Book review: A Gift From the Snake That Bit Him

A Gift From the Snake That Bit Him: Adventures of an Australian Reptile Man by Neville Burns

Review by Mike Williams

Neville Burns, of www.nevilleburns.net, is one of Australia's most famous herpetologists.

After years of being prodded by his friends, Neville has finally released his much anticipated memoir detailing his life-long interest in, and the early days of, reptile collecting in Australia.

Combine the weird sense of Australian humour, a complete disregard for his own safety and a genuine love and passion for reptiles, and you end up with this great book.

His early travels up and down the coast of Australia are fascinating as well as his encounters with all sorts of 'crazy' characters, the kinds of people you could only meet in the Antipodes.

One of the genuine good guys in this field who holds no airs or graces, Neville has always been the first to give fellow enthusiasts his sought-after advice and time.

Even if you don't know the difference between a Death Adder and a Taipan, you will still find the book an enjoyable collection of stories about these fascinating animals.

And you might actual learn a thing or two, especially why you should never 'borrow' a young crocodile when owed money!

Of course you have to buy the book to find out what happened next.

The book is available through www.nevilleburns.net.

CFZ Australia's Mike Williams caught up with Neville this week to talk all things herpetological.

Giant croc caught in the Phillipines

A crocodile measuring a whopping 21 feet and weighing 2,370 pounds has been captured alive in the Philippines.

The male reptile was caught after a 21-day hunt in the southern province of Agusan del Sur, Nine MSN reports. Wildlife officers had set traps after residents reported a series of attacks in the area. 

A young girl disappeared in the area in 2010, although it is not known if the trapped crocodile was responsible. The saltwater crocodile may also have eaten a farmer who went missing in July, along with several water buffaloes in the southern town of Bunawan, crocodile hunter Rollie Sumiller reportedly said.

Villagers remain wary of several crocodiles that roam the outskirts of the farming town of about 37,000 people.

Cassius the monster croc of them all

It's official - Cairns, Queensland has the biggest captive crocodile in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records.

Cassius, the 5.5m saltwater crocodile, has called Marineland Melanesia his home for 24 years. The monstrous crocodilian, believed to be more than 100 years old (and a man-eater to boot!), will appear in the 2012 edition of the organisation’s book, which will be launched next month.

Bob Irwin - Wildlife Warrior - arrested!

We're a wee bit late reporting this, but Australian wildlife campaigner Bob Irwin was arrested at a protest recently.

The father of the late 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve, and the man who taught the icon everything he knew about crocs, was fighting against the coal seam gas industry in southern Queensland.

According to AAP, landholders and environmentalists have been protesting at the Tara Estate since last month to try and stop a state energy company from building a 16km pipeline to take coal seam gas from five wells on the estate to a nearby plant.

It is believed that the move will be risky for human health, contaminate water and cause land values to drop.

Queensland MO Aidan McLindon confirmed that Bob Irwin was taken to Chinchilla police station to be interviewed by detectives.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that he has since been released and charged with ignoring police orders to remove himself from a road blockade.