The Taipans’ Friend

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31119, 23 July 1966, Page 12

The Taipans’ Friend

(Australian News and Information Bureau) GNAKES, including ° the deadly taipan, hold no terror for the Australian naturalist David Howells Fleay. Though he is an acknowledged authority on birds and animals in general, he is specially known for his rare understanding and ability to handle snakes, including the most deadly types. He averages 1000 letters a week from overseas mainly seeking information about snakes and marsupials. He receives much mail from Japan, the United States, Germany and Britain at his fauna reserve, West Burleigh, in Queensland. The letters from young and old, experts and non-experts, seek general information about animals and specially about Mr Fleay’s unusual experiments with snakes. He has bred 19 taipans (nine of which went to the San Diego Zoo, California, and three to Sydney) and in 1950 became the first man known to milk a taipan for antivenene purposes. His work has enabled a life history of

the taipan to be compiled. This has attracted wide interest.

Mr Fleay does not hesitate to take out a taipan to have photographs taken; but he insists on safety precautions. “They are very temperamental and we have to be very careful with them,” he said. Visitors claim that Mr Fleay has a magic touch with all animals, and specially with snakes. His 65-acre Queensland reserve has attracted visitors from far and wide; they include Julian Huxley, Gerald Durrell, J. B. Priestly, the Duke of Bedford and Armand Denis. Television producers from Japan, the United States, Britain, Belgium and France have made documentaries at the reserve. These have attracted much favourable comment—and brought more mail for Mr Fleay. “You know,” he said, “when you have been with animals for a while you fed glad they are here. With the trees and shrubs, they make everything really worth while and help one retain a sense of humour." Mr Fleay has been interested In and associated with animals most of his life. Born in 1907, he had an early love of wildlife and the Australian bush but his career began as

a school teacher; until 1934 when he was chosen to design, establish and direct an Australian section as part of Melbourne’s centenary commemoration. In 1940 he became director of the 78-acre Sir Colin Mackenzie Sanctuary at Healesville, Victoria. He made this sanctuary known in all parts of the world. Three Books Mr Fleay’s activities have included studying the life history of more than 79 species of Australian birds, mammals and reptiles. He has written three books—two on the platypus—scores of articles for leading international journals and has lectured widely in Australia and overseas. His busy daily life begins at 6 a.m. with the free and captive animals at the Queensland reserve. The animals there Include emu chicks, Tasmanian possums, wombats, pwln, koalas, kangaroos, scrub turkeys, tiie Tasmanian brushtail and a large collection of snakes. There la also a 100-year-old tortoise. Money for the reserve comes from entrance fees paid by visitors. Snake venom is another source of Income. The scenic forested reserve almost on the Pacific coast, is a popular tourist attraction.