot prairies they usually inhabit and instead visit wetland environments where it’s cooler and where they switch their diet from rodents to amphibians. Keepers should understand during the hottest summer months is when hognose snakes are at their most fussy. This could be attributed to a shift in natural diets in the wild.

Emily continued: “Westerns are the top ones to keep. I don’t personally keep any Easterns, because

although they are brilliant once you get them onto mice, their diet is really comprised of frogs, which is difficult to find in the UK. While they are beautiful, breeding them can be a complete pain!

The Westerns, on the other hand, you can try all kinds of fish to help scent the food. Anything from trout, whitebait, salmon and I’ve even heard people use hot dogs! With all hoggies, once they’re on certain

categorise hognoses as ‘intermediate’ level snakes. However, Emily disagrees as she claims “In my own opinion, any animal can be a starter animal as long as you have done all the research.”

“The best advice I could really give is to talk to the breeder you’re getting the snake from. Although shops are great, the person that bred the snake will know if the animal goes

because hopefully that breeder will want the animal to be cared for in the best way possible.”

There are lots of ways to keep a Western hognose successfully. The biggest challenges tend to arise when caring for a youngster, but this can also be the most rewarding time to get to know the snake. While Exotics

Keeper Magazine always recommends going for the largest sized enclosure possible, young snakes (particularly hognoses) can benefit from a smaller, easier to manage environment.

Emily continued: “If someone is looking to buy a baby, I would first recommend that they recreate the enclosure that they are in now. So, my babies are currently in 1.3 litre Braplast tubs. Then I use tealight holders as a water bowl and a heat mat with thermostat. A thermostat is a big thing! A lot of people won’t check that the new owner has a thermostat. You want it between 31 and 33 degrees. Any colder and they won’t eat, any hotter and it could cause burns.”

Once the animal reaches a suitable size and is feeding well, the keeper can find great enjoyment in setting up a naturalistic vivarium for their animal. Keepers should pick an enclosure that holds heat efficiently but also facilitates a deep layer of substrate which will allow the snake to burrow and provide greater enrichment. Ultimately, the snake should have plenty of space to explore the enclosure and should be provided with the best burrowing opportunities possible.

Feeding schedules for hognoses can be dependent on the animal and the keeper should feed each animal on a case-by-case basis. “My juveniles and adults are once every 7 days, unless the females have just laid eggs then I feed them a smaller meal once every 4-5 days to build their weight back up” explained Emily. “My biggest girl eats large mice normally or mediums once she lays. The size can depend as I have small females and big females, so anything from small mice to large mice. The males, it’s between a Hopper or small

mice to get their animals feeding, it is possible to provide a varied diet too. Although it is not easy to source frogs and toads, it is possible to buy frogs legs, quail eggs and whole fish which can be fed as a supplementary food to provide a varied diet. As with all species, providing as much variation to the lives and diets of captive animals as possible is a great way to ensure high standards of animal welfare.

Being a diurnal species, hognose snakes should be kept with UV and a basking lamp. For breeders working with many animals and often temporarily, this can sometimes prove challenging to facilitate. Although in the wild they will spend much of their time in burrows, they do hunt for prey above the ground during the day. Providing Ferguson Zone 2 (UVI 0.7-1.1) lighting is crucial to ensuring they have good circadian rhythms and mimics the wild conditions they would usually experience. Young snakes should ideally be moved into a large enclosure, fitted with appropriate lighting as soon as the keeper is confident that the animal is healthy and feeding properly.

The final consideration for husbandry, which may be slightly more complex than other more popular snake species is brumation. All species of Heterodon will enter a state of brumation as the winter arrives. Across their natural range temperatures will drop remarkably low. In the wild, Western hognoses will typically enter brumation for around three months, whilst Southern (Heterodon simus), Eastern (Heterodon platyrhinos) and Mexican hognoses (Heterodon kennerlyi) will experience a shorter brumation (around 2 months). While there are many ways to simulate this period, Emily uses her own house conditions to her advantage, encouraging brumation alongside the natural

Venomous and poisonous?

Funnily enough, one of the most docile and timid snakes on the planet is both venomous and possibly poisonous. Their diet in the wild consists heavily of toxin-ridden toads as well as other amphibians. Whether they can retain this poison efficiently for a long period is yet to be discovered, but this diet likely influences the defensive ‘feigning death’ smell that hognose snakes use to deter predators.

Hognoses are also mildly venomous. They are opisthoglyphous, which essentially means ‘rear-fanged’. Just like mangrove snakes (Boiga dendrophilia), false water cobras (Hydrodynastes gigas) and a few other species, hognose snakes are required to chew on their prey to push their toxic saliva from their duvernoys glands, down grooves in their teeth and into the prey. This explains largely why hognose snakes are such fussy eaters in captivity. Their highly specialised hunting methods are adapted for a diet of toads. Once a toad is caught by the snake, it will instantly puff up to avoid being eaten, consequently puncturing itself with the hognose’s rear fangs. Even though their toxic saliva may be adapted to amphibians, in the wild these snakes will still eat rodents, small birds and eggs.

Hognoses also have a list of defence mechanisms that make them such charismatic snakes. Emily added: “At

first, it’s going to be scary if they’re hissing and fake striking but once you know they’re not going to bite you, you can just pick them up. Babies are more likely to musk on you and that does stink, but the adults really don’t do it. A few of my animals think it’s always feeding time, but it’s just about knowing the individual. Some people ask what the temperament of a baby snake is, but they all have good days and bad days, so it really is about getting to know them. Some of my loudest snakes are also the easiest to handle, I just pick them up, which people find strange when they’re hissing at me. As soon as they’re in my hands though, they really calm down.”

“Of course, if you give the snake the opportunity to bite properly, people do get bitten. I had a female named Red who properly chewed on me, but I had no reaction which was nice. It’s not the first time I’ve been bitten, it’s actually quite funny to watch. I do have some people who ask me about bites. I would say just take off any jewellery and keep an eye on any swelling, it’s rare that there are any ill effects.”

Just like any venom, hognose snake bites can cause an allergic reaction. These bites can be likened to bee stings. Even though most people will be absolutely fine, individuals who are prone to allergic reactions from bites and stings should avoid keeping all rear-fanged snakes.

Breeding hognoses

Western hognose snakes have had a firm hold on the herpetoculture hobby in recent years. With variable colours and a rich morph market forming, breeders are continuing to produce unique animals. This often gives already passionate individuals further incentive to dedicate so much time and resources into captive breeding. With new VAT costs impacting exports from Europe, ensuring the UK has enough breeders to meet the demand for hognose snakes in the UK is more important than ever. However, responsible breeding is paramount to ensure that welfare standards are met.

Emily added: “My favourite morph for the Westerns is the super arctics. In hognoses there’s one gene that can be lethal and that’s the recessive pink pastel albino gene, so you do need to be responsible with breeding. I have two of these myself and so far, they haven’t shown any neurological issues, but of course you can’t breed a visual to a visual with those because when they come out, they can have serious problems.”

“I started off with the lower cost morphs like the anaconda and the albino genes. While most hognose genes are recessive there are only a handful of co-dominant genes. The most popular are the arctic

and anaconda forms. So, you need to play the long game and work with your hets.

As well as commercial breeding, Emily is embarking on a breeding project which may benefit research and conservation in the future. The Malagasy giant hognose (Leioheterodon madagascariensis) is one of three species native to Madagascar. Shrouded in superstition throughout its native range, it is not well documented and rarely bred in captivity. Although several zoos now exhibit these animals, Emily is hoping to breed this species next year.

Emily concluded: “Giants are very heavy breathing animals, when you have them out it sounds like they’re hissing which can be intimidating but they’re actually just breathing. My giants are in 5 ft tanks (1.5 X 2 width and height). For a giant burrowing species, you’d be surprised how much they climb! Soon I will be adding UV to their enclosures, but this will be after brumation this year. I have tried my giants on sand and topsoil. Even though it was a natural look, it was hard to find their poo and clean, so I put them back onto lignocel. When they were on the topsoil sand mix, I would spray them once a week. Now, I just spray the cork bark to stop the lignocel bunching up.”

EK experts

Our resident Madagascar Expert and Herpetologist, Aimee Jones has worked with Malagasy giant hognoses (Leioheterodon madagascariensis) in the wild. She writes:

Leioheterodon madagascariensis, the Malagasy giant hognose, is a real joy to see in its natural habitat. The largest of the three Malagasy species reaching 1.51.8 metres, the giant hognose stands out due to its striking black shaded colouring with yellow contrasting markings. This coloration is surprisingly good at breaking up the snake’s outline in dark leaflitter.

We commonly encountered this species emerging to bask when the sun had been up for a few hours in the morning. They emerge from covered refugia such as natural burrows beneath trees and thick foliage or holes in the ground. They are quite widespread in Madagascar, even settling on the smaller islands such as Nosy Be. Individuals in the Mahamavo region aren’t afraid to live near human settlements and this may unfortunately also fuel some human/snake conflict.

Like many snakes, they will act opportunistically and eat eggs if given the chance. Many Malagasy

JARGON BUSTER

people are already wary of snakes, so this doesn’t help their reputation. We encountered a L. madagascariensis near human settlement that was trapped in fine fishing net, causing a constriction wound, dehydration, and exhaustion. The snake could still just about move once freed and I certainly hope it recovered after. The fishing net appeared to have been discarded perhaps on purpose. It’s sad to think of snakes perishing in this way, but it makes sense culturally for rural Malagasy people to see them as a pest when they come scavenging and intruding on human dwellings.

The individuals I encountered seemed to be used to human activity, judging from their strong reactions. They’re very perceptive animals and will often sit in the classic snake ‘periscope’ posture when nearby and will then bolt into the undergrowth.

The venom of these snakes is only delivered by the rear teeth, like other hognose species and many Colubrids. It isn’t known to be life threatening but will still cause uncomfortable swelling so is best avoided. Luckily, we had giant hognose veteran herpetologist, Dr Randall Morrison on board. The snakes were caught as part of a monitoring project run by Operation Wallacea, in which the snakes are

measured, microchipped, and coated in a UV powder so their movements can be tracked both day and night. It’s an interesting project looking into their territoriality, nest defence behaviour and general movements using GPS mapping.

As far as I’m aware, not much is known about their natural history and habits in situ, hence the studies into their courtship and breeding. Some wild-caught individuals are brought into the trade from time to time, as with just about every other species of Malagasy herpetofauna. If wild-caught individuals can be kept appropriately and successfully bred, this may be a good step forward in ensuring the species’ persistence and reducing the demand for import. These beautiful snakes are threatened by the continuing habitat destruction and human development on the island but are currently listed as a Least Concern species due to their wide range and adaptability to disturbed habitat.

The tail end

Hognose snakes are an extremely diverse group of reptiles. Western hognoses can make incredible pets for those that have the time and patience to ensure that all their needs are met and that they are comfortable in their enclosures. These animals occupy a niche sector of reptile keeping, where despite being adorable to confident keepers, children and the next generation of reptile lovers are likely to be intimidated by their defensive behaviours. Although it’s unlikely we will ever see hognoses become as popular as corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus) and royal pythons (Python regius), for those that know what they are doing, Western hognoses may well be one of the best, most rewarding pet snakes available. With expert breeders now branching into completely different genera as they expand their interests in hognoses, there are exciting times ahead for researching, breeding and the conservation of hognose snakes all over the world.

Thanatosis –

The act of ‘playing dead’ as a defensive manoeuvre (from the Greek word ‘thanatos’ meaning ‘put to death’)

Opisthoglyphous –‘Rear-fanged’ (from the Greek word ‘glyphein’ meaning ‘to engrave’)

Het –

Has an ‘inherited trait’ from its parents but doesn’t display the gene itself

Duvernoys glands –a ‘primitive’ venom gland (usually present as a fully developed venom gland in vipers etc)

© Aimee Jones

© Aimee Jones

FASCINATING FACTS

Did you know...?

Madagascar blue stick insect (Achrioptera fallax)

Astaple in the horror culture is the zombie trope, where usually a virus will infect living things and turn them into mindless, cannibalistic zombies. Fortunately, humanity has not been threatened in this way by an incurable virus, but a certain kind of fungus lurks in the invertebrate world with startlingly similar effects.

Cordyceps is a genus of fungus comprised of around 600 species. Most of them are known to be endo-parasites of invertebrates and arthropods. You can find Cordyceps but most often in humid, tropical, equatorial forests.

When the parasitic species attack an invertebrate host, the mycelium of the fungus begins to replace the host organism’s tissue. As it spreads, it slowly assumes control of the host by overriding the muscles and limbs. Each species of cordyceps seems to specialise in a particular host.

for example, is known to target ants, sometimes successfully infecting entire colonies.

Near the end of the process, the fungus compels the host to seek a suitable position to disperse its spores, such as a high point on a branch. Once there, an ant for example will anchor itself in place with its mandibles while an ascocarp (sporebearding stalk) emerges from the hosts body, releasing cordyceps spores into the air, beginning the cycle again.

This is a horrifying demise by anyone’s standards. Fortunately, cordyceps are only known to infect insects (thus they are entomopathogenic), with a few infecting other fungi species. In fact, cordyceps have gained popularity as a potential health supplement.

While not definitively proven with enough scientific literature yet, cordyceps shows promise as a beneficial health supplement. Its potential includes: increased athletic performance, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects, anti-tumour assistance, protection from heart disease and help managing diabetes, to name a few. It has been used for these proposed benefits in traditional medicine practises dating as far back as the 15th century, which can at least lend evidence that there is no known toxicity when we use it this way.

We can at least be grateful we were born humans and not insects, for the fact that we don’t have to be worried about being turned into zombies

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XMAS GIFT GUIDE

Our guide to the perfect gift for the herpetoculturist in your life.

Christmas is fast approaching! With exotic animal keeping being such a niche hobby, it can be difficult to pick the perfect present for a loved one. There are some fantastic bits of equipment out there to really boost the herpetoculture or aquarist interests of anyone keeping exotic pets, but who really wants a lightbulb for Christmas? Exotics Keeper Magazine has broken down some of our top present suggestions that are bound to put a smile on the face of anyone who has, or is hoping to keep an exotic pet in the future.

Pin badges, hoodies, journals, and much more are available on IHS-web.org.uk and range from 75p up to £20. There’s plenty of stocking fillers here for someone who loves reptiles and wants to support a prestigious organisation within the hobby.

Plushie Bearded Dragon

Price: RRP £12.99

Who doesn’t love a plushie bearded dragon? Perfect for young children and doting partners alike, this reptilian twist on the classic teddy bear is a lovely little novelty and makes a great stocking filler. Tell someone you know they’re reptile-mad and love them for it, without having to know a thing about reptiles yourself! This also makes a great alternative to a real bearded dragon, until children understand the full responsibility that goes into caring for an exotic pet – maybe next year, kiddo.

IHS Merchandise

Price: 75p - £20

The International Herpetological Society runs entirely on memberships, entry fees and merchandise sales, yet it hosts some of the most important events in the UK herpetoculture scene. Their merchandise is brilliant and extremely affordable.

Zoo Animal Experiences

Price: Varies

There are lots of zoos up and down the country that offer animal experiences. Although these are perfect for youngsters, adults can gain some significant insight by talking to a professional keeper who has access to more resources than the average private keeper. For reptile enthusiasts, Chester Zoo offers a ‘chameleon experience’, Colchester Zoo, Bristol Zoo, Paignton Zoo and Crocodiles of the World all offer a ‘giant tortoise experience’ and Paradise Wildlife Park does a ‘reptile and bug encounter.’ Various other zoos do ‘keeper for a day’ experiences, which may be tailored to specific interests if you were to contact your local zoo. Very often, the experts working with these animals will be extremely happy to talk to a private keeper who is already fascinated with that family of animals.

Not all parrot food is created equal.

are a great way to build that experience with a pet snake at home. For students following a career in herpetology, understanding the basics of manoeuvring a snake with a hook can be extremely beneficial when they eventually conduct field research. Training (and sometimes legal permits) are required when handling wild snakes, so hooks should always be used responsibly but familiarising yourself with these tools is a great way to kickstart a career with snakes.

White Python Thermo/ Hygrometer

Price: RRP £15.99

White Python is an extremely stylish brand in the world of reptile keeping and is definitely paving the way towards a sleeker design with the same practicality as other products on the market. If you have a friend that keeps any species of reptile or amphibian (and pretty much any other exotic pet) they will need a thermometer or hygrometer or, in this case, both. The White Python brand is the perfect upgrade on the slightly dated appearance of other older thermometers and hygrometers. Simply stick to the interior wall of the enclosure and the temperature and humidity is clearly displayed in the centre of the subtle and sleek-looking disk.

conditions within an animal’s enclosure. With both retailing over £200, these are not cheap gifts, but are widely celebrated as some of the most important pieces of equipment in animal welfare. The readings are universal, meaning those keeping reptiles, amphibians, inverts, birds and mammals will gain huge benefits from having a solarmeter available.

Solarmeter

Price: RRP £249.99

The solarmeter UVB reptile lamp reader and UV Index meter are both brilliant tools to fully understand the

Exotics Keeper Magazine Subscription

Price: RRP £38

Let’s be honest, there’s only one present your reptile-loving friend needs this year. A subscription to EK is not only “the gift that keeps giving”, but back issues can also be ordered. This means your loved one will have something interesting to open and plenty of great content ahead of them. As EK continues to grow, there’s never been a better time to subscribe!