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'''Raymond Terrence Hoser''' (Born: 1962, [[U.K.]]) is an [[Australia]]n |
'''Raymond Terrence Hoser''' (Born: 1962, [[U.K.]]) is an [[Australia]]n [[herpetologist]], snake-catcher, and author. He has written several articles about reptiles, and also written about [[official corruption]] in Australia since 1976. He has been called "One of Australia's most energetic and courageous whistleblowers" by [[Brian Martin (professor)|Brian Martin]], a former president of [[Whistleblowers Australia]].Brian Martin. His work on reptile systematics is widely accepted in the scientific literature. |
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==Biography== |
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Hoser has published several works, as a [[whistleblower]], claiming to uncover corruption in Australian government departments. In his book ''Smuggled'' he alleges that officials of the wildlife services in [[New South Wales]] were involved in the illegal [[wildlife trade]]. Subsequently, attempts were made to suppress distribution of the book through [[National Parks and Wildlife Service]] allegations to booksellers that the book was defamatory.<ref>Green Left Weekly ''[http://www.greenleft.org.au/1993/105/5955 Wildlife smuggling book defeats 'ban']'', 30 June 1993. Accessed October 12, 2008</ref><ref>H. Clare Callow, ''[http://www.rationalist.com.au/archive/55/p29-33.pdf Investigating Corruption - The Strange Case of Raymond Hoser]'' Australian Rationalist No 55. Accessed October 12, 2008</ref> |
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He moved to [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] in 1985 and allegedly came across further corruption with [[VicRoads]] when working as a taxi driver. His experiences here were first covered in his book ''The Hoser Files''. Hoser stated in a radio interview 1998 that he is "known as an anti-corruption crusader".<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/mediarpt/mstories/mr981126.htm The Media Report] ''Radio National'' Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 26 November, 1998</ref> |
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In 2001 the [[Victorian Supreme Court]] used a rarely used offence of ''scandalising the court'' to fine Hoser $5000 after he published names of two county court judges and two magistrates in a book entitled ''Victoria Police Corruption'' with allegations of bias and improper conduct. The offence was previously used against union leader [[Norm Gallagher]].<ref>The National Interest, ''[http://www.abc.net.au/rn/nationalinterest/stories/2001/441523.htm Scandalous behaviour; Police under pressure; Starbucks Australia]'', ABC Radio National, 16 December 2001, Accessed October 12, 2008</ref><ref>Press Gazette, ''[http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=28394§ioncode=1 Scandalising the Court]'', 10 October 2003. Accessed October 12, 2008</ref> In 2003 Hoser was found guilty of a second contempt charge which was originally dismissed. The charge related to unfounded bribery allegations against a third judge.<ref>ABC News Online, ''[http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/vic/200312/s1010436.htm Author losses contempt of court appeal]'', December 15, 2003, Accessed October 12, 2008</ref> |
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Hoser is an author and publisher of a number of books and a website on frogs and reptiles, and has a business as a [[snake handler]]. He runs the website ''smuggled.com'', which contains articles about official corruption and [[reptile]]s. |
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Hoser has also contributed to the [[taxonomy]] of Australian snakes, giving descriptions for new species and [[genera]], and suggesting revisions to current arrangements. Some nominations have not been accepted, being regarded as redundant or invalid by workers in the field.<ref name=Wuster>{{Citeweb|url=http://biology.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/FWit/LittSerp.pdf|title=Taxonomic contributions in the "amateur" literature: comments on recent descriptions of new genera and species by Raymond Hoser. |author= Wüster, W., B. Bush, J.S. Keogh, M. O'Shea & R. Shine |date=2001|work= Litteratura Serpentium 21: 67-79, 86-91}}</ref><ref>{{Citeweb|url=http://biology.bangor.ac.uk/%7Ebss166/Publications/2004_OzElapids_MPE.pdf |title =Snakes across the Strait: Trans-Torresian phylogeographic relationships in three genera of Australasian snakes (Serpentes: Elapidae: Acanthophis, Oxyuranus and Pseudechis). |author= Wüster, W., A.J. Dumbrell, C. Hay, C.E. Pook, D.J. Williams & B.G. Fry |date=2004|work= Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 34(1): 1-14.|quote= superseding; Wüster, W., et al. [http://biology.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/FWit/Pseudechis.htm Phylogeny and classification of Australo-Papuan black snakes and mulga snakes: comments on genus Pailsus Hoser] (1998) }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Wüster W, Golay P, Warrell DA |title=Synopsis of recent developments in venomous snake systematics, No. 3 |journal=Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology |volume=37 |issue=8 |pages=1123–9 |year=1999 |month=August |pmid=10400296 |doi= |url=http://biology.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/Publications/ToxSyn3.pdf}}</ref> Hoser's work has been a source of controversy in the field, with a 2001 review in ''[[Litteratura Serpentium]]'' strongly criticising his publications as "less than professional" and describing them as a source of confusion and wasted effort.<ref name=Wuster/> Charges of ethical misconduct were also made in this article.<ref name=Wuster/> Further criticism of Hoser's work was published in 2006, in a review that stated that "the level of evidence provided by Hoser to justify his taxonomic acts is minimal" and charged that several of his publications appear to have been made with the intention of scooping other workers in the field, behavior that the authors described as "ethically repugnant".<ref>{{cite journal |author=Williams D, Wüster W, Fry BG |title=The good, the bad and the ugly: Australian snake taxonomists and a history of the taxonomy of Australia's venomous snakes |journal=Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology |volume=48 |issue=7 |pages=919–30 |year=2006 |month=December |pmid=16999982 |doi=10.1016/j.toxicon.2006.07.016 |url=}}</ref> |
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Hoser's papers have been published and discussed in scientific journals in Australia and elsewhere.<ref name="Kuch">{{cite journal|author=Kuch, Ulrich; Keogh, J. Scott; Weigel, John; Smith, Laurie A.; Mebs, Dietrich|date=03/2005|title=Phylogeography of Australia's king brown snake (Pseudechis australis) reveals Pliocene divergence and Pleistocene dispersal of a top predator|journal=Naturwissenschaften |volume=92|issue=3|pages=121–127|url=http://www.anu.edu.au/BoZo/Scott/PDF%20Files/39.2005.KuchEtAl.Nat%20copy.pdf}}</ref> In a 2007 article in ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'' on amateur naturalists Hoser responded to criticisms of his work by stating, "The description of me as an amateur is complete rubbish", he said. "There's no one in history who has spent so much time dealing with, looking at, catching and breeding death adders as myself."<ref>{{cite journal |author=Borrell B |title=Linnaeus at 300: the big name hunters |journal=Nature |volume=446 |issue=7133 |pages=253–5 |year=2007 |month=March |pmid=17361154 |doi=10.1038/446253a}}</ref> He is the author of the valid names and descriptions for ''[[Pseudechis pailsei]]'' and ''[[Acanthophis wellsi]]'', snakes in the [[Elapidae]] family.<ref>{{ITIS|taxon=Pseudechis pailsei|ID=700728|year=1998}}</ref><ref>{{ITIS|taxon=Acanthophis wellsi|ID=700721|year=1998}}</ref> Hoser's work on the taxonomy of the [[Pythoninae]]<ref name=Hoser2004>{{citation| last = Hoser | first = R.T.| year = 2004 | title = A reclassification of the Pythoninae including the descriptions new genera, two new species and nine …| journal = Crocodilian--Journal of the Victorian Association of Amateur Herpetologists| volume = 4| pages = 21–39 |
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}}</ref> has been partially confirmed by later phylogenetic studies, but has not been officially recognized.<ref name=Rawlings2008>{{citation| last1 = Rawlings | first1 = L.H.| last2 = Rabosky | first2 = D.L.| last3 = Donnellan | first3 = S.C.| last4 = Hutchinson | first4 = M.N.| year = 2008| title = Python phylogenetics: inference from morphology and mitochondrial DNA| journal = Biological Journal of the Linnean Society| volume = 93| issue = 3 | pages = 603–619 | doi = 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2007.00904.x |
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}}</ref> |
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In 2009, Hoser founded his own journal, the Australasian Journal of Herpetology.<ref>http://www.smuggled.com/AJHAb1.htm</ref>. As of 11 March 2009, in addition to being the journal's founder, Hoser is the journal's editor <ref>http://www.smuggled.com/AJHCD1.htm</ref> and the only author to contribute papers to it.<ref>http://www.smuggled.com/AJHIP1.htm</ref> Nevertheless, Hoser claims his journal to be "Australia's leading reptile journal"<ref>http://www.smuggled.com/SBSNew1.htm</ref>, and has printed revisions of several taxa.<ref>http://www.smuggled.com/AJHI6.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.smuggled.com/AJHI7.pdf</ref> |
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Hoser runs his own business called ''Snakebusters'' in [[Melbourne]], providing reptiles for children's birthday parties and also catching and moving snakes in urban areas.<ref>Nick Higginbottom, ''[http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,21217737-922,00.html Summer of snakes keeps city's experts busy]'', Hobart Mercury, February 13, 2007. Accessed October 12, 2008</ref><ref>''[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/09/20/1095651244778.html Toeing the party line]'', The Age, September 21, 2004. Accessed October 12, 2008</ref><ref>Marika Dobbin, ''[http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/python-takes-citylink-high-road/2008/04/09/1207420457359.html Escaped python ends up in Burnley Tunnel]'', The Age, April 9, 2008. Accessed October 12, 2008</ref> In 2005 he unsuccessfully sued Prospero Productions and television personality Bruce George, claiming that the television series ''The Snakebuster'', made for [[Animal Planet]], had infringed his trademark.<ref name="Screenwest">[http://www.screenwest.com.au/go/news/prospero-bites-back-in-snakebuster-court-case]</ref> |
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Hoser is an advocate of [[venomoid]] snakes, surgically altered to remove venom, and has published discussion on this topic,<ref name=Hoser2004>{{citation | last = Hoser | first = R. | year = 2004 | title = Surgical removal of Venom glands in Australian Elapids-The creation of Venomoids | journal = Herptile | volume = 29 | issue = 1 | pages = 37–40 | url = http://www.google.co.uk/webhp?hl=en}}</ref> and promoted the procedure on his website.<ref name="venomoids">R. Hoser ''[http://www.smuggled.com/VenArt1.htm Surgical Removal of Venom Glands in Australian Elapid Snakes. The creation of venomoids.]''</ref> These animals are kept as pets, or used in exhibitions to the general public, and the procedure is regarded as controversial.<ref> Jeff Miller [http://www.venomousreptiles.org/articles/55 Venomoids: An Overview] ''The Southeastern Hot Herp Society'' March 29, 2001 Accessed Oct. 11th 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.snakegetters.com/demo/vet/venomoids1.html Veterinary Ethics: What About Venomoids?] ''Venomous Snake Husbandry Basics: Veterinary Care'' Snakegetters.com, Accessed 15 October 2008</ref> |
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A 2008 government tribunal ruled that Hoser's venomoid snakes cannot be handled by members of the public, due to the risk of the venom glands regrowing. [[Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal|VCAT]] Deputy President Anne Coghlan found Hoser had no qualifications, no training and produced no scientific evidence to back up his claims.<ref>Mex Cooper [http://www.theage.com.au/national/devenomised-snakes-ruled-dangerous-20081015-5128.html 'De-venomised' snakes ruled dangerous] ''The Age'' October 15, 2008</ref> |
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==Works== |
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This is an incomplete list of works by Raymond Hoser. |
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;Papers |
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*1998. A new snake from Queensland, Australia (Serpentes: Elapidae). Monitor 10, 5–9. |
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*2000. A new species of snake (Serpentes: Elapidae) from Irian Jaya. ''Litt. Serpentium'' 20, 178–186. |
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*Hoser R (2001) A current assessment of the status of the snakes of the genera Cannia and Pailsus, including descriptions of three new subspecies from the Northern Territory and Western Australia, Australia. J Herpetol Soc Queensl 2001:26–60 |
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* 2002. An overview of the taipans, genus (''Oxyuranus'') (Serpentes: Elapidae), including the description of a new subspecies. ''Crocodilian'' - J. Vic. Assoc. Amat. Herpetol. 3, 43–50. |
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;Books<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/anbd.bib-an6030759|title=Author: Hoser, Raymond T. (Raymond Terrence), 1962-|work=Australian Library Collections|publisher=National Library of Australia|accessdate=2008-10-11}}</ref> |
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* Australian reptiles & frogs, (238pp) Pierson & Co., 1989 ISBN 0947068082 |
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* Endangered animals of Australia, Pierson & Co., 1991 ISBN 0947068155 |
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* Smuggled : the underground trade in Australia's wildlife. Apollo Books, 1993. ISBN 094706818X |
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* The Hoser Files — The Fight Against Entrenched Official Corruption. (332 pp.) Kotabi, 1995. ISBN 0646230875 |
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* Smuggled-2: Wildlife Trafficking, Crime and Corruption in Australia. Kotabi, 1996. ISBN 0958676909 |
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* Victoria Police Corruption. (736 pp.) Kotabi, 1999. ISBN 0958676968 |
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* Victoria Police Corruption 2. (800 pp.) Kotabi, 2000. ISBN 0958676976 |
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* Taxi. Kotabi, 2000. ISBN 0958676984 (V. 1) ISBN 0958676992 (V. 2) |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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== External links == |
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* [http://www.smuggled.com/ Smuggled.com] - by Raymond Hoser. |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoser, Raymond}} |
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[[Category:Australian non-fiction writers]] |
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[[Category:Australian herpetologists]] |
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[[Category:Australian whistleblowers]] |
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[[Category:Australian nature writers]] |
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[[Category:1962 births]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
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Revision as of 05:22, 18 March 2010
Raymond Terrence Hoser (Born: 1962, U.K.) is an Australian herpetologist, snake-catcher, and author. He has written several articles about reptiles, and also written about official corruption in Australia since 1976. He has been called "One of Australia's most energetic and courageous whistleblowers" by Brian Martin, a former president of Whistleblowers Australia.Brian Martin. His work on reptile systematics is widely accepted in the scientific literature.