Conference registration will open at 8:00AM

Conference Introduction

Responsible Herpetoculture can engage and educate the wider population about the creatures we care so much about and even be a tool for species conservation in the current global extinction crisis. Some people philosophically challenge the concept of housing animals in a captive state and their ideas, once thought marginal, are gaining traction and starting to influence legislators and wider society. Our pastimes and livelihoods are consequently threatened, and it is incumbent on us to demonstrate that we go further than ‘not doing harm’ and we benefit the animals we look after. There is no doubt that the management of reptiles and amphibians in captivity has developed enormously with many species once considered difficult now being routinely bred by both private and professional keepers. The presentation covers a brief historical perspective then attempts to identify current trends and to ‘read the runes’ to postulate our community might be headed.

Changing international, european and national conditions and laws will change herpetological husbandry in the future. Together with the amphibian crises, new deseases and a bashing in the society against keeping animals new perspectives are necessary to lead our hobby into the future. Citizen science, new forms of cooperation’s and a more intense exchange of knowledge could be a part of the solution. But the herpetological society needs to more open minded to political thinking instead of keeping in the ivory tower in which we are close to the eternal “starry heavens of insight”.

15 Minute break with refreshments

Cognition in reptiles has historically been a very neglected subject and this in turn has led to many common and inaccurate beliefs, suppositions and misunderstandings regarding their supposed lack of emotion and cognitive complexity that have become widely accepted without question in the mainstream hobby. In turn this can result in us not doing justice to our pets' husbandry. But in fact reptiles can have surprising cognitive complexity and this directly affects their need for enriching and stimulating environments that encourage natural behaviour and psychological well-being. It is of course important not to anthropomorphise these animals but this in turn can lead to the opposite and, if anything, more insidious situation: mechanomorphism, or equating the animal to an unfeeling, insentient machine. Francis Cosquieri outlines the history of cognition in reptiles and takes us through some surprising examples of reptile emotion, intelligence and sociality that may change the way you perceive your pets, and offers examples of how these concepts can be incorporated into better husbandry.

Oliver Witte reports on the husbandry and offspring of Trimeresurus insularis, focusing on special posture requirements. Co-author of this lecture is Jan Monhoff, Wuppertal, Germany.

1 Hour for lunch... included in conference registration.

The welfare needs of rodents must be provided for under the Animal Welfare Act, even if they are destined to be fed to other animals rather than kept as pets and even if they are killed prior to feeding. Of particular concern is the method by which rodents are killed, with obvious concerns about live-feeding, but also for those animals killed prior to feeding. Exposure to Carbon Dioxide, a method often used by commercial breeders and some home breeders raises significant welfare concerns as it may cause pain and/or anxiety. Alternatively, rodents may be killed by physical methods such as cervical dislocation which, although potentially more humane, require technical competence to avoid the possibility of causing significant suffering. Using extensive evidence from the laboratory animal welfare field where these species are also commonly kept and killed, I will discuss the welfare impacts of the various methods and what this means for herpetologists who are also keen to maximise the welfare of the animals they use as food. Rodents may be bred and killed by commercial suppliers or by owners of reptiles, I will consider the implications of these two approaches in terms of animal welfare. I am keen to seek the views of the herpetological community on how we might ensure the welfare of rodents raised for food, perhaps by the development of guidelines or educational materials to promote best practice for housing and humane killing and hope this talk will serve as a starting point for discussion.

The winner of the student competition will be announced. The runners up and all other applicants thank for their efforts.

The winning student from out student competition will be invited to present there work.

15 minute break with refreshments

The talk will be about some of the lesser-known species held in the Reptile House at Drayton Manor, Smaug mossambicus and Smaug giganteus, two representatives of Girdled Lizards from Southern Africa. The talk will include topics of husbandry, the hypothesis of seasonal variation as a trigger for breeding in these species, as well as what has been learned, what is planned, and what the future may hold for these exciting projects.

Following on the talk from tim Baker the senior keeper at Drayton Manor we will all be taken down to the zoo area of the park. Here you can marvel at the ever evolving collection and ask as many questions as you like.

The evening buffet will start from 7PM. Please note this is not included in the conference registration tickets and that a seperate ticket is required.

Tell has a very extensive portfolio of his art but a few paintings have special back stories. He has been mulling over producing a book about the artwork and this conference will start that idea being implemented and become, now, part of his own story. Tell will pick a few of his favourite artworks and share with us the story and personalities associated with that piece of art.