Herping the Planet Earth: A Journey into Awe, Wisdom, and Stewardship

Prologue

It was midnight in the jungle. I had crawled for hours through dense bush, far from the nearest village, guided only by the narrow cone of my torchlight. Exhausted, hungry, and drenched in sweat, I collapsed at the base of a great tree. I switched off the light. And then, something miraculous happened.

Nature embraced me.

As my eyes adjusted to the darkness and my ears to the silence, my other senses awakened. I felt the ancestral perception of the environment, raw, ancient, alive. Insects whispered all around me, lightning bugs pulsed like a living constellation. A snake coiled high in the branches above my head, like the ancient ouroboros, symbol of eternity and wisdom. A chameleon glowed nearby, a yellow lantern in the night. Trees bowed with their branches. Flowers shimmered in the shadows and dispersed a heavenly scent. I was home.

I felt as if I had entered a cathedral of life. I prayed, not for myself, but for the strength to share this awe with others. To help people feel what I felt. To understand. To know. I stood up, filled with power, wisdom, and inspiration. I could move mountains.

Herping

We live in a world of astonishing progress. We've cracked the genetic code, cured diseases, and built technologies that connect us across continents. We've amassed enough wealth to feed every human being. And yet, we falter. We wage senseless wars, suppress truth, and allow suffering to persist. How dare we? This world is not ours to exploit. It is a gift. A sacred trust. We were given the most beautiful planet in the galaxy. Our task is not conquest, it is stewardship.

That is why I care. For people. For animals. For plants. For all life. For the Planet Earth. And yes, it is hard. But I found my source of strength, in jungles, deserts, remote islands, and high mountains.

I found it in herping.

Herping is the art, science, and joy of seeking amphibians and reptiles in the wild. These creatures are ancient. They witnessed the rise and fall of dinosaurs, mammals, birds, and humans. They are wise. They know Earth better than we do. Their bodies hold evolutionary secrets. Their instincts shaped our own. The survival centers of our brains are their legacy. We can learn from them, if we are still, and listen.

From herping comes herpetology, the scientific study of these animals. It gives us knowledge, classification, and insight. And from herping comes herpetoculture, the ethical care and breeding of reptiles and amphibians in human stewardship. It ensures their wellness, sustainability, and protection. Without herping, there would be no herpetology. Without herping, no herpetoculture.

This is why RHF takes the initiative. We want to inspire a broader community to herp, not to hunt, but to observe. Not with rifles, but with notebooks and cameras. Our project is called Herping the Planet Earth. It will offer scientifically rigorous, practical guidance for herping across ecosystems. It will teach people to stand still in awe. To seek nature in its preserved state. To help, not harm. To understand, to love, to care to restore and to protect. And, to rejoice.

To herp is to help. To help ourselves become wiser, stronger, and more compassionate. To help others. To help the Planet Earth.

Herping the Planet Earth.

Helping the Planet Earth.

Petr Necas,

The Responsible Herpetoculture Foundation

A Proud and Humble Member