Mark O'Shea is an herpetologist, television broadcaster, zoologist, author, photographer, lecturer and public speaker, and was the Consultant Curator of Reptiles at West Midland Safari Park in the UK for over 30 years. His life has revolved around snakes for more than five decades and is an advocate for snake conservation.

Between 1999 and 2003 Mark presented four seasons of the internationally acclaimed O'Shea's Big Adventure for Animal Planet, co-produced with the UK's Channel 4 as O'Shea's Dangerous Reptiles. He has now presented over forty documentaries including films for Discovery Channel, ITV, and the BBC. Mark has conducted herpetological fieldwork, or made films, on every continent except Antarctica.

Mark has written numerous books on reptiles, including A Guide to the Snakes of Papua New Guinea, Venomous Snakes of the World (Princeton, 2011), The Book of Snakes (Ivy Press, 2017), and The Handbook to Reptiles and Amphibians (Dorling Kindersley, 2001).

Barbara Taylor has worked as a science editor and writer at London’s Natural History Museum.

She is an award-winning author and consultant for over one hundred children’s books.

John Farndon is an internationally renowned author of exciting and accessible science books for children and adults.

His books have been shortlisted for numerous awards and have sold millions of copies worldwide, proving their perennial appeal.