With St Patrick’s Day nearing, I though I would share a reptile-related post, just to be fair to the expelled snakes and to let you know that some of them have repatriated back to Ireland.
This is my beautiful green buddy Philip. He hatched out in the end of 2007, and this picture was taken in 2010. He is a Water Dragon.
Shortly after he was adopted, his parents went for holidays and left him with me. He was as big as a pencil. Every morning he would stand on his hind legs in his terrarium and look at me. He knew the ritual. I would pick him up, hold him to my face, and go to bed again for another ten minutes, talking to him and kissing his little head. Then he would go back to his terrarium until evening.
He was a different shade of green at that time.
I didn’t see him for another few years. Things happen, and in 2013 Philip’s parents separated. He was 6 year old, about 3 feet long, and lived in a 5 x 9 feet terrarium by then. There was no one ready to commit to having him. They had to make a heartbreaking decision to give Philip away. The only reasonable place for him to stay would be a zoo, but first he had to endure a 6 month long quarantine in the Reptile Village in Gowran, Co Kilkenny. Herpetologist and Director of the Reptile Village James Hennessy picked him up. He said that they already had a male Water Dragon, but the Dublin Zoo would be happy to take Philip.
When I came to visit him after a week, he looked scared. On the top of his terrarium there was another glass cage with a dying female of the same species. This was the place where people dumped their reptiles when they could not cope with caring for their ‘pets’ anymore. A lesson for those who decide to buy a reptile just ‘ because it is cute’. I left in tears.
To make a long story short, Philip is alive in the Dublin Zoo. At least he was when I talked with Mr. Hennessy over the phone in 2015.
I revisited the Reptile Village in December. Now it is called The National Reptile Zoo, it has expanded since 2013, and it is amazing.
These Green Iguanas, and some other reptiles live in a separate Tropical Walk-Through Dome outside the main building. The dome is 6 m in diameter and over 3 m high.
Isn’t it sweet that you can touch a lizard. I don’t know if they exactly enjoy this, but the visitors definitely love the experience 🙂
Waking up after a nap 🙂
First things first 🙂
Sun basking is another favorite activity of Iguanas. It is hot and humid inside the dome, and the live plants make it look like jungle. The lizards and tortoises roam free and feel home.
Rhinoceros Iguana in the main building loves his veggies. Philip preferred crickets.
This is what lizards do most of the time.
The most impressive part of the tour are Animal Encounter Sessions that are carried out by trained reptile wranglers.
Christina begins this session by introducing a Burmese Python, and asks if we know where exactly his tail is.
I wanted to take a picture of the tail, but it came out blurred. In this picture, half of the tail is hidden behind Christina’s hand. The tail is only 5-6 inches long. The throat takes up one third of the body, and the rest is stomach.
Everyone loves the Python.
Blue Steel, a huge albino Burmese Python I wanted to meet, was nowhere to be seen. Pearl, another albino, the biggest snake in Ireland, was not out of quarantine yet at that time – now she is on exhibit, so I have to go to the Zoo again. Female pythons are just a little bit longer than males, but much sturdier. I hope to take pictures of Pearl some time in summer.
This is Rosie, a gorgeous Chilean Rose tarantula. I don’t know if it would be a good business idea to open a Spider Zoo, but here Rosie is a star 🙂 I think I have also seen a scorpion somewhere in the Zoo, but it might be just a food item that simply escaped.
The National Reptile Zoo celebrates its 11th Anniversary in March. I think Rosie is the same age as the Zoo.
There are more than 150 animals of 50 species in the Reptile Zoo, and I will share more pictures next week. Stay tuned, and please don’t wear any St. Patrick’s day accessories when you are reading this blog 😉
Have a wonderful weekend!
Making memories 
How beautiful they all are! Sad that people take them on like puppies then can’t cope, but glad that some of them are getting a second chance.
Thank you Anabel. Many of these reptiles are endangered species, and they are smuggled from the countries of their habitats and sold elsewhere for the purpose of breeding and resale. Majority of them die as the people who buy them have no clue how to properly care of them. The Reptile Zoo is educating young people on this subject. They are amazing. There are many ways how (and why) they get all these reptiles. It is not only about the unfortunate mistreated pets. I will write more about the purpose of the Zoo later this year. Now I only share my pictures and my excitement 🙂
Philip looks a nice guy 🙂
When I return to Dublin, I´ll have a reason to visit the reptile zoo!
Stunning pics, Inese!
Have a great weekend!
The Reptile Zoo is in Gowran, Co Kilkenny. Philip lives in Dublin Zoo and I would appreciate if someone visited him and let me know he was all right 🙂
Ok, thanks for the clarification 😅 Would be nice to meet him 😊
Yes, it would be fun. Hope to hear from you on that matter some day 😉
When I go to Dublin, I´ll let you know 🙂
Do 🙂
Well, it started out okay, then there was the big snake (yeek) and then… then… I can hardly write the word – that big spider (aargh).
Great photos, though!
Haha, I have to confess, I didn’t touch Rosie 🙂 May be next time 😉 But the lizards and the python were lovely.
Poor Philip. I hope he is happy now! The way he changed from being a baby to an adult is extraordinary.
I love reptiles and will take any opportunity to handle ones in captivity. We have two blue tongue lizards living in our back garden. I’d love to pick one up to have a closer look, but wouldn’t want to upset it or worse drive it away, so resist the urge.
Looking forward to more Inese!
Thank you for stopping by! It was a sad story. Philip was loved and spoiled rotten, and had a wonderful terrarium that was extended over time. But things happen. They made the best decision in the situation, because giving him away to a person wouldn’t be in his best interests.
If you want to know more about pet lizards, join a forum and learn from the pet owners. They know it all 🙂 xx
Lots of lovely lizards. That’s a nice, big, fat ball python she has. We have had a few ball pythons in the past, along with really big blood and Burmese pythons. The most interesting snake I had was a Ruby Tree Boa that was confiscated in a drug raid, and I ended up with it. It was so mean and aggressive it actually had personality. Tarantulas are a lot of fun. If you can’t tell I like reptiles and arachnids.
I am very glad you like the post 🙂 They have a MASSIVE Burmese albino python, and I hope to see her in summer. I think I posted a link somewhere in the text, you can have a look. She was in quarantine in December when I visited.
Yes, this ball python was a cutie, good-natured. I have more pictures to post next time. It is a great place, happy reptiles, lots of fun. I wish people did a research before buying a reptile. My friends took a great care of Philip. He has had six happy years with them.
Those cute little snakes can grow into great big snakes. People need to know what they are getting into when they get any kind of reptile, but especially giant snakes.
Exactly. Whoever you are going to adopt first time in your life – even a cat or a dog – do your homework first. Not like there is not information available.
Philip looks cute from the picture. I think he is better at the zoo than at home. I am expecting zoo give him more space than 5 x 9 feet space when he already 3 feet long. He should get proper care from the zoo vet right at his own comfort home.
Now reading this post, I do not have confident that there is no snakes in Ireland any more. Hmm. Not that I hate them or do not like them but simply am afraid of them 🙂
Thank you for stopping by! The dragons don’t run around, so 5×9 was more than enough, and he was out of the cage sitting on the couch or any other place every evening :). He was very healthy and cared for, and quite spoiled, but the separation of his owners was the reason they went each their separate way, with no stability and routine that is very important for a reptile. Things happen, it is why people have to think twice before they adopt such a special animal.
I am afraid of venomous snakes the same as you 😦 Yet, I know a woman who was bitten by snake many times, and she says the last time she almost didn’t have any problems 🙂
Oh no, the poisonous snakes must be brought in by people somehow to Ireland.
Haha no we don’t have ( or need) them here, thank you 🙂 Only in the Zoo 🙂 The woman I am talking about lives in a different country. She got bitten many times when she was young, lived in the countryside and walked bare feet. The snakes love to dig themselves in the warm sand – it is how she put her foot on her first snake and got bitten. She is the only person I know who was bitten more than 3-4 times 🙂
That is reassuring about snakes in Ireland. Thank you 🙂
You are welcome! 🙂
I love these photos! And I’m not much into reptiles, but you do make them appear very lovely in all their leather.
Thank you for stopping by! Many of these reptiles are endangered species. The Zoo is doing their best participating in conservation projects and educating young people on importance of any species in an ecosystem. And of course these encounters soften people’s heart toward the scaly critters 🙂
They look very sexy, I’d love to caress them ^^ (although I’d love to know as well if that don’t fret them) It’s a nice post, different to the usual…
How is it different? 🙂
Mostly when I think in you I always think in Irish landscapes and old cities, some trips to the landscapes in USA, and portraits; of course there are portraits of birds and animals in the countryside, foxes, ships, et al, but, and perhaps my memory is failing, I don’t remember this beautiful creatures before.
You are right, it was my first blog entirely dedicated to snakes and lizards, but I have many posts about animals and birds, and I have posted images of reptiles before. I have seen many of them in other countries. I just love them 🙂
I like reptiles, Inese, but I don’t think I’d take one to bed! Ha ha. Lovely photos and I’m glad Phillip found a home. Beautiful and ancient-looking creatures 🙂
I like Philip but not so much the snake and big spiders. I hope Philip is enjoying life at the zoo. Cheers
Thank you! I hope too 🙂
Quite a tale! Or tail! I’m glad Phillip made it.
Thank you! It is what I was told. Have no time to go to see by myself. Or may be I am afraid to find an empty cage? …
Great experience, I can’t say why some people are afraid of those animals.
Thank you for stopping by! I too don’t know. They are as lovely as any other creature.
Reptiles have such an ancient look to them. It’s too bad people purchase pets they are unable to care for, but fortunate there are places they can find a good home. Your pictures are wonderful! Thanks for sharing, Inese.
Thank you so much for stopping by! This is a huge Zoo, and they are buying animals from all over the world. The Zoo is participating in many conservation projects I will probably write about this summer.
I enjoyed looking at the lizards, Inese. But it was sad, some of the conditions in which Philip lived, poor guy. Wishing you a lovely weekend. Mega hugs.
Thank you so much, Teagan! He was all right, fed and everything. They had only one room for quarantine, and there are too many people who don’t want to take care of their ‘Christmas gift’ anymore… The Zoo cannot save all the sick animals, unfortunately.
Hope you have a happy weekend. Many hugs xx
I love reptiles and amphibians.. Your iguana shots are awesome. Cannot say the same for the terantula. Ugh.
Haha Cindy, she was all right, and she is ten years old 🙂 A granny 🙂
As you may know, I prefer animals to humans. The dragon is a wonderful creature. The spider is as well. I would never harm one, but I’m not very good with spiders.
Yes, many people have difficult relationships with spiders, it is why I think that starting a spider Zoo isn’t a good idea for business 🙂 Rosie is a doll though 🙂
So wonderful that you can touch them!
Yes, it was my favorite part 🙂
Love this! I have always liked reptiles. Snakes are fun to handle, but although I have had a few bearded dragons and gekkos to look after, so far no snakes. They do get a bit of an unfair wrap with most folk though, and it’s so sad to see people still take them on as ‘cute’ little pets, and then realise the commitment required.
Rosie, the tarantula though ……. see ya! 😉 😀
Thank you Cee Tee! Reptile market is huge for an obvious reason – too many pet reptiles die in their first year because they had been mistreated 😦
I would love the reptile zoo. My local zoo is the Bronx Zoo and they have a reptile house which is just about my favorite part (excepting the gorillas). Nice to meet Philip. Hope he’s still doing well.
Thank you Ken! Aren’t they lovely. I hope that Philip is still alive, but I have no time to go to Dublin to check on him. He wouldn’t know who I am anyway 🙂
Yes most amphibians, etc are frowned upon with unfair stories attached to them however there are people that love them as I love black cats who are the last to get adopted because of the stigma. Thanks for bringing to light that there are sanctuaries for these reptiles and snakes and spiders and the rest.
Thank you so much for your comment! May all the creatures have a happy life.
Yes here is to a happy life for all