Quatro anos sem Luke

Há exatos 4 anos (17 de Abril de 2011), Luke escrevia a alguns amigos, com entusiasmo incontido.

Seu sonho, um santuário para as lendárias 'King Cobras' (Ophiophagus hannah) havia se materializado. Era hora da festa.

Todos os que receberam esta mensagem abaixo estavam convidados por Luke e a mulher Nicole, para 'um vinho até a madrugada ...', numa fazendinha na Inglaterra, para conhecerem - antes da abertura ao publico - o sonhado local onde os animais cativos serviriam de 'embaixadoras' para 'as primas', ameaçadas de extinção no sudeste asiático e Índia, por perda de habitat.

A ideia era educar, dominar reprodução em cativeiro, e levantar fundos a serem revertidos na preservação destas cobras, comprando terras e criando reservas. O mesmo sonho do Núcleo Serra Grande.

Abaixo a mensagem original:

On Sun, Apr 17, 2011 at 7:34 AM, <ophiophagushannah@hotmail.co.uk wrote:

The King Cobra Sanctuary is "Officially", not only as a king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) research and captive breeding facility, but also because of our focus on education and fund raising, using our captive kings as 'Ambassadors' for their wild cousins, to support conservation projects for King Cobras in their natural habitat. Opening our doors to visitors on Saturdays and sundays. See our web site www.kingcobrasanctuary.com for more information. Luke and Nicole Yeomans would be honoured if you will attend our opening 'party' and tour of the new facility, on Saturday May 21st 2011 at The King Cobra Sanctuary. Brookhill Leys Farm. Eastwood Notts NG163HZ UK. More 'formal' events will be in the afternoon (exact time to be confirmed) and for the many of you who enjoy swapping "snake story's" etc, The Wine (or drink of your choice) will flow till the small hours. This is an invitation only event though everyone receiving the email from me has a +1 please contact me  if you would like to bring more than one guest. You will be emailed again nearer to the event with more details but can you please inform me asap if you can attend (an email or SMS would be preferred).  Very much looking forward to seeing you and showing you the new  facilities.

Luke Yeomans. 00447896531871

Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange


A abertura do santuário ao publico em geral se daria em cerca de dois meses após essa festa. Dias antes daquele sonhado final de semana, Luke foi picado, e faleceu.

Confira o caso, em 42 segundos: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13968581

Confira nosso trabalho na BBC: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24396013

E o que tirar de uma grande tristeza ?

Abaixo, DE NOVO, o abstract do excelente "Snakebite in herpetologists", de Covacevich e Richardson, no Australian Medical Journal:

OBJECTIVES: To define the risk of snake envenomation in herpetologists, assess factors which lead to their being bitten, assess their occupational morbidity and propose preventive stratagems. SUBJECTS AND DESIGN: Interview of 14 of the most experienced professional herpetologists in Queensland; and questionnaire to 14 members of the Cape York Peninsula Herpetological Society, Cairns, Queensland. RESULTS: The 28 herpetologists had sustained 119 bites by potentially dangerous species, and hundreds of clinically insignificant bites. Seventeen had been admitted to hospital. Only five had never been bitten by a medically dangerous snake and 14 had been bitten on two or more occasions. Correct first-aid techniques were applied in less than half the bites. Two had permanent morbidity--renal damage, and permanent tissue damage to the hands. Anaphylactic reactions from the repeated use of antivenom did not occur. The experienced herpetologists sustained a life-threatening bite every 10 years (median). 

CONCLUSIONS: Herpetologists working with highly venomous snakes are at high risk. Prevention involves recognising the risk; possessing a first-aid certificate; applying standard first-aid if a bite is sustained; carrying a mobile telephone; and not working alone.

Luke certamente 'reconhecia o risco' mas baixou a guarda, quebrou a regra de ouro e perdeu a vida, trabalhando sozinho.


Abaixo Rob Carmichael, com uma King albina:

Para se ter uma ideia dos riscos envolvidos nas atividades do Núcleo Serra Grande, concluo com um parágrafo deste experiente herpetólogo, em comunicação pessoal:

"As far as safety goes, I never work with these snakes unless I am 100% focused and alert. I keep many elapids (including king cobras), bothrops, crotalines, etc. but nothing strikes more concern in me than these bushmasters. I fully know that a bite could end my life which is why when I work with the bushmasters, I don't work with any other snake that day....I want to make sure that I am ready, focused, relaxed and ready for anything. So far, I have found the bushmasters to be amazingly calm and wonderful animals, however, I also have experienced first hand the full wrath of this species.... Even a 16' king cobra coming full steam at me didn't scare me as much as a 8' bushmaster in full "I want to kill you" mode did a year ago. It made me completely re-think my strategies and safety procedures when working with them. But, for the most part, they have been very easy going and I think staying calm, deliberate and keeping movements slow and always working on the bushmaster's terms is the best course of action"


'NEM MESMO O ATAQUE A TODA FORÇA DE UMA KING COBRA DE 5 METROS ME ASSUSTOU TANTO QUANTO A AVANÇADA QUE LEVEI DE UMA SURUCUCU DE 2,40 METROS, A UM ANO' .... 'ESSE EVENTO ME FEZ REPENSAR COMPLETAMENTE MEUS PROCEDIMENTOS DE SEGURANÇA' ... 'VOCÊ TRABALHA COM SURUCUCUS NOS TERMOS DELAS, E NÃO NOS SEUS' ...



Leia também:

http://lachesisbrasil.blogspot.com.br/2011/08/em-memoria-de-emanuele-gallmann.html