Be a herpetoculture hero…
There are many ways that we can turn our hobby into something greater than a pastime. Active participation in the world of exotics keeping helps support organisations, improve understanding and develop scientific knowledge.
Fill Out a Survey
One of the quickest and easiest ways to support hereptoculture is to engage in surveys. The more we know about how animals are being kept and who are keeping them, the more we can do to improve and protect herpetoculture in general. The Federation of British Herpetologists is currently running their annual survey and you can get involved here.
Surveys are also an important part of the research process for many academics. From veterinary students to Biology PhD candidates. Data from your animals could be the key to discovering the next big scientific breakthrough that improves animal welfare across the globe. For example, your leopard gecko could be the key to improving the wellbeing of thousands of other geckos, just by you taking a few moments to fill out this survey.
Attend a Conference
Perhaps the most fun method of improving your knowledge is to attend an event with likeminded people. Conferences aren’t just about the informative lectures, they are a great excuse to keep in contact with other keepers, breeders and enthusiasts. Going to your first herpetoculture conference can be a daunting prospect, particularly if you are new to the community. However, each event typically gets much more enjoyable as you meet new people and make friends with similar interests.
The next good-sized “everybody’s welcome” event is the European Turtle Alliance Conference 2023. It will be held at Writtle University College on Lordship Road, Writtle on Saturday 11th November. This year’s theme is “Chelonian Conservation and Welfare in Europe.” More information can be found here.
Next in the calendar is the British Herpetological Society and Advancing Herpetological Husbandry Annual Conference at Drayton Manor Park Hotel on 16th and 17th March 2024. This is a huge event in the herpetoculture calendar. It focuses on the captive care of reptiles and amphibians by both zookeepers and private keepers. You can sign up here.
Various educational institutions also host events that are open to the public. Although they are typically more academia-focused, numerous Universities and Colleges host open days, conferences and symposiums that could improve your knowledge. In fact, the annual “Venom Day” at Bangor University is just around the corner (9th December).
Join a Society
Herpetological societies have faced a lot of pressure in recent years. From growing online communities to the COVID pandemic, in-person meet ups are becoming rarer and rarer. However, there are still strong groups operating in Nottingham, Essex, Kent, Portsmouth and more locations across the country. You can find more information here.
It is also a good idea for UK residents to keep up to date with the activities of Amphibian & Reptile Groups (ARG) UK. This umbrella organisation of many smaller herpetofauna conservation initiatives operates all over the country and its free to get involved. There are several conferences and meetings held each year, as well as field work, surveying and more. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone with an interest in native wildlife and wanting to broaden their connections in herpetology. Find your local group here.
Show Some Love to the Lobbyists
The people working hard to protect herpetoculture at legislative levels are rarely seen by most hobbyists. In the UK, there are several groups with different goals. The Reptile and Exotic Pet Trade Association (REPTA) protects the interests of businesses, the National Centre for Reptile Welfare gathers important information to protect animal welfare (as well as caring for and rehoming the nation’s pets) and more recently, Responsible Reptile Keeping is helping to change the discourse and negative press associated with pet reptiles. Supporting these organisations supports your interests and hobby.
Investigate Further
There are a lot of ways to increase collective knowledge of a subject. Asking more questions and answering more questions is a simple method. Social media has allowed this to become easier than ever. However, there’s much more you can do if you set your mind to it.
Ever considered writing a blog, starting a podcast, creating a group, or something else? All these dedicated projects force the creator to research their topics even deeper than before. Speaking to a guest for a few hours, developing a well-crafted blog post or actively seeking out keepers of a unique or unusual species that you also keep will help to unlock new levels of understanding and encourage more people to do the same.
If you haven’t visited a zoo in a while, consider dropping by. Most people introduce zoological institutions as a form of entertainment with an educational component. That’s probably because they make a great family day out. However, you can do your bit to save a zookeeper from having to explain the difference between poisonous and venomous to the 100th person of the day by turning up and asking your own questions. You can ask about lighting, heating, breeding conditions and just about everything else, especially now the colder nights are drawing in and most zoos are becoming less busy.
Give an animal a second chance
Nobody should ever take on an animal lightly. They are a huge commitment and months, if not years of consideration should go into the planning and preparation of homing a reptile or amphibian. However, if you know what you are looking for, consider supporting the NCRW by rehoming an animal. Leopard geckos, bearded dragons, royal pythons and corn snakes are all very popular. However, boa constrictors, reticulated pythons and large-bodied lizards are slightly more problematic. This is why even the most experienced keepers should always consider a rehoming. Plus, with so many different species passing through the centre, there’s bound to be a something suitable for even the most niche of keepers.
