Comments on: Komodo Dragon Bites Zookeeper http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/dragon-attack/ for Bigfoot, Loch Ness, and More Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:15:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Alligator http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/dragon-attack/#comment-50906 Alligator Mon, 19 Jan 2009 01:28:22 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/?p=10173#comment-50906 That is a very good point and an excellent description nzcryptozoologist The press tends to be a little sloppy with these descriptions but of course, the average person probably cares little. All they know is the thing bites and you might die. That is a very good point and an excellent description nzcryptozoologist
The press tends to be a little sloppy with these descriptions but of course, the average person probably cares little. All they know is the thing bites and you might die.

]]> By: nzcryptozoologist http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/dragon-attack/#comment-50879 nzcryptozoologist Sun, 18 Jan 2009 08:55:35 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/?p=10173#comment-50879 I know it says venomous but wouldnt toxic be a more accurate term with these animals as the animal does not inject the toxin, unless you consider the bite as such but relys on the symbiotic action of the bacteria to do its job. Often wundered about this. I know it says venomous but wouldnt toxic be a more accurate term with these animals as the animal does not inject the toxin, unless you consider the bite as such but relys on the symbiotic action of the bacteria to do its job.

Often wundered about this.

]]> By: Alligator http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/dragon-attack/#comment-50845 Alligator Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:24:33 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/?p=10173#comment-50845 I've raised savannah monitors, Nile monitors and water monitors, all junior cousins to the Komodo, as well as caimans and several varieties of constricting snakes. They do get excited at feeding time and it is best to use very long tongs or introduce them to the feeding area after the food item is already there. You never, ever want to get near them with food scent on your person! To a reptile, if it looks like a human, moves like a human and smells like a rat, it's a rat. In the end you can have all the "safeguards" you want but you have to use your own good common sense and realize these are living animals and you can't always predict their every action and move. Most injuries come when the keepers start letting their guard down because they become so familiar and comfortable with their animals. Then without even realizing it, they get sloppy in the cage and wham! I believe that more intelligent animals like big cats can sense when a keeper has reached this condition. Every time I got bit, that's what I could always trace the problem to - I got careless. There is an element of risk being a zoo keeper - period. But the chances of getting nailed on the Interstate are much greater than getting it from one of your charges. I’ve raised savannah monitors, Nile monitors and water monitors, all junior cousins to the Komodo, as well as caimans and several varieties of constricting snakes. They do get excited at feeding time and it is best to use very long tongs or introduce them to the feeding area after the food item is already there. You never, ever want to get near them with food scent on your person! To a reptile, if it looks like a human, moves like a human and smells like a rat, it’s a rat.

In the end you can have all the “safeguards” you want but you have to use your own good common sense and realize these are living animals and you can’t always predict their every action and move. Most injuries come when the keepers start letting their guard down because they become so familiar and comfortable with their animals. Then without even realizing it, they get sloppy in the cage and wham!

I believe that more intelligent animals like big cats can sense when a keeper has reached this condition. Every time I got bit, that’s what I could always trace the problem to - I got careless.

There is an element of risk being a zoo keeper - period. But the chances of getting nailed on the Interstate are much greater than getting it from one of your charges.

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