Philip and the National Reptile Zoo

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.

National Reptile Zoo

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 🙂

National Reptiie Zoo

Waking up after a nap 🙂

National Reptile Zoo

First things first 🙂

National Reptile Zoo

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.

National Reptile Zoo

National Reptile Zoo

Rhinoceros Iguana in the main building loves his veggies. Philip preferred crickets.

National Reptile Zoo

This is what lizards do most of the time.

Reptile Zoo

The most impressive part of the tour  are Animal Encounter Sessions that are carried out by trained reptile wranglers.

National Reptile Zoo

Christina begins this session by introducing a Burmese Python, and asks if we know where exactly his tail is.

Reptile Village

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.

Reptile Village

Everyone loves the Python.

Reptile Village

Reptile Village

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.

National Reptile Zoo

National Reptile Zoo

The National Reptile Zoo celebrates its 11th Anniversary in March. I think Rosie is the same age as the Zoo.

National Reptile 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 😉

www.inesemjphotography.comHave a wonderful weekend!

177 comments

    1. Thank you! I’d rather have him closer to where I live 🙂 Isn’t it strange – I knew him for such a short time but he left such an imprint on my heart 🙂

  3. So interesting to read about the iguana, python and tarantula, and see them being handled by their caretakers. Philip seems to be a handsome bloke. Happy to know that he is doing good in the Dublin zoo.

  4. I admired how the person who said they held a lizard to their head, sometimes I read and wonder, was this you, Inese or a guest speaking in the post? Smiles, hugs and respect for all of nature and inhabitants on earth. ❤

      1. Oh, thank you, Inese! Truthfully, we all take pictures of others and post them. Our own picture stays “stagnant” usually on our gravatar so we may only view each other in one way. In this “goodbye” photo, you look so natural and informal, plus young!! 🙂

      2. I see your glasses in this and I hope nothing serious happened in the past three years, you had flu and maybe something else? I had cataract surgery and a section of my ear had cancer (not precancerous) and it was cut off. It is like an elf’s ear! Now, I am worried serious illness has passed my eyes by, where I missed this! xo ❤

        1. I took my glasses off because the lizard didn’t like them.
          You went through a lot of serious health issues, Robin. Hope everything is all right now. Have a wonderful day! ❤

          1. I saw the link and recognized you with the glasses better. Funny how Superman wore glasses as Clark Kent and no one recognized him. 😀

              1. Sometimes, they do look so different. It is surprising. 🙂
                It is fun to be light hearted and relaxed with you. I will offer you cookies and tea or coffee. . .

  5. All creatures great and small God loves them all! Inese, you certainly love nature and the wonders in the animal world! ❤ I do, too!
    I like the reptiles and last week, I had watched a YouTube video with a Lizards waves back at its owner. Scientists didn't think it possible since they undervalue their minds and copycat potential. 🙂 xo

  7. Those dragons look so mellow and Philip is a beauty. I am pleased to hear that his story has a happy ending and that the zoo is now well-suited to hosting these fascinating creatures.

    1. Thank you! 🙂 I would rather they kept him here in the Reptile Zoo so that I could visit with him more often. I haven’t been in Dublin for ages. This Zoo is not big, but very homey.

  8. I guess I am not brave enough o have one of those in my hands… they inspire me lots of respect! 😀 But I guess one day I should overcome this irrational fear and approach them, for the moment they are very exotic to me…
    Thanks for sharing, the pictures are lovely 🙂

    1. Thank you for stopping by! I don’t like when creatures bite me for no reason, but otherwise they are are all lovely 🙂 Scaly skin is nice and warm 🙂

  10. I never imagined you would kiss a reptile, but Philip sounds like a particularly charming lizard. I bet he paced his cage in the morning; awaiting your kiss 🙂

    1. Is that you holding Philip? You’re so calm and loving to him. Lucky Philip! How do his scales feel like? I’ve never felt a lizard or a dragon. xo

      1. They feel lovely and warm. I was very affectionate with Philip and have kissed him a lot. Pity he was afraid of my glasses so I had to take them off and I was never able to see his response to my kisses 😉 In the Zoo i didn’t kiss anyone though 🙂

        1. That’s amazing how Philip reacted so adversely to your glasses. Perhaps he just wanted to feel your warmth with no cold metal and glass getting in the way! 😀

          Haha!! No, you never want to kiss anyone at the zoo — you may get a whole horde clamoring for kisses, as well. 😉

          1. I think that Philip was afraid of the frames since no one of his parents wore glasses.
            No kissing in the Zoo 🙂 People have to be reasonable about kissing 😉

    2. I only had him one week, after that I didn’t see him 2-3 years. You can see how they change with age. The third time I saw him was when his parents were looking for someone to take him. I wish I had my own dragon, but I am realistic…

  11. Inese, at the risk of gushing, your posts are so sincere and genuine. This has become a treasured stop on my WordPress Reader routine.

    I know very little about reptiles in general (aside from the snakes I’ve encountered in the wild that I appreciate for their rodent hunting talents, along with a healthy respect for the venomous species that I’m sure to steer clear of). However, you’ve protrayed the Iguanas and Blue Dragon so majestically. Makes me want to take a visit. (Perhaps on our next trip back to the states)

    Thank you again for sharing Inese.

    1. Thank you so much for loving the reptiles, Gabe 🙂 I too have a huuuge respect for the venomous species and hope they don’t mind my existence. Scaly things have personality and are capable of love and affection. My friend’s pet snake put his head in her hands a minute before he died. They recognize those who love them.
      Hope you visit Ireland some day. It would take you just a couple of days to drive around the country 🙂

          1. hehehe you know, I drive so infrequently now, I suspect I could make the transition without nearly as much psychological trauma as that kind of crazy backwardness normally entails 😉

  13. Philip is soo cute! All of the reptiles are adorable. I sincerely hope Philip is content in his new home. After being spoiled by humans, I’m sure it was a confusing adjustment.
    I’m happy to here their reptile home has been greatly improved.

    1. Thank you Resa. Yes, the poor devil was spoiled rotten, and loved beyond measure, but the law of quarantine is something to abide because it is there for a reason. The reptile village was a cute place at that time, but much smaller, not like now. They have grown a lot, they do research, participate in conservation and education projects. The animals are happy – look at Rosie, she has lived there some ten years already 🙂 No spider has lived ten years in my home 😉 I hope.

      1. I’m happy for the decent outcome!
        Lol, if a spider has lived in your home for 10 years, be nice to it! They only live several years on average. You might have a spider who could get into The Guinness Book of Records, then go viral on YouTube! 😀

    1. Thank you Derrick. They actually loved him and took a great care of him. Philip was a spoiled little dear 🙂 I just want to tell that people sometimes overestimate their commitment.
      The Reptile Zoo is a great places I will write about later this year. Until then I just share my pictures and love towards the scaly things 🙂

        1. People tend to be a little over-enthusiastic about exotic pets. My sister, removed from a bad situation and had put down a hybrid wolf dog last year. We got in a big fight about it. She wanted to stop its suffering; it had been in a 4 x 6 cage from six months to two years old because not all of these wolf-hybrids want to be near people. I wanted her to take it to a wolf-hybrid rescue. The whole deal was EXTREMELY upsetting. Don’t buy exotic pets.
          I guess you can tell that I’m still wound up about this. But, I am equally as happy that Phillip went to a zoo where he can be in an alternate environment and looked after by people who know what they are doing. You are good people, dear Inese, and a brave person. You wouldn’t catch me with that tarantula in my hand.
          Ginene

          1. Ginene, to be honest, I didn’t touch that lovely tarantula 🙂
            You are right about the Zoo. Who else would take Philip and knew how to handle him? I wouldn’t, I travel a lot, I wouldn’t commit even that I loved the creature. It is why I don’t have pets. We shouldn’t be selfish.

        2. Yes, it was heartbreaking, and I can only imagine how many animals have died in that room, brought there by their negligent owners. Reptile market is huge because their life expectation is low. It is too difficult to keep a reptile happy. Temperature, humidity, water, food – everything has to be measured and controlled.

        1. Yes, a big post about Dublin Zoo. It is a beautiful Zoo, by the way. Very spacious with plenty of room for both animals and visitors.

          1. That’s good to hear! The London zoo is not bad either. Some of the animals have quite a lot of space to run around in.

            1. People often judge the Zoos by some bad examples. In fact, there is so much good done behind the scenes, and they are a great instrument in environmental education.

              1. Very true. Many zoos do conservation work and try to protect species. Many people don’t realize that there are sometimes literally just hundreds of a certain species left in the wild, so the zoo will also preserve them simply by keeping those animals there, away from poachers.

  18. How sweet a visit, but how sad for the little water dragon. You’re absolutely right that so many buy pets out of impulse, but then don’t seem to know what to do once the novelty’s worn off. I’m glad has a good home again. 🙂

    1. Yes, I know people who bought a lizard on impulse, and it had lived only a year and died 😦 Philip was loved and cared for, it is just his parents separated and could not take care of him anymore. But they made the best decision. Every creature deserves a good life xxxxxx

  19. Must admit, Inese, i’m not too good with lizards and snakes (don’t mind spiders)
    but the text is great and the pictures are excellent.

    Big hugs

    john

    1. Thank you so much, John! 🙂 It is exactly why I write about the Reptile Zoo – a couple of visits and you would love them 🙂 The Reptile Zoo is easy to find in Gowran, Co Kilkenny.
      Hugs xx

  20. I spotted this last evening then discovered I’d misplaced both sets of reading glasses…it was thus a like was all I could manage! Another wonderful post of words and photographs. Tell me, if you know, are there any grass snakes in Ireland?

    1. Thank you for stopping by and being brave 🙂 No, there are no snakes in Ireland. There are no legless lizards in Ireland either, but I have seen a few common lizards, a newt and a dead frog ( a decade ago). I am serious, it is all I have seen 😦 It really makes me sad that small animals disappear.

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