Welcome, although care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this site, the writer takes no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information contained herein and it shall at all times remain the responsibility of the reader to verify such information.

Leopard Tortoise with healed burns to her carapace
Twiggy, The one who started it all

Welcome to Dewsbury Crafts Site

Welcome to our unique site, which caters to both returning and new visitors!

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have shifted our focus to exotic species and are currently updating old data. However, we have encountered issues with images from 1997. What was deemed ‘high resolution’ then doesn’t qualify now and they are not great unfortunately. Our journey into reptile keeping began with Twiggy, a severely burned and emaciated Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis), who surprisingly laid eggs on her first night at the vet despite her poor health. We were inspired by her bravery and continued to rescue and treat other specimens until a brutal armed robbery forced us to give up our plot life.

My interest in reptiles started at a young age while growing up in Halfway House, now known as Midrand, South Africa. I took for granted the common presence of Rinkhals, Mole Snakes, Brown House Snakes, and Giant African Bullfrogs in our area. Looking back, I realize how fortunate I was to have experienced such wildlife in my own backyard. Few children have the opportunity to witness these species in the wild, let alone have Bullfrogs grow up in their dam. Although it may have been dangerous pulling tails, at least we were not glued to screens all day.

One of my major highlights was visiting the Transvaal Snake Park. Here I was able to observe a variety of African species and watch handlers demonstrate their skills. To this day, I believe that the park was an invaluable resource.

Our blog covers various topics related to reptiles and other animals. We wish to provoke thought and stimulate discussion, rather than imposing our views on others. We acknowledge that there are always multiple perspectives to consider.

Feedback is welcome and ideas. However we kindly request that you maintain a respectful attitude. If you notice any errors on our site, please notify us in a courteous manner.

All the text, maps, and photographs on this site are free to use. In return we request that you provide references, especially when using photographs. It’s the decent thing to do.

Ian

Articles

We would like to inform our readers that our website contains articles that express personal opinions and biases, either in full or in part. Other articles present different views for consideration by playing the devil’s advocate. You are free to use any information from these articles on your own website, but please remember to provide a link back to our website. If you plan to use the information for school projects or assignments, please be aware that some articles may contain errors, which we have addressed in the errata section with corrected data. It is crucial to use the correct information and give proper credit where necessary.

Moreover, some articles may be outdated as species may have been re-described since their publication. Even recent posts may quickly become outdated with re-descriptions. Therefore, we recommend that you check multiple sources. Occasionally, re-descriptions are not always accepted, resulting in the use of both new and old scientific names.

Our goal is to provide a wide range of articles on various topics, including controversial or thought-provoking viewpoints. Some may feature our methods of animal keeping, while others may contain experiences and insights from other people. While we recognize that there are many ways to maintain healthy animals, we encourage others to share their experiences and insights. We do not tolerate any belittlement or hostility towards others on our site or any other platform as it does not create a welcoming environment for beginners or those seeking help with animal care. We understand that everyone has their own opinions and views, and mistakes can happen, but it is essential to maintain a civil discourse.

Cape Eagle Owl on a glove being flown in Dullstroom at the raptor centre
Correct, I am not a reptile, but I prey on rodents as well. We do similar work in nature, I am just fortunately to be in the trees, be classified as the wise owl and have a nice cartoon record....therefore people like me more. Raptors can just stay further away from humans.