IF you’re a fan of creatures that slither and crawl, the SOS²/ARK Reptile Expo may be just your thing. The expo, will be held at Crawford College La Lucia on Saturday, 17 December and Sunday, 18 December. The expo, which is regarded as one of the biggest of its kind in KZN, showcases various kinds of reptiles with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of the serpents.
Northglen News recently caught up with JP Wittstock of the Association of Reptile Keepers (ARK-KZN) who gave a brief background about the event.
“This is our fifth year in KZN and for us it’s a way of helping to change the perception of snakes who are often vilified in stories. We realise not everyone is an animal or snake lover and we hope to allay people’s fears. As a member of ARK-KZN we are committed to the conservation of all reptiles. We are hoping to see as many people there as possible, the expo features the largest variety of captive bred reptiles found in the country, so it’s going to be spectacular,” he said.
Wittstock added ARK-KZN was also involved in numerous projects including the micro-chipping black mambas for research purposes.
“We work with nominated snake catchers who micro-chip mambas under the guidance of a Vet. Because there is currently no consolidated database of information pertaining to reptiles and especially black mambas, we work with rescuers in order to establish growth rates, migratory patterns, territorial behaviour, reptile – human confrontations and any relevant geographical data,” he said.
- The SOS²/ARK Reptile Expo takes place on 17 and 18 December at Crawford College La Lucia. Food and drinks will also be on sale. Tickets are R40 for adults and R20 for children. Tickets available at the door. The expo takes place from 9am to 4pm. Contact Heidi on 083 374 7087 email info@reptileexpo.co.za.
