1. Margaret Bourke-White
IHS provided forums for people from all over to present information in the field of herpetoculture. The speakers were a mix of scientists, breeders, hobbyists, dealers, zoo personnel, vendors, and veterinarians. The term "herpetolculture" was even made at one of the early meetings. Meetings were held mainly in the U.S. but eventually spread to Costa Rica and other parts of the world (Samuelson 33).
More and more people became interested in breeding herps (Reptiles and amphibians). First starting with a small group of major dealers, but breeders became so successful that they became major dealers themselves. Reptile expos were showing up in places that they had never had them before. This was yet another sign that herpetoculture was becoming very popular (Samuelson 26-27). .
In the early 90's herp stores and zoos began to import many more reptiles and amphibians than before. New animals that had never been offered on sale were being imported from around the world and marketed. Some examples were the wide-mouth frog, dangerous tree vipers, and crocodiles. More and more exporters wanted larger quantities of all types of animals. Then in the mid 90's liability concerns arose and the importing was slowed down. They could not export venomous snakes and they slowed exporting the common herps. Never before had there been inspections made at the zoos and herpetology stores (Samuelson 28-30).
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Herpetology is mainly a descriptive science; when reptiles and amphibians are named and described. When some Herpetologists started to connect Herpetology and other studies, such as anatomy, physiology, ecology, and the natural history of those animals, it naturally became part of the study. Herpetology was constantly changing and still is, many different kinds of classification were used and the areas that future Herpetologists have to study are getting larger (Porter 3-7).
Becoming a Herpetologist is not easy, to become one there are many cross-disciplines that must be studied.