Curator has reptilean tastes

Press, 28 November 1984, Page 26

Curator has reptilean tastes

NZPA-AP Philadelphia Don’t bother John Grove with talk of dogs being man’s best friend. The curator of reptiles at the Philadelphia Zoo thinks canines are much more of a menace than his cobras, pythons, vipers, gila monsters, lizards, and alligators. “I do not like dogs. I will cross the street just to avoid a dog,” said Mr Groves, aged 36, who. was bitten 23 times as a paper boy. “Give me a crocodile any day. I can handle them.” Mr Groves is guardian of about 500 creatures at America’s oldest zoo. According to a survey made a few years ago, his reptile house ranked as the zoo’s least favourite exhibit. It was also the place where people spent most of their time, said a zoo spokeswoman, Jeanne Segal. Fear is part of the attraction. Mixing fascination with revulsion, visitors to the reptile house are similar to fans of horror movies or

haunted houses. They utter spontaneous cries of “gross” or “disgusting” while keeping their noses pressed against the glass cages. Mr Groves does not agree with them. His work with the creatures runs in the family. His father is a curator of reptiles at the Baltimore Zoo.