I decided to add this page for those people who are interested in what I’ve been doing, apart from running this web site and answering emails from people who are looking for help or advice. (Over 1,300 emails in 2002).

Probably the first thing I did which involved meeting like minded people and talking to the general public was at a reptile fair in Glenrothes..... I think it was in 1997, maybe ‘98.

I took some of my snakes and a laptop computer and spent all day running a slideshow of snake pictures and talking to people about the snakes I had with me. Going through setups, feeding, handling, all the stuff that newcomers want to know.

I wasn’t there to sell anything, just to talk to people who were interested and I loved it!  :o)

That was the beginning..........................

I then started helping out at Tropical Rainforest World by taking people round, showing them the animals and insects, talking about them and answering any questions.

I started Petsnakes in 2000, then started visiting people to see their setups, offer advice on ways to improve it and chat about various aspects of the hobby. This developed into doing talks and supervised handling sessions at pre-school groups, schools, youth clubs, shopping centres and day care centres for the elderly.

I also completed the Reptile Trust’s Foundation and Advanced courses.

Lanarkshire Television contacted me and asked if I would be interested in taking a couple of snakes on a live TV show to talk about them and answer some questions.

That was so successful that they invited me back every week for a regular slot. It was a great opportunity to positively promote exotic animals as something ‘interesting’ rather than ‘weird’.

That continued until the company closed down in November 2001.

I occasionally advise Edinburgh Butterfly & Insect World on their setups.

In September 2002 I was invited to help Andy Martin with talks and handling sessions at the TechFest in Aberdeen. That consisted of ten presentations over one weekend. It was ticket only and sold out (800 people in two days).

I have also advised Camperdown Wildlife Centre in Dundee on setups and husbandry for various snakes, lizards, spiders, tortoises and turtles.

In January 2003 I presented two talks at the EVZS (Edinburgh Veterinary Zoological Society) conference at Edinburgh Veterinary College.

In February 2003 I presented a talk on reptiles and other exotic pets at the GUVS (Glasgow University Veterinary Society) Symposium.

I was also involved in the initial setting up of the Scottish Exotic Animal Society.

In October 2004 I did a small bit of filming for UKTV where I took a Royal Python, spoke briefly about it and wished everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This was shown across the 9 UKTV channels on the run up to Christmas and the New Year. Hopefully it will let the general public see that snakes can be very docile and actually quite cute. Especially if the snake is called Colin. ;o)

In December 2004 I advised Edinburgh District Council on various aspects of snake behaviour.

In March 2005 Scottish Television contacted me. As a result of this I provided Emperor Scorpions and Hingeback Tortoises for filming on ‘How 2’.

Never a dull moment.   ;o)

Jim Lind