By Herp News Mukhtar used to be an illegal logger. Now he coordinates community forest rangers in Indonesia’s Aceh province. His job involves preventing dangerous human-elephant encounters and helping communities protect themselves from environmental offenders – like Mukhtar once was. Go to Source …read more Read more here: herpetofauna.com No products found. Amazon Auto Links

This week’s Herp Video shares an afternoon herping trip along a creek bed. Where there is water, there will be lots of life! Get yourself out this weekend and share your videos with us! Submit your own reptile & amphibian videos at http://www.kingsnake.com/video/ and you could see them featured here or check out all the […]

Red and black? Black and yellow? Mimics in nature are clear with this pair of South American hognose from the same clutch in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Longhitano! Be sure to tell Longhitano you liked it here! Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you […]

By Herp News For the first time conservationists have confirmed Indochinese tigers in Thailand’s Chaloem Ratanakosin National Park. In January, camera traps used by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Thailand’s Department of National Parks took a photo of a tigress, confirming what had only been rumors. A couple months later the camera traps […]

By Herp News A new study has revealed that the Central African country of Gabon is providing an invaluable nesting ground for a vulnerable species of sea turtle considered a regional conservation priority. Go to Source …read more Read more here: herpetofauna.com No products found. Amazon Auto Links

By Herp News Following nearly five years of exploration in mountainous areas of the southern Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, a team of researchers has uncovered seven new species of a highly miniaturized, brightly colored frog genus known as Brachycephalus. Each species is remarkably endemic, being restricted to cloud forests in one or a few adjacent mountaintops, […]

Governor Kasich, we are the “Snake People” — also known as biologists, conservationists, and herpetologists! All herpers, — conservatives, liberals, moderates, independents, green party, and whatever else may be your affiliation — must stand united to initiate the most vigorous grass roots campaign to publicly oppose the candidacy of Governor John Kasich (R-Ohio) for President […]

The long range forecast for the Houston region had called for one day of showers, light rain on the second day, and heavy rain for most of the third day. The high temperatures of about 45 degrees Fahrenheit on the first day rose on each of the next two to a high of 66 degrees […]

Unable to lay fertilized eggs without help, scientists have attempted the first artificial insemination of a softshell turtle. From the New York Times: “Even if we get just one or two hatchlings, I will be very happy,” said Gerald Kuchling, a project leader for the Turtle Survival Alliance, a nonprofit conservation organization. “Even a single […]

Proving that good things come in small packages, this field caught ringneck shines in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user cochran! Be sure to tell cochran you liked it here! Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more Read more […]

By Herp News Almost nothing is known about the Annamite striped rabbit. First described in 1999, this beautifully-colored rabbit is found in Annamite Mountains of Vietnam and Laos, but—rarely seen and little-studied—it’s life history is a complete mystery. But Sarah Woodfin, a student at the University of East Anglia, got lucky when undertaking a three […]

In a battle between an alligator and a truck, who would win? From the Huffington Post: When confronted by an oncoming truck on Thursday, an alligator in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, refused to back down. Instead, the reptile went on the attack, and proceeded to tear off the truck’s entire front bumper. “I was coming home […]

They say if you’re into studying or handling reptiles, you should be able to handle any species of reptile. Oddly, although I can handle almost any kind of snake, I’m a bit scared of lizards! (Although, despite my fear, I still think they’re beautiful.) I usually only overcome my fear when the species is either […]

Always watching, this Toffeebelly Hognose is serene in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user hogboy! Be sure to tell hogboy you liked it here! Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more Read more here: King Snake No products found. […]

By Herp News During the last couple years there have been persistent rumors and trickles of information that elephant poaching was running rampant in Tanzania as the government stood by and did little. Yesterday, the government finally confirmed the rumors: Tanzania’s savanna elephant population has dropped from 109,051 animals in 2009 to just 43,330 last […]

The little frog was sitting atop a frond well, up out of reach in a Bactris riparia (spiny palm). Marisa jokingly told Emerson, the preserve manager, that she wanted the frog and taking her statement at face value, he set about getting it for her. A few minutes later Emerson called Marisa and showed her […]

The Colombian Park Zoo and Purdue University are working together to help the Hellbenders, who are disappearing from the wild in Indiana. From WLFI.com: “When our amphibian species start disappearing, there’s a problem,” said senior zookeeper Noah Shields. “This is not just another animal that may be going extinct here in Indiana. This is a […]

Not a very common sight, but these Brahminy blind snakes are the spotlight today in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Canes05! Be sure to tell Canes05 you liked it here! Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more Read […]

In briefs and during recent hearings, United States Fish and Wildlife Service USFWS) informed the United States District Court for the District of Columbia that it would take 75 days to determine whether to appeal the preliminary injunction (PI) granted to USARK. However, the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure appear to only provide 60 days […]

By Herp News Nine months after Zambia lifted its general trophy hunting ban—including on elephants—the country has now lifted its ban on hunting African lions and leopards. The Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) lifted the ban after surveying its big cat populations and setting new regulations. Go to Source …read more Read more here: herpetofauna.com No […]

In India you can find 16 species of keelback snakes, which makes it one of the largest family of snakes in the country. The keelback snakes are said to be relatives of the garter snakes, which are pretty common in America. One of the keelback snakes found in my area is the buff-stripped keelback, Amphiesma […]

Several months ago canoeists found several dead turtles in an Australian River, and this may be the harbinger of the extinction of Bellinger River snapping turtles. From Scientific American: Since then more than 400 dead turtles have shown up. Dozens more sick turtles were also recovered, each of which was lethargic, emaciated and covered in […]

Several months ago canoeists found several dead turtles in an Australian River, and this may be the harbinger of the extinction of Bellinger River snapping turtles. From Scientific American: Since then more than 400 dead turtles have shown up. Dozens more sick turtles were also recovered, each of which was lethargic, emaciated and covered in […]

What a better way to spotlight this gorgeous super conda hognose! This stunning snake takes center stage in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user nearhoofm! Be sure to tell nearhoofm you liked it here! Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! […]

By Herp News The Chinese government announced today that it will ‘eventually’ shut down its legal domestic ivory market. The move, which surprised conservationists, could provide a major boost in efforts to stop the mass killing of elephants for their ivory. Go to Source …read more Read more here: herpetofauna.com No products found. Amazon Auto […]

By Herp News A female Yangtze giant softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) — potentially the last female of her species — has been artificially inseminated. The procedure, which brought together top scientists from China, Australia and the United States, provides a ray of hope in a continuing effort to save the world’s most endangered turtle. Go […]

In all the time I’ve been writing for kingsnake.com, most of my posts have been about Indian snakes. It’s like I’ve forgotten there are other reptiles and amphibians that also exist in India. So here are some thoughts on the most common monitor lizard of India. The Indian or Bengal monitor, Varanus bengalensis, is a […]

It’s the weekend and what better excuse to hang with your friends, just like the rhino iguana in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user spotsowner! Be sure to tell spotsowner you liked it here! Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! […]

By Herp News No one knows what’s killing them, but scientists estimate that almost half of the world’s saiga (Saiga tatarica) have perished since May 10th. To date, researchers on-the-ground unofficially estimate that 120,000 saiga have died in Kazakhstan from what appears to be a wildly virulent disease, although no cause has been ruled out. […]

Reduced in size and flow during a drought, at the bridge where we stood the river was still about 30 feet wide and looked to be cool and fairly deep with even deeper holes. Kenny and I were watching some very wary diamond-backed water snakes that were using some cracks in the bridge abutment as […]

The Windsor-Essex Humane Society is decrying a violent attack on a northern watersnake, and asking the incident be taken as seriously as abuse against any other type of animal. From the CBC: Coulter said the Humane Society consulted a snake expert who said the snake died at the hands of a human and not another […]

This pair of horned lizards (aka horny toads) are just chilling like a pair of villians on their rock in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user radar357! Be sure to tell radar357 you liked it here! Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them […]

By Herp News HEC, otherwise known as human elephant conflict, is a centuries-old problem responsible for the deaths of untold numbers of elephants. This ongoing battle between African farmers trying to grow crops and hungry elephants foraging for a meal, has motivated conservationists to find solutions for protecting the largest and one of the most […]

A veteran was reunited with Ba Cu, a Vietnamese pond turtle he rescued nearly 50 years ago and the oldest known example of her species. From the Columbus Dispatch: On Thursday, Lowery and Ba Cu met again in a visit arranged by zoo officials in honor of Memorial Day. Though Lowery, now 72, lives in […]

CHOW TIME! This female Parson’s chameleon is just about to grab a bite to eat in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user rocknreptiles! Be sure to tell rocknreptiles you liked it here! Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more […]

By Herp News The panther chameleon, a lizard prized in the pet trade for its remarkable color changing abilities, may actually represent 11 different species, report researchers writing in the journal Molecular Ecology. Analyzing the genetics of more than 300 individual panther chameleons, Swiss and Malagasy researchers make a case that different color morphs of […]

By Herp News A coalition has launched an initiative, the Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge to spark and drive investment in innovative science and technology solutions to help reduce the damage caused by wildlife trafficking. The initiative is backed by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Geographic Society, the Smithsonian Institution, and TRAFFIC. […]

By Herp News Mozambique has lost nearly half of its elephants to relentless, brutal, and highly-organized poaching in just five years, according to a new government survey. In 2010, the country was home to an estimated 20,000 pachyderms, today it houses just 10,300. Go to Source …read more Read more here: herpetofauna.com No products found. […]

By Herp News A new survey in Nepal counted 645 one-horned rhinos, up from 375 animals ten years ago and 534 animals in 2011. This represent a rise of 72 percent over the last ten years, an impressive feat given that the world’s rhinos are facing a savage poaching crisis. Go to Source …read more […]

By Herp News Like many pests, cane toads are killed in their thousands in Australia every year, especially by community-based ‘toad-busting’ groups. New research has now revealed the most humane way to do it. Go to Source …read more Read more here: herpetofauna.com No products found. Amazon Auto Links