Whether you like the guy or not....it's showmanship, which is what he's paid to do....bring in TV ratings. I dont think he gives herpers a bad name. His documentiaries are entertaining and informative which are dramatised to appeal to far greater audience, 'non- herpers' , who would otherwise be disinterested...
Austin Stevens who is sixty years old, has owned and managed three successful game parks in Africa, spending a life time working with big game on a daily basis...He lives in the scrub in Mamibia, has no wife, kids or present family...He has been attacked by large game on many occasions....like when his Landrover was charged and rolled over by a elephant,... the elephant scalped him....hes living it, getting paid to do what he loves, for how long, who knows?
When working with elapids you'll have to handle them sooner or later, accidients happen, miss the bin?, whatever?... When working on films you have to free handle them,... the better at being handled, the better the set-up...
When filming in Oz, with a mate of mine, one shoot required a day of 'film-takes', handling tiapans in a burning canefield...to the point all involved received blisters from the heat...hot day, hot tiapans, who's going to do it?....he proved more then capiable.... interesting to note that his contract allows him to be filmed until dead?, if he's bitten. The Oz episode was aired in America this week. Lets not let SHOWMENSHIP, be confused with ones experience, as a herper with a life time of working with elapids most of which i can only dream of....somes got to do it, someone who can.
