RIP the great Bill Haast

[Sylvias]

I just read on Brian Fry's facebook that Bill Haast has passed away. Celebrated his 100th birthday this year and to my knowledge was still active and healthy... I know 4 years prior he was still injecting venom....
For those who don't know Bill Haast is one of the GREATEST names in our hobby. He has contributed more to advancing our hobby than most of us can even hope to. He was the first one to experiment with self envenomation and his research and work with venomous snakes is priceless to our hobby. He suffered, and lived through... at least 112 venomous bites....
''I could become a poster boy for the benefits of venom. If I live to be 100 I'll really make the point.''
Well he made it, taught the world a lot.
and he will be missed.
Rest in Peace, Bill Haast.

[Kronos]

Thanks for posting this.  Funny thing, I was actually just thinking about Bill recently.......Just finished reading The Snake Charmer about Joe Slowinski, a herpetologist who died way too young.

I think I remember that Bill tried to market his venom cocktail for treatment of a variety of diseases, but that the FDA shut it down.  There needs to be more research on venom.

- Steve

[Pirarucu]

R.I.P. Bill, he will be dearly missed. I believe the count was 172 survived bites.