Paphos Life

cyprusmax47 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 25, 2017 5:48 pm Yes I do Bograt, I even cannot kill poisonous snakes when they land in the pool skimmer. Recently I rescued a small one and carried it in a water bucket and released it 1 mile away from the house. Must explain that 15 years ago I was the helper of Snake George, to collect vipers from the forest for his reptile park in Peyia. I was quite scared to hold the sack while George was putting the snakes into it....

I couldn't kill snakes either, I am fascinated by all animals and find them much less of a worry than some humans

I have not had the pleasure of seeing many Cyprus snakes at all sadly, so I would not be very good at identifying the only scary one - the viper. How interesting it must have been for you to work with Snake George. I wish he was still here, then I could go and learn some more. Thanks for the lovely snake picture, and I'm so glad you let it go.

Happy in Cyprus wrote: ↑Tue Apr 25, 2017 6:04 pm From what you've said Max, if you can view Discovery 'Nat Geo Wild' on your iptv you'll love "Snakes in the City", which is shown most nights with plenty of repeats.

Going to look out for that, thanks Lloyd. Another, very funny at times, programme was "Deadliest Pests Down Under". Many interesting critters from Oz, with so called "pest controllers" from the UK trying to catch them. Oh how some of them squealed - the Brits you understand!

To finalize the hedgehog story: Found yesterday the den where it was hiding in winter obviously, in my garden. Very nice built and strong, one could actually walk on it and it would not collapse... below some links of the Long-eared hedgehog and the range...



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-eare ... _Range.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-eared_hedgehog

Thank you for the picture and information, very interesting. I've seen the hedgehogs run, and indeed they really do shift.

Bograt wrote: ↑Wed Apr 26, 2017 11:59 am Thank you for the picture and information, very interesting. I've seen the hedgehogs run, and indeed they really do shift.

I am not sure now what to do with the burrow after reading in Wiki that it is their home. Perhaps not only in Winter they use it. Also is confirmed there that they are not much afraid and not curling up when disturbed. Even the photo flash from 30 cm did not impress.

Is it in the way if you leave it where it is? Perhaps add a sun awning and a patio, with a little built in bbq for it to cook slugs??

It looks like you might have a permanent ( & very cute ) lodger Max.

Very evocative about Snake George, Max. I always used to pull in there on the way to Agios Georgios with a few CY£s ready for the kitty... What a marvelous man he is! He got frequent mentions in Sheila Hawkins 'Back of Beyond' books trilogy (beautifully illustrated by her hubby Harry), as well.

On one occasion, I asked one of the expat volunteers there why the Snake George website seemed to have closed down. He said that Hans-Jorg could not afford the hosting renewal fee. On my return to UK, I got in touch with his webmaster and offered to pay, it was about CY£65 if I remember correctly...

I got a nice reply back saying they were making his site 'live' again for a further 12 months, as a goodwill gesture and on account of the important environmental work he had devoted his life to, in western Cyprus. That was very kind of them...

With a Bing search, I just stumbled across a Snake George web archive, which explains a lot of stuff I didn't know. Maybe you and other members here on PL will find it an interesting read?

http://rochfordessex.net/cyprusreptiles ... d-in-2009/

I think the Cyprus Govt, EU, and CTO need to bang heads regarding funding and get Snake George up and running again FAST (with live exhibits)! Imagine if he were to receive a coachload of schoolkids from different schools in the region on a regular basis, HOW he could change the in-grained Cypriot hatred and fear of snakes over a period of time?

All the Best! AL

PaphosAL wrote: ↑Wed Apr 26, 2017 4:33 pm
I think the Cyprus Govt, EU, and CTO need to bang heads regarding funding and get Snake George up and running again FAST (with live exhibits)! Imagine if he were to receive a coachload of schoolkids from different schools in the region on a regular basis, HOW he could change the in-grained Cypriot hatred and fear of snakes over a period of time?

All the Best! AL

That would be excellent. I have no idea if Snake George is still interested in reopening something in Cyprus. I wonder how much land he would need to do it........ and how much that would cost.

I think the problems were from the NIMBYs. I believe he was attempting to open a new site in Tala several years back with donated land from the church but nobody wanted snakes on their doorstep. I loved the snake park and took many Cypriot relatives who were fascinated by the close up and personal encounters. He would let them hold the whip snakes and was a great education for the young members of the family.

Jeanne

Come back Snake George! In an isolated spot so as not to worry people. We already have Max, the daring sidekick of Snake G, and his friend the fearless hedgehog. If I had some land he could absolutely use it for snakes.....

Bograt wrote: ↑Tue Apr 25, 2017 6:46 pm

cyprusmax47 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 25, 2017 5:48 pm Yes I do Bograt, I even cannot kill poisonous snakes when they land in the pool skimmer. Recently I rescued a small one and carried it in a water bucket and released it 1 mile away from the house. Must explain that 15 years ago I was the helper of Snake George, to collect vipers from the forest for his reptile park in Peyia. I was quite scared to hold the sack while George was putting the snakes into it....

I couldn't kill snakes either, I am fascinated by all animals and find them much less of a worry than some humans

I have not had the pleasure of seeing many Cyprus snakes at all sadly, so I would not be very good at identifying the only scary one - the viper. How interesting it must have been for you to work with Snake George. I wish he was still here, then I could go and learn some more. Thanks for the lovely snake picture, and I'm so glad you let it go.

Bograd this is a coin snake in the middle of my fire woods, non-poisonous!!!

What a beautiful creature.