EP 14 - Neville "Croc" Burns - "A gift from the snake that bit him"

My next guest ,  Neville Burns was born with a love of wildlife and was fascinated by any wild creatures he came across.  First shown a Bluetongue lizard at the age of 5 by his father, Neville made up his mind to catch one. At 8 he caught his first snake, at 12 he received his first mildly venomous snake bite and it was the panicked reaction of adults that were present that inspired Neville to want to tell people the truth about snakes, particularly venomous ones. 

His insatiable passion would see adventurous travels through-out Australia encountering many snakes and meeting like-minded Herpetologists .

With over 60 years experience, Neville has built a reputation as ‘the best in the business’ as far as educating people about venomous snakes. 

Neville is by nature a storyteller endowed with a wry and quintessentially Australian sense of humour.  This trait has served him well when he presented shows in wildlife parks, educated attendees at reptile demonstrations or while lecturing students. 

Neville has appeared on television,  been a columnist for two reptile magazines, produced educational D.V.D.’s, is a published Author, and sought after speaker.

And Today he is with me on Life’s Rich Tapestry, 

 You will find out in this indepth interview --

That Neville was an Animal handler for the Skippy the Bush Kangaroo a popular TV show in the late 60s.

His adventurous spirit taking off to Far North Queensland at 16 years of age.

Brown snake that bit him on the 23 March 1969

Wing Chung and his up and coming book

How the popularity of Crocodile Dundee influenced his business

Questions about Snakes answered  –

 Why snakes like bat colonies ?

 Clarify between  Deadly VS Venomous Snakes? 

Do Snakes have personalities  -

How is antivenom produced ?

What is the procedure if you are bitten ? if you step on a snake

If bitten and survive do you become more resistant to the next bite or less resistant?

Snakes in the Blue Mountains compared to other places in Australia?  Elevation affect where snakes are, 

Why are there so many venomous snakes in Australia

The difference in Snakes in America 

Some snakes lay eggs or live snakes – what is the difference

What do snakes eat, diet?

Can snakes chase you, how fast do they travel?

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