Save Our Sungazers Campaign - Page 2 - CaptiveBred Reptile Forums, Reptile Classified, Forum

CokaCola · #11 (**permalink**) 20-09-2011, 07:25 PM

I can see it now "The World Sungazer Foundation" - you could set it up as a proper charity, then you'd be able to take advantage of charitable grants/lottery grants etc etc

Podarcis · #12 (**permalink**) 09-11-2011, 01:01 PM

Hi Fraser,

I welcome this effort, but what will be the 'end state'? Reintroductions or a larger captive stock. Would it be worth getting in touch with organisations in S Africa (?) who might be working to preserve the habitat? You may find it easier to garner support with a clear set of quatifiable objectives.Apologies if you've already considered this!

FionaB · #13 (**permalink**) 19-08-2012, 11:38 AM

how has this moved on if any, did you look into charitable status Fraser?

Scottish Sungazer · #14 (**permalink**) 10-09-2012, 08:39 PM

Sorry, just seen this reply Fiona.

I do agree that becoming a charity has many advantages, not least adding some crediability to the cause, but there are also several other factors which I have to be realistic about and need taken into consideration - not least producing annual accounts. Not because I am avaisive in terms of declaring any donations but because I simply don't have time to commit to this sort of responsability. Like many people on here, animals, in one form or another, are a huge part of my life and do take up much of my spare time. Neither my wife or daughter share my passion, enthusiasm or dreams but never the less they have always been very supportive of me. I feel it would be wrong of me to divert even more of my attention away from them, attention that running a charity would most definately involve, require and deserve.

Short term, my goals for the project were:

To get the www.smauggiganteus.com and www.saveoursungazers.com web sites up and running. This would, I hope, provide some sort of crediability to the project. Both sites are currently being built and will be 'live' within a month or two.

Secondly, my aim is to instal environmental data loggers in prime Sungazer habitat. I firmly believe that one of the main stimuli to breeding in captivity is proper seasonal environmental fluctuations.

I have just purchased 16 environmental data loggers along with all the software to upload and download information to the PC - these were not cheap and came from my own pocket. Looking ahead, I have gained permission from three land owners in South Africa, who have a number of Sungazers on their land, to set aside small areas for me to conduct this research for a full year. I have also had the promise of assistance from a reptile vet and the offer of material and transport from one of the leading universities in South Africa.

I am in the process of applying for several small grant's, with the help of a friend, which if accepted will allow me to actually get over to South Africa to instal these loggers and thus complete these short term goals.

As a side note - after recent events, the decission to 'go it alone' has become more and more attractive to me. There seems to be an ever increasing number of people keen to take a pot shot at those individuals who are actually trying to make a difference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FionaB

how has this moved on if any, did you look into charitable status Fraser?

Scottish Sungazer · #15 (**permalink**) 10-09-2012, 09:07 PM

Sorry, just seen this reply.

The end result, or at least one of the major benefits, will be a greater understanding of the environmental requirements of this species. I firmly believe that the stimuli to breeding in captivity, is directly linked to these seasonal climatic changes. We are at a crossroads, either we identify the stimuli to breeding this species NOW. Or we question whether it is ethical to keep it in captivity at all. As the numbers of Tigers and Panda's slowly increase through captive breeding efforts, the numbers of Sungazers slowly decreases - this simply isn't sustainable.

I am in constant contact with several different people actively working 'on the ground' in a farming, conservation, scientific, governmental and hobbyist capacity. In reality, there are several organisations working either directly or indirectly with the conservation of Sungazer habitat. The problem is they tend to work in isolation and rarely communicate. I hope that my web site can bring these organisations together and will help them identify and strive for common goals. I have to be diplomatic, yet persuasive, here as it would be wrong for me to preach to them from my PC thousands of miles away what they should and should not be doing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Podarcis

Hi Fraser,

I welcome this effort, but what will be the 'end state'? Reintroductions or a larger captive stock. Would it be worth getting in touch with organisations in S Africa (?) who might be working to preserve the habitat? You may find it easier to garner support with a clear set of quatifiable objectives.Apologies if you've already considered this!

FionaB · #16 (**permalink**) 10-09-2012, 10:43 PM

all sounds really good remember and try the lottery - my dad got a lottery grant and spent 3 months in Beijing at the Hospital for Chinese medicine so its not impossible!

Scottish Sungazer · #17 (**permalink**) 15-11-2012, 07:55 PM

Well, the Save Our Sungazers Campaign has finally entered the 21st century and joined Facebook!! Woooohooooo...

Follow me on Facebook by searching for 'Save Our Sungazers Campaign' - As my daughter teachs me how it all works I hope to add more information on events past and future along with some pictures as time allows.

In other news - the www.smauggiganteus.com web site is only a few weeks away from being published.

Scottish Sungazer · #18 (**permalink**) 30-11-2012, 12:16 PM

20 'likes' so far on my facebook page. Woop Woop!!

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