It's next to impossible to raise funds for reptiles, Brady said -- something I've learned from years of working with both my rescue and speaking on conservation. The biggest problem is conservation needs money to do things like build sanctuaries, start breeding programs and start re-introduction programs, but cute sells, and not everyone finds reptiles "cute."

Then there's the human problem. We have hunted, eaten and skinned so many of these species. We have taken the mangroves away and forced hybridization. We have collectively put two-thirds of the turtle species on the planet onto the endangered species list through medicine and meat.

After discussing conservation, Brady shared some of this travelsand behind the scenes footage, including measuring the running speed of the Komodo Dragon. His cameraman, Eric, didn’t quite get the shot, but it made for an amusing story. So did his bravery (or not quite) in the attempt to get a picture of two wild Tokay geckos on his shirt and almost loosing a nipple in the process. The bite he took to the face from a boa constrictor reminded him never ever to take your eyes of an animal while filming.

Oddly enough, while he is aging now and a bit more hesitant to handle venomous stuff in the field, it is hippos that bring him his worst fears. Hippos are some of the more dangerous animals out there, seriously. While they look sweet and cute, they always wake up on the wrong side of the bed.

He showed footage of when they measured the bite strength of hippos. Researchers saw the croc suit and wanted to make a hippo suit to get closer to the animals so they could study hippo sweat. Apparently the sweat of hippos contains a natural and very strong sunscreen property, and it also looks a lot like blood. The bite force is around 1000 pounds.

After the talk was a short Q&A, and then a meet and greet with Brady. I grabbed you all a quick pic and high-tailed it home. As much as I loved spending a wonderful fall day on the Savannah, I had places to go.

Identifying with his love of Crocodilians, it was a natural fit that one of my gator guys was there, as well doing a hands on exhibit where folks could learn more about these magnificent beasts. Just wanted to share my first cheesy posed gator pic. Of course I really wanted a pic with my good friend and "brother" Dan. But with that family, a gator always has to be involved.