00:00I think I've been bitten by an alligator snapping turtle once in my entire life because I was trying to take a picture of it but it was too close.
00:13Then all of a sudden, it bit me.
00:16So when I was bitten, it was bleeding because it was like a knife that had pressure.
00:21It took me maybe one week, one to two weeks to heal because it was up and down.
00:28It wasn't just one side that was cut.
00:30So when it was like that, one finger was bitten.
00:34It's a good thing that it wasn't cut.
00:35That's part of taking care of exotic pets or animals in general.
00:40Sometimes, we might get bitten.
00:43Maybe that's why it's my choice not to take care of venomous animals.
00:47The truth is, alligator snapping turtles won't attack if there are no threats around them.
00:54How can we avoid getting bitten?
00:57If it's a pet, make sure that you don't just approach it from the front
01:02because it might perceive your hand as food or a threat that it might snap.
01:09We think it's very slow, but it's fast when it snaps.
01:14After a long time, Uncle Jules learned the proper handling of alligator snapping turtles.
01:20This is the lower part of their shell.
01:23This is very safe because we can't reach the head and we can't reach their feet.
01:31Sometimes, we can do this.
01:33That's why when I get here, you can see that I can reach here.
01:37And we often get bitten here.
01:39In the wild, alligator snapping turtles usually live in the lakes and rivers of the southern United States.
01:47They have a lingual lure.
01:49Lingual lure is what they use to catch fish.
01:53It's an appendage on their fins that moves.
01:57When they see a fish, they can sense that it's a fish.
02:02While its mouth is open, its lingual lure moves.
02:07When it gets close to a fish, it catches it.
02:10It has its own fishing method.
02:13Now, let's go back to Uncle Jules.
02:16He also has a boa constrictor,
02:19green tree python,
02:21two ball python,
02:23leopard tortoise,
02:26sulcata tortoise,
02:28and two red-footed tortoise.
02:31Earlier, we saw our tortoises that were free roaming in our gardens.
02:36This alligator snapping turtle is only here in the pond.
02:40Most of their lives, they just live underwater.
02:43And they will only leave the water when they lay eggs.
02:47Classified as exotic pets are Uncle Jules' pets.
02:51To raise such an animal,
02:53you need to get a permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or DENR.
03:00Even though Uncle Jules' pets are mixed species,
03:03they all have their own turf or environment.
03:06That's why you can say, they all live in harmony.
03:13Sometimes, they even share food.
03:16Raising exotic pets is not only for personal pleasure,
03:21but also because it has a responsibility to nature.
03:25In raising this, when it grows bigger,
03:28it will have a greater impact on the environment.
03:32In raising this, when it grows bigger,
03:35you will reach the point where you need to level up.
03:44You connect with institutions that protect the species.
03:49By doing so, you not only help as a hobbyist where you enjoy,
03:55you also help in the conservation of the species.
04:02You help the species to thrive.
04:05You help the species to thrive.
04:08You help the species to thrive.
04:11You help the species to thrive.
04:14You help the species to thrive.
04:17You help the species to thrive.
04:20You help the species to thrive.
04:23You help the species to thrive.
04:26You help the species to thrive.
04:29You help the species to thrive.
04:31You help the species to thrive.
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