By: Joanne Payne – Animal Care Australia Reptile Representative – Originally published: March 2020 ACE Newsletter.
Well show season is upon us! The time of the year when all avid keepers wait patiently for the first expo which signals a couple of months of pure bliss as they peruse the aisles, picking up much needed supplies and hopefully a new pet or 5! Not to mention the social aspect of mingling with like-minded people to discuss what’s new in the hobby or maybe have a grumble how the licensing review process is taking way too long.
The focus of the shows is predominantly educating the public about the hobby but also educating the experienced keeper on improved methods for keeping. The social factor that is shown between the keepers is another way in which knowledge is shared. The keepers definitely take this time as a great way to catch up and talk about the finer details with keeping and breeding, furthering their knowledge. This is also the best place for a first time-keeper to attend and acquire their new animal plus take the time to chat with the keeper about the best welfare for their new scaly friend. I find that people that have been keeping for a while but are having a couple of problems, will attend to chat with people that they know will have the best information for them to rectify their problems. Once they have all of the correct information they need there is always a retail area on site where an owner can go and find their new, or old animal friend their home.
In Australia, we are lucky where that most people will encounter a reptile at one time in their life. Be it a little skink running up their walls to maybe encountering a snake on a bushwalk. Unfortunately, some of these encounters can be unpleasant and the shows aim to educate so that people can understand these encounters and therefore, be better prepared for them. All of the shows have a show person in attendance. These educators have an enclosed pit where they take the reptiles out, in a controlled environment, to show the public reptile behaviour and how to deal with a situation that is not ideal. These shows are incredibly popular and the people running the show are often stay around to talk with the public long after the show has ended.
You can also talk to the local reptile societies at these events. These groups are run voluntarily by reptile enthusiasts and offer education and an access point for the public to the keepers. A couple of the societies run a ‘best in show’ competition. This is for their members to bring their reptiles in and display them in a controlled environment.
This is fantastic for the public, as often, you will get to see animals that are not on display in zoos and a wide range of animals are displayed. From animals that you can see in the wild, through to the designer ‘morphs’ that the breeders have spent years of hard work developing. The breeders will display their best animals and they will be judged by a panel of experts in the field. Often this panel includes a vet and an experienced keeper.
There is a black cloud hovering over these educational shows though. There is an upcoming Inquiry into exhibited animals. This inquiry has used the face of circus animals and dolphins in a marine park in Coffs Harbour to gain momentum and pull at the heart strings of the public. This inquiry has the potential to ignite further debate on the ‘use of animals for entertainment’ which could see the end all educational shows.
Interactions with animals by the public, is proven to increase sentiment toward animals and provide protection and conservation for their wild counterparts. If we do not have the educational shows, how does a person know how to interact with animals when they encounter them in the wild? In this time where so many of our animals have suffered and lost habitat through bushfire, drought and the governments seemingly incessant land clearing efforts, they need us more than ever before to educate and conserve both them and their homes.
So, get along and support a reptile show this year. You will learn something new and you can send a strong message to the animal rights extremists (ARE’s), that we need these outlets to show the public how to live with animals harmoniously and how to conserve their natural environments.
By: Joanne Payne – Animal Care Australia Reptile Representative – Originally published: March 2020 ACE Newsletter.
