where are all the KZN herp. societies?

[Joesoapdurban]

Is it me, or do KZN herpers not have an interest in organising any functioning societies? There was HAN a few years back.
is anyone interested in starting one again? something where we can share knowledge, introduce new people to the hobby and get involved with local projects? maybe i'm just an idealist.

[Rishaad]

Hey i was also thinking about this recently. Infact i havent heard of even one handling course or the like taking place this side of the coast. I for one am very keen.

[Buck Rogers]

Shame the coastal boys are always negelected

rishaada- Handling courses are UBA-fun, I did mine for the first time this year and it is such a rush. I know that pure venom (just outside Margate) does offer a venomous handling course, where abouts are you situated?

[Joesoapdurban]

well I feel we should try get on going, the problem is that too many people are focussed on the sales in the herp. trade instead of the focusing on building up the interest. everyone predominently deals with exotics and forgets the amazing array of local snakes we have hear in KZN. if we could try get an interest in breeding locals, like that marbled tree snake, sundevall's garter snakes, tiger snakes, bark snakes, etc, etc. they're out on the market already, but all everyone wants are corn snakes and boas by the looks of it. why does no one try breed blue headed agama's instead of bearded dragons, ive got a tame male that i raised from a juvinile. all i need is to get my hands on a captive female. they're awesome lizards. i could go on but i've whined enough for now.

[Rishaad]

I know I made a mistake when i added the first letter of my surname to my first name and used that as a username. My name is Rishaad. I wonder if admin would change it for me? I am in Queensburgh, Durban. I have been to pure venom when i stumbled across them while doing some work on that end of the world. Its quite a distance from where I live.

[Buck Rogers]

Rishaad- I am trying to think where Queensburgh is exactly (I'm very familiar with Natal, but not Durban), maybe speak to the local guys who have been on the forum for a longer time (like Drummer) they have been doing this for a while and can point you in the right direction, but trust me its worth an hour or so drive to do a course, we sometimes drive for an hour when we going herping in Jozi, and its well worth it!

[Snakes4Africa]

When we were running HAN a few years ago, we (the organisers), were accused of running it as an outlet for our products and reptiles. This was not the case. We organised guest speakers and 5 people turned up. Very embarrassing. A few outings were planned and some took place. Generally there was a feeling of apathy regarding a group or society. It was always the same old guys and girls turning up to see much of the same stuff.

too many people are focussed on the sales in the herp. trade instead of the focusing on building up the interest.

Yes, a lot of us are interested in sales, it is how we make a living. It is not instead focussing on building the interest, it is as well as! If there is no interest, how do we make sales?
Remember, in Gauteng, it is a legal (and unconstitutional) requirement that you belong to their Herp society in order to get permits to keep indigenous species. That is not the case in KZN.
I still have the database of previous members, and if enough people are intersted, I will gladly assist in getting the group going again.

[ClintonT]

Hi All,

I agree with Snakes4Africa. I was a member of a Marine Aquarist club and the same thing happened their. The same handful of members kept the club running for as long as possible before we eventually gave up. I am a member of a RC club and we tend to have the same problem here too, there are a few that will always put in the effort and the rest stand by. It is a pity as it is clubs and societies that strengthen the interest and knowledge of all.

[DonaldSchultz]

Hey...


If you guys wanna have a meeting in December, circa the 13-14th, I would love to come and meet some of you guys. Will bring some free shwag from the USA as well.

You guys organize, and I will come.... With gifts


DGS

[armata]

It seems that you already have a reptile community there rather than a club. Maybe this works best; like in the old days in Durban quite a few of us, Johan Marais, Gordon Settaro, Brandon Borgelt etc etc. Often got together for field outings and of course a few beers afterwards. But apart from the snake park we were not too captive orientated.

If you guys need/want to do a handling course do an accredited one, you have the choice of three in SA. I know, but not blowing my own trumpet, but its a serious subject and should get the best attantion possible.

[Fooble]

I agree id be pretty keen to get involved in some sort of a thing,
i find it pretty often that when im at Bug's Scales And Tails Shop here in Umhlanga often there are quite a few guys there
and usually stay way longer than planned just sharing a bit of this and that.

Now with a new Durban member here on the forum Joesoapdurban it would be cool to try get something going.

[Bushviper]

Snakes4Africa you are correct in saying that it is unconstitutional that to get permits in Gauteng you have to belong to a herp society. This is not enforceable but the way Natcon look at this is that indigenous animals are not pets. If you want to keep a reptile then you need to put something back into the community for the priviledge of owning it. Knowledge on keeping indigenous reptiles was (until recently) not freely available and the same mistakes were made over and over. By interacting with other people who were like minded these sorts of problems could be overcome. The same was applicable when you needed a specimen for a breeding loan. Suitable cages and even just a rodent supply was not commonly known until fairly recently (about the same time as what the reptile expos started) so to be a member of one of the herp associations indicated a dedication to the hobby.

Many of our members do not keep indigenous reptiles and we have less than half who have permits for indigenous reptiles. I believe we do have interesting speakers and the coffee and %^$ praat afterwards is what keeps our membership levels where they are.

This month we are having a beauty pageant again and this is always a crowd puller because we get to brag with any specimen we have without anybody thinking this person is a showoff. This has nothing to do with getting permits for reptiles either.

Proffessional jealousy and back stabbing will be found in any group of people with a common interest. The reasons will alawys be there and there is nothing you can do about it. It does take energy to keep the societies going and the urge to trow in the towel does happen often. The new Y generation are also so used to having everything handed to them on a plate that participation is not something they are familiar with.

[Bushbaby]

I still have the database of previous members, and if enough people are intersted, I will gladly assist in getting the group going again.

I think what also influenced the attendance was the fact that it was held on a Monday evening. I would suggest that if you do start up again, have it on a Friday evening, rather than a Monday. People don't need to rush off because they have to work the next day.

Just my 2c worth!

[Joesoapdurban]

well this is what i think, snakes4africa, i'd be really keen to get my hands on that data base and contact a few people and try to get something going. I'm not a proffesional and I don't keep scores of snakes. I'm just an avid hobbyist that enjoys the thrill of discovering something new and doing little "projects". i'm currently trying to find a mate for my male tree agama
and breed them, and i'm desperately looking for an albino or het for albino puff adder. In KZN where we have so few restrictions on collecting compared to other provinces, one would think that we would take advantage of it and try get the local species more entrenched on the market. could you imagine having harliquin snakes and tiger snakes readily availible on the market(just an example), instead of all the countless american species we currently have.

[Bushviper]

Joesaop if you ever find these albino puff adders please tell us all about them.