Weekly Photo Challenge: Hands

Every Friday, the fine folk over at The Daily Post issue a weekly photo challenge. This weeks challenge is Hands. 

Hands.  Hands can be instrumental in a photo – they emphasis, they hide, they reveal. They can be the star of the show, or just a prop to help the main attraction stand out better.

This Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia Spilota McDowelli) was bought to me for care after the locals noted that it was looking a bit sluggish. He had a heavy intestinal parasite load and was showing some signs of possible cane toad poisoning. He was in care for a few weeks recovering from what struck him down. He was not released until he was eating normally and displaying normal range of behaviours. Examination and treatment of a snake like this is not possible until you put your hands on the animal. (Yes, that’s me holding the head)

This  Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia Spilota McDowelli) hatchling was bought to me when it was found because of its unusual colouration. It is the same species as above but lacks the black pigmentation. This is a natural colouration morph for this species but it is rare. This little fellow was released into the wild to make his own way in life. Hopefully he makes it! (Yup, that’s my hand again)

This time it’s not my hand but I took the photo. This is a highly venomous Rough-scaled Snake (Tropidechis carinatus) that is being examined after being cut free of chicken wire. It had become stuck while moving through its territory and would have died without our intervention to free it. You can see the fangs clearly in this photo, but they are being covered by a membrane to protect them. That hand belongs to my snake buddy, Tony and is one of the steadiest hands in the business.

Lastly but surely, this is a tiny baby Grey-headed Flying-Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) that I hand raised after she was separated from her mother. There is something very powerful about this imagery for me – her life was literally in my hands. Luckily, this girl grew up to be a happy and healthy adult and was released into the wild to help secure local populations of this endangered species.

For my regular readers, the photo on my foodies blog Rhianna’s Guide to Ethical Eating is different from the post here!

Related articles

• Weekly Photo Challenge: Hands (dailypost.wordpress.com)
• Flying Foxes (envirorhi.wordpress.com)
• Weekly Photo Challenge: Together (envirorhi.wordpress.com)
• Weekly Photo Challenge: Blue (envirorhi.wordpress.com)
• Weekly Photo Challenge: Unfocused (mizrhi.wordpress.com)
• Weekly Photo Challenge: Unfocused (envirorhi.wordpress.com)
• Weekly Photo Challenge: Sun (envirorhi.wordpress.com)
• Weekly Wildlife Profile: Red Belly Black Snake (envirorhi.wordpress.com)

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