AAL inspections again
As local authorities resume conducting inspections for Animal Activities Licencing we’re hearing reports of inspectors imposing conditions which are clearly outside the scope of the licence guidelines. If you find yourself in such a situation regarding the reptiles in your store, please contact Chris Newman on 07897 692060 for guidance and assistance.
Magic numbers
You might remember the story in this column in September’s issue of PBW, detailing Hadlow College student Monty Jackson’s research to estimate the number of reptiles kept in the UK. His study arrived at a figure of around 8.7 million, which is remarkably close to REPTA’s estimation of eight million, which was arrived at through a vastly different methodology.
To date, these have been the most accurate figures we have had to work with, but now there’s a new research survey being conducted online to collect data about the numbers and types of reptiles and amphibians kept by hobbyists.
The study, organised by the Federation of Herpetologists (FBH) and the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA), will produce the most accurate data we have ever had. The results will help to support the responsible keeping and sale of reptiles in the UK, and indeed further afield. From a trade perspective, it would be enormously useful if you could somehow share the link and encourage your customers to fill in the survey.
Send keepers to https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/D7JTHHG or Google ‘SurveyMonkey Reptiles’ to take part in the survey. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Tony Phelps obituary
I was saddened to hear about the death of Tony Phelps, one of the founder members of the International Herpetological Society and one of the most dedicated herpetologists I’ve ever known. I only met Tony a handful of times in the late 80s and early 90s when he would visit the reptile shop where I worked. I remember the build-up being as if royalty was visiting and I was certainly in awe to meet the author of one of the first reptile books I ever read. Most of us old farts had a copy of Tony’s Poisonous Snakes. I wish I still had mine.
Tony left to work in South Africa many years ago and I hadn’t seen or spoken to him for decades. I doubt Tony would remember the spotty kid with braces and long hair from the days when he visited the shop, but I sure remember the effect he had on me.
RIP Tony, and thanks for fuelling my lifelong passion for reptiles.
And finally, thanks Karen
I realise this isn’t directly related to reptiles, but it sort-of is. I wouldn’t be writing this column, or indeed writing for a living, if it wasn’t for the former publisher and editor of this magazine. Karen retired as publisher of PBW magazine last month, and I for one will greatly miss her. Back when I was starting out as an eager, but not particularly good, new writer, Karen had enough faith in me to edit and publish my work and spent lots of time coaching and advising me on how to do it better.
Without Karen’s advice I have no doubt that I would have failed in my efforts to be a professional writer.
Thanks Karen. Enjoy your retirement
