Mark O Shea BSc., Hon. DSc., FRGS, FLS Herpetologist, Zoologist, Photographer, Author, TV Presenter Research Fellow, Australian Venom Research Unit, University of Melbourne Recipient of the Millennium Award for Services to Exploration (Zoology) from the Explorers' Club of New York (British Chapter) TELEVISION o Mark O'Shea has presented almost 40 adventurous natural history documentaries between 1997 2007 (including 34 films in four series of O Shea s Big Adventure 1999 2003) for Animal Planet, Discovery, Channel 4, ITV Central. o Presenter or Primary Contributor: Odyssey: Maracá Rainforest Project (1987) 15mins Channel 4 Brazil Into the Unknown: Giant Snake (1996) 30mins YTV for Discovery Channel Venezuela Black Mamba (1997) 55mins YTV for Discovery Channel & Channel 4 South Africa Serious Desert (episode 1) (1997) 30mins BBC O Shea s Big Adventure Series 1: The Americas. 13x 30mins YTV for Animal Planet, Discovery Channel & Channel 4 Ox Killer (1999) Brazil Lost World (1999) Brazil Into Patagonia (1999) Argentina Back from the Brink (1999) USA Swamp Dinosaur (1999) USA Nemesis (1999) USA Monsters of the Madre (1999) USA & Mexico Silent Rattler (1999) Mexico Jewel of the Jungle (1999) Costa Rica Exotic Island (1999) Trinidad Amazon Anaconda (1999) Brazil Back to the Jungle (1999) Guyana River Giant (1999) Guyana
O Shea s Big Adventure Series 2: Australasia & Pacific.13x 30mins YAP Films for Animal Planet, Discovery Channel & Channel 4 On the Edge (2000) Australia The Pilbara Cobra (2000) Australia After the Flood (2000) Australia Green Blood (2000) PNG Tree Crocodile (2000) PNG Magic Man (2000) PNG Devil in the Trees (2000) New Caledonia Snake Invasion (2000) Guam & Saipan Sea Serpents (2000) Australia Feast of the Snakes (2001) Australia Flying Dragon (2001) Philippines Flesh Eaters (2001) Indonesia Return of the Reptiles (2001) Indonesia O Shea s Big Adventure Series 3: South & Southeast Asia. 4x 55mins YAP Films for Discovery & Channel 4 The Cobra s Revenge (2002) India In the Python s Grip (2002) India Siamese Crocodile (2002) Thailand Venom (2002) Sri Lanka O Shea s Big Adventure Series 4: Africa & S.America. 4x 55mins YAP Films for Animal Planet & Discovery Channel Crocodile Canyon (2003) Mauritania & Senegal Spitting Cobra (2003) South Africa Water Cobra (2003) Zambia & Tanzania Amazon Snake Mystery (2003) Peru Animal 24/7 (2006) True North for BBC in UK Saving Planet Earth (2006) True North for BBC in UK Springwatch (2006) BBC in UK Safari Park Series 2: 8x 30mins Kingfisher Films for ITV Central (RTS award winning series) Episode 7 (2007) UK Episode 8 (2007) Namibia Inside Out: Dangerous Pets (2009) 15mins BBC in UK & Holland o Prior to working front of camera spent over ten years working with production companies as consultant herpetologist and expert reptile handler for BBC, Discovery and National Geographic. Worked in UK studios but also on location in southern England, Brazil, Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea.
o Consultant, Contributor and/or Reptile provider and handler (incomplete list): The Natural World: The Serpent s Embrace (1986) 55mins BBC The Natural World: New Guinea: An Island Apart (1990) 2x 55mins BBC on location in PNG Nightmares of Nature (1995) 5x30mins Zebra Films for BBC & National Geographic Hallow een (1995) 52mins Discovery Channel Cobra: King of Snakes (1996) 55mins Partridge Films for Discovery on location in Sri Lanka The Ultimate Guide to Snakes (1997) 52mins Partridge Films for Discovery Paleoworld: The Evolution of Snakes (1997) 52mins Wall to Wall for Discovery Incredible Journeys: A Rattlesnake s Tale (1997) 52mins BBC Land of the Tiger: The Tiger s Domain (1997) 52mins (1997) BBC TESTIMONIAL BY PROF DAVID WARRELL "Mark has extensive knowledge of snakes, other reptiles and amphibians throughout the world and especially in all the tropical continents. Unlike most herpetologists, his interest and experience is global rather than being confined to one country. He and I share a special interest in venomous snakes and he has helped the Oxford Tropical Medicine Programme s research projects in PNG and Sri Lanka and has co-authored publications. "His understanding of venoms and their clinical effects is superior to that of many medically qualified clinical toxinologists, as revealed by many insights and much wisdom in his books. He knows better than most people (based on personal experience) the dangers of venomous snake bites, how they are best prevented and the best course of action should they occur. He is a world expert at captive reptile husbandry. His reputation is very high in herpetological and toxinological circles and among the large constituency of amateur herps enthusiasts internationally. "Mark is a world famous TV broadcaster and film maker on herpetological and conservation issues and effectively promoted the cause of rural snake bite victims. He is a charismatic and very popular presenter, lecturer and teacher." Prof David A Warrell
BACKGROUND From Enthusiastic Herpetoculturist to Respected Professional Herpetologist: Handled his first snake aged eight, now almost five decades experience with reptiles in captivity, 35 years experience in the field, and 25 years experience with venomous snakes and crocodilians. Curator of Reptiles at West Midland Safari Park 1987 2000, Consultant Curator of Reptiles 2000 present. In 2009 the Reptile House at West Midland Safari Park was re branded as Mark O Shea s Reptile World, the collection plan being that it exhibited species associated with his field research or film trips: king cobras, green anacondas, Papuan taipan, Cuban crocodiles etc. First UK captive breeding records for Aruba Island rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus unicolor) and Taylor s ornate cantil (Agkistrodon taylori). Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Linnean Society of London, Explorers Club of New York. Research Fellow of the Australian Venom Research Unit, University of Melbourne, Research Associate of the School of Applied Sciences (since 2006), University of Wolverhampton (since 2001), and National Museum of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby (since 1990). Recipient of a Christensen Research Fellowship for fieldwork in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea (1990). Former Chairman (1983 1986) and Past President of the International Herpetological Society (IHS) (2003 2006). Now an Honorary Life member. Member of major herpetological societies: British Herpetological Society (BHS) (since 1973), Society for the Study of Amphibians & Reptiles (SSAR), American Society of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists (ASIH), and Herpetologists League (HL) (all since 1980). Also Herpetological Association of Africa (HAA), Societas Europea Herpetologica (SEH), Scientific Exploration Society (SES) and others. Awarded an Honorary Doctor of Sciences degree by University of Wolverhampton in 2001 for contributions to herpetology. Awarded the Millennium Award for Services to Exploration (Zoology) by the British Chapter of the Explorers Club of New York in 2000. Member of UK Equity
EXPEDITIONS & FIELDWORK Field experience in over 30 countries on six continents (every continent except Antarctica) since 1980. Over 60 research expeditions and film and photographic trips completed, mostly to the Tropics. Herpetologist on the Scientific Directing Staff of Operation Raleigh on three expeditions to Honduras, Papua New Guinea and Cameroon (1985 1989). Herpetologist on the Royal Geographical Society Maracá Rainforest Project in the Territory of Roraima, northern Brazil, for seven months in 1987 1988. Documented 3x as many snakes as were previously known for the reserve. Herpetologist on the Oxford University/Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine snakebite project in Papua New Guinea from 1990 1994, working with medics in snakebite regions and capturing and extracting venom from medically important species. Biological Director on three Raleigh Executive and Discovery Expeditions to Nepal and Guyana (1991 1993). Continued the snakebite work in PNG as a Fellow of the Australian Venom Research Unit, University of Melbourne in 2006, 2008 and 2010. This work, capturing venomous snakes, extracting their venom, training Papuan staff has has led to the production of a new antivenom specifically for the Papuan taipan, the No.1 killer snake in the region. The new antivenom is 9x less expensive than the previous Australian product and effectively raises the financial glass ceiling for PNG s Department of Health, enabling them to purchase much more antivenom each year and save a great many more lives. Conducted herpetological surveys of reserves in Brazil, Namibia, Nepal and Cameroon. Conducted Environmental Impact Surveys in PNG, for a construction company planning to build a dock area in a mangrove swamp potentially inhabited by an endangered watersnake, and an oil company working in an area inhabited by a rare montane python. Conducted a dry season herpetofaunal survey of the Ongava Game Reserve in Namibia in 2007, waiting for funding to conduct the complimentary wet season survey. Deputy Leader of the Victor Valley College (California) Reptile and Amphibian Survey of Timor Leste (Asia s newest country) with seven phases completed since 2009 and 20 25 new species of reptiles to describe. This project is ongoing and has the personal support and interest of the former President (2008 2012, and 1996 Nobel Peace Prize recipient) José Ramos Horta and Prime Minster Xanana Gusmão. In addition considering projects in Southwestern USA, Greece, North Africa and French Guiana.
AUTHOR, PUBLIC SPEAKER, CONSULTANT & PHOTOGRAPHER Author of five books including the popular Venomous Snakes of the World, and Boas and Pythons of the World, and the definitive A Guide to the Snakes of Papua New Guinea. Also contribution author on many multi authored compilation volumes, on subjects as diverse as herpetofaunas, natural history of reptiles and amphibians, endangered species and snakebite. Author and co author of over 100 popular articles and scientific papers including work on captive husbandry, conservation, natural history, and snakebite and toxinology. Numerous important herpetological discoveries in Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, Brazil, Honduras etc. Many important discoveries were made during filming of OBA resulting in scientific papers, including a new dwarf python for PNG (Tree Crocodile) and the northern most population of reticulated pythons in the world (Flying Dragon). Photographer specializing in reptiles, amphibians and large venomous invertebrates with approximately 2,000 species photographed and photographs in many books and other publications. Public speaker with almost 40 years experience, ranging from Arts & Literary Societies to military and academic audiences. Presented four times at Royal Geographical Society, spoken at Zoological Society of London and was the plenary speaker at the 150 th Anniversary of the Illinois Natural History Survey at Champaign Urbana in 2005. At WMSP conducts three Reptile Encounters to the public a day on subjects ranging from giant snakes to snakebite. No longer includes live reptiles in talks outside WMSP. Highly respected across the diverse herpetological (academic) and herpetocultural (reptile keepers) worlds with advice being sought on a daily basis. On Facebook hit the 5,000 friends glass ceiling very quickly, entirely through friends requests from others. OTHER INFORMATION PADI trained open water diver. Patron of National Association of Bikers with a Disability (NABD) and Small Wood Association.
MARK O'SHEA'S AGENT David Foster Management Tel: 01264 771726 talent@dfmanagement.tv www.dfmanagement.tv