Ball Python on Today show....

Did anyone else see the today show today? They had someone from Animal Planet who had a ball python among other animals. She went on to explain that they can get to over 20ft. I gave her the benefit of the doubt thinking maybe she meant pythons in general.....but no. One of the hosts asked if this was one of the pythons that get to over 20ft and she said yes! One would think that if one were going on national television to show and give brief info on animals that one would at least give proper info. My gf and I just laughed as she asked me "wasnt that a ball python?". Gotta love it :rolleye2:

The problem is now millions of families think the Ball Python their kid owes or was going to get will get huge and eat the family dog (see other news article). These are the same families that will tell the Trade Commission that Pythons needed to be banned.

Stupid People...needless to say I am sending both the Today show and Animal Planet an email on this error. :mad:

The person was Dr. Salva Douglas Hamilton. The snake was from the Columbus Zoo.
I even rewound the DVR to lesten to it again.
Host: "does this stay small because it's one of the African ones?"
Dr.: "no it gets huge, up to 20ft"

Egad, is it Reptile Ignorance Week or something? Because I missed the memo.

Check your spam folder for the memo, thats where I found mine.

Her name is Saba Dougles Hamilton.

Here is the link to the video:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540...89511#23389511

It appears around 2:00 into the video.

Jeez~ she wants to dispel myths about rhinos and yet feels no compunction in propagating myths about ball pythons... :weirdface

that just chaps my arse.

Oh my, I swear I heard her go, "It could be a boa constrictor." Listen in the background after she hands it off to the hosts.

What Columbus Zoo? I just called our zoo and they said they do not have a Dr. Hamilton who works there.

I emailed the Today show and Dr. Hamilton through her email address via her website.

jo@josarsby.com

today@nbcuni.com

She should stick to Rhinos

Did anyone else hear the boa constrictor comment? Or am I crazy?

**snaps fingers** no sound at work!!! this is totally crazy (for lack of better words) seriously, are there that many uneducated people out there "informing" the public? its no wonder people are so afraid

Someone should email the today show and tell them that there reptile expert doesnt know S#%t





Oops a bit late on this one

If you want to call Animal Planet to complain, the number is 240-662-2000.
I am just disgusted! :mad:

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Originally Posted by ama1997

Someone should email the today show and tell them that there reptile expert doesnt know S#%t





Oops a bit late on this one

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You got both email addresses above, why not send one yourself?

In the video one of the host kept saying isnt this an african one that stays small. Funny how the T.V. host knows more about the animals than the expert.

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Originally Posted by ama1997

In the video one of the host kept saying isnt this an african one that stays small. Funny how the T.V. host knows more about the animals than the expert.

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Pretty sad IMO.... :mad:

It is also possible that the Dr thought it was an African Rock Python. She's no herp doctor.

I couldn't see the video because my connection is so slow....but if she really was talking about a ball python.:taz::rage:

Makes me sooooo mad. Idiots! The Today Show needs to do a retraction, especially with that proposed ban legislation going around. I'm going to try and look at the video on a break at work today.

Here is the response I have received from Saba Douglas-Hamilton:
"Dear Madam,

You are right that I have misrepresented Python regius, and I'd like to offer you my sincere apology. I was informed I would be handling an African Rock Python, and only saw the snake for the first time when it was put into my hands during the show. It was only after I came off stage that I realised my mistake.

I am a great lover of snakes but am no herpetologist. My expertise lies with mammals. Unfortunately one is required to handle four animals on the Today show within one's short segment whether they have relevance to your show or not, and no matter if they are out of your area of expertise. Whilst I collected rock pythons as a child I have not before come into contact with a ball python. It was an honest mistake and I should have been properly informed of the snake species by the organisers before we were live on air.

All the best,

Ms. Douglas-Hamilton"

Sounds like a very sincere thing..

Understandable.....BUT....so she should have said "my expertise is mammals not snakes." I am not sure how big it gets"
!!!!!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by starmom

Here is the response I have received from Saba Douglas-Hamilton:
"Dear Madam,

You are right that I have misrepresented Python regius, and I'd like to offer you my sincere apology. I was informed I would be handling an African Rock Python, and only saw the snake for the first time when it was put into my hands during the show. It was only after I came off stage that I realised my mistake.

I am a great lover of snakes but am no herpetologist. My expertise lies with mammals. Unfortunately one is required to handle four animals on the Today show within one's short segment whether they have relevance to your show or not, and no matter if they are out of your area of expertise. Whilst I collected rock pythons as a child I have not before come into contact with a ball python. It was an honest mistake and I should have been properly informed of the snake species by the organisers before we were live on air.

All the best,

Ms. Douglas-Hamilton"

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Wow! The good doctor now has my respect.

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Sounds like a very sincere thing..

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I agree. Sadly, she did not mention how she or the show was going to remedy the error for the sake of accuracy. All of us err, it is what we do after the error that speaks to one's content of character...imho...

Well if that's the case then I am still puzzled as to her "It might be a boa constrictor" comment. Maybe she realized it wasn't an afrock and was grasping at straws?

here is my reply i got from her

Dear Mike

You are quite right. Unfortunately the first time I got to see the
python was on stage after having been told that I would have an
African Rock python (with which I am more familiar). It was only
after the show that I realised my mistake. I believe that I said
"pythons can grow up to 20ft".

Apologies.

Saba

Both of these replies should be forwarded to the Today show producers requesting a retraction and correction on their next airing. Clearly they messed up by not doing their proper research and the public deserves to know the truth.

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

Both of these replies should be forwarded to the Today show producers requesting a retraction and correction on their next airing. Clearly they messed up by not doing their proper research and the public deserves to know the truth.

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Saba also has culpability in this scenario. It was her responsibility to say something to the effect of: "Wait! This isn't a rock python!" There are plenty of errors to go around; someone ought to say something; maybe a segment solely about the Python regius....

Ok I just caught something

Quote:

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Whilst I collected rock pythons as a child I have not before come into contact with a ball python.

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And yet it was only after the show she relized that this wasn't the snake she is use to dealing with????? I smell fish

Smells to me too. You mean to tell me miss african wildlife expert has NEVER come across a BP? I find it kind of strange.

And I still SWEAR she said something about it being a boa constrictor, but seeing as no one else did I must be losing it.

Well ball pythons are a very localize species of Africa so it is quite possible that she had never seen one before. I live in Mississippi and have never see a wild Northern water snake. Now would I mistake it for a species of snake I kept as a child doubt full besides did she do any research on what they told her she would be dealing with??

I jsut think she messed up and is trying to keep form looking ignorant.

I watched that segment twice from the posted link and I heard her say something about a boa constrictor too. So no you're not crazy spix14.;)

I too think she should have said something on the air about not being familiar with a ball python. Instead of repeating what she thought was correct only to realize that she made a mistake afterwards. And I am not sure how you would make a mistake about that anyway. Being just opposite of her, if someone handed me a scrub python (which I have only seen pictures of) I would know right away that it was not a BP.

Thats so bad. I hope she is better informed about Rhinos!!!

Hopefully the Today show will air a retraction in this case. I had to go back on the DVR a couple of times to make sure I was not crazy or hearing things.
Oh, and it appears that I goofed her first name in the original post...my bad. They didnt put it up on the screen and it was hard to understand.

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Originally Posted by waltah!

Hopefully the Today show will air a retraction in this case. I had to go back on the DVR a couple of times to make sure I was not crazy or hearing things.
Oh, and it appears that I goofed her first name in the original post...my bad. They didnt put it up on the screen and it was hard to understand.

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Thank you for bringing it to our attention. I am never up at that hour, so things that happen are forever forgotten.:8:

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Originally Posted by spix14

Smells to me too. You mean to tell me miss african wildlife expert has NEVER come across a BP? I find it kind of strange.

And I still SWEAR she said something about it being a boa constrictor, but seeing as no one else did I must be losing it.

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I will watch this video once I am at home.

but...

Lol, how is that username even allowed to be on this message board? Spix14? Maybe i'm the only one who gets it, living in Texas.

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Originally Posted by Skoalbasher

I will watch this video once I am at home.

but...

Lol, how is that username even allowed to be on this message board? Spix14? Maybe i'm the only one who gets it, living in Texas.

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Freakie Frog could be a crazy french person also. Even Skoalbasher could be derogatory if you want it to be. I don't like chewing tobacco or busting skulls!

But I would give people the benefit of the doubt.

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Originally Posted by Brimstone111888

Freakie Frog could be a crazy french person also.

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and he is :rolleye2::rolleye2::rolleye2:

Well, unless the Today show does a retraction, the damage is done. Hundreds of thousands more people are even more uninformed/misinformed than before.
And quite frankly, I don't believe that "I'm used to rock pythons" bull. If she was, she would be able to tell it was not a Rock.

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Originally Posted by Brimstone111888

Freakie Frog could be a crazy french person also. Even Skoalbasher could be derogatory if you want it to be. I don't like chewing tobacco or busting skulls!

But I would give people the benefit of the doubt.

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Just because you don't like something doesn't mean it's derogatory. :rolleye2:

I mean if I don't like scary movies (example), just because they make 'em doesn't mean they are puttin' me down. I was just making a comment. I don't mind, just found it odd. :8:


On Topic: I can't belive they would put something like this on the air. ESPECIALLY with all the other crap going on.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Skoalbasher

Just because you don't like something doesn't mean it's derogatory. :rolleye2:

I mean if I don't like scary movies (example), just because they make 'em doesn't mean they are puttin' me down. I was just making a comment. I don't mind, just found it odd. :8:


On Topic: I can't belive they would put something like this on the air. ESPECIALLY with all the other crap going on.

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I'm telling you that chewing tobacco is putting me down
:P

Once I get home from work tonight I'm going to be doing three things.. Watching the video, sending 1 email to animal planet, 1 to the today show, 1 to the bumbling Dr.

Now I just need to work out the best way to word it that's not insulting!

Wow yeah this lady is some expert... NOT! Even I can tell the difference between a rock python and a bp, and I have only had snakes for a few months. C'mon now! And yeah I heard the boa thing too, she said something like " This could be a boa constrictor too". I say just stick to rhinos lady!:colbert:

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Originally Posted by Skoalbasher

I will watch this video once I am at home.

but...

Lol, how is that username even allowed to be on this message board? Spix14? Maybe i'm the only one who gets it, living in Texas.

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It's not what you think it is. I've already addressed this with an admin, but it is from the name of an endangered parrot, the Spix Macaw. Then 14 is my lucky number. I started using this sn after getting sick and tired of seeing "that username has already been taken" everywhere.

I'm not ashamed to admit that her accent has made it easier for me to forgiver her for her mistakes! She could have been reading the phone book for all I care and I probably would have hung on the edge of my seat waiting for the next listing.

But in all seriousness, I have to go separate my "breeding pairs"...........this whole time, I thought that they were all adults. Little did I know that these things top out at 20' :)

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Originally Posted by jonf

...But in all seriousness, I have to go separate my "breeding pairs"...........this whole time, I thought that they were all adults. Little did I know that these things top out at 20' :)

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:rofl: Yeah, I gotta ask Rich to make me some custom cages ASAP!!! :rofl:

I am so overwhelmed by the idiocy of this error. It is not proper of her to pass it off on the station nor the station on her. They are both at fault.

I must need to get medicated - I am starting to get SOOOOOO DEPRESSED with this sort of crap in the news. They are ignorance breeders - and their ignorance CAN and DOES get up over 20'.

Just my :2cent:.

Let's stick to Snake Bytes TV and Reptile Radio for the real deal.

i get why everyone is upset but let me just say this...i have been a brewer for over 5 years. i often give tours of our facility and "teach" others how to give tours and answer questions. its okay to not know something and say "i dont know." what i tell the rookies when they are all nervous about giving tours is that the "beer geeks" who know how beer is made KNOW what they are looking at. they just want to see where we make our beer. the people who dont really know the really technical aspects of making beer for the most part really dont care. the just want to see where we make our beer.

so what i took so long to say is that as WE know and love our snakes and KNOW a ball python doesnt grow to 20 feet because we are interested in learning about them. the people who dont know probably dont care that she made that mistake. i'm quite sure that nobody tuned in to that show to get there daily dose of reptile education. that being said, the ones who are upset about this (me included) know the mistake. the ones who dont know, really dont care.