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North Wales Aesculapians |
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GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
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Understood Wolfgang, keep us informed.
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Richard2
Senior Member Joined: 01 Dec 2010 Status: Offline Points: 285 |
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Wolfgang,
I'm writing a book about British reptiles and amphibians - a mixture of literary nature writing, natural history and memoir. Would it be possible to talk to you in detail about these Aesculapians sometime?
Richard
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Wolfgang Wuster
Senior Member Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 374 |
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Sure thing - my email is w dot wuster at bangor dot ac dot uk
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Wolfgang Wüster
School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor http://pages.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/ |
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JaySteel
Senior Member Joined: 07 May 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 157 |
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I
have visited London for the sole purpose of photographing the Aesculapian Snake
population there a couple of times now. I will visiting again this year at some
point. I also plan a trip to photograph the Welsh Aesculapian Snakes at Colwyn Bay too and
that would be my only reason for making the long journey to Wales.
Jason |
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Richard2
Senior Member Joined: 01 Dec 2010 Status: Offline Points: 285 |
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Thank you. That's kind. I'll do that.
Richard
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will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
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regarding the economic benefits of feral Aesculapian snakes, for the last five years the ZSL has had 80 quid from me so I can pop into the Zoo whenever I am able to watch the snakes there. I guess that's 400 quid... now, it's quite possible that I would have joined the Zoo anyway, but the lure of spotting free-range snakes was definitely a deal-maker, as far as I am concerned...
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will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
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...not to mention the cost of all those expensive sandwiches I seem to end up buying there, too...
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John Newton
Senior Member Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 149 |
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I have only just learned of these plans to eradicate the animals from WMZ.
I see these animals every year, and feel repulsed by the idea that some sad individual(s) feel themselves empowered to embark on such an eradication programme - which would not be difficult to achieve on this isolated and restricted population. These animals have no observable impact on native species, and have lived there for a long time. I can only hope that some form of defence can be raised, to ensure the continued survival of the animals, and that this will involve input from myself and other interested parties. Very, very disgruntled admirer/supporter of the WMZ population - dont do this !! |
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John Newton
South Yorkshire ARG |
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Mark_b
Senior Member Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 155 |
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My understanding is that all non-native species in Wales are being reviewed, information compiled, etc. Please do correct me if I am wrong Wolfgang but there are no plans in the pipe line for aesculapians to be eradicated? As long as it can be proven that they aren't invasive / a threat, now or in the future, then nothing will happen. I know Wolfgang and Co will continue to monitor the population, so I wouldn't worry about this.
The only thing to be done is provide a sound scientific case, which I'm sure Wolfgang has under control. But if anyone has any information that may help do contact him. John, if you have any records I'm sure Wolfgang would appreciate them in case they are in locations he doesn't know about. |
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Wolfgang Wuster
Senior Member Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 374 |
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Mark,
I think the non-native species secretariat are hoping to get something done about them (there is an agenda point on an "eradication programme" at a forthcoming meeting), although I don't know if there are any concrete or specific plans. I know CCW don't consider this a priority so long as they are monitored and there is no evidence of current or future problems. John, if you have any records from outside the boundaries of the zoo, I would certainly like to hear about them. We have a few records from gardens within 500 meters or so of the zoo, but nothing further. |
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Wolfgang Wüster
School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor http://pages.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/ |
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