The latest herp happenings from Australia and
around the world.
Expo Wows WA.
The 2017 WAHS Reptile Expo has demonstrated once
again the incredible interest in reptiles that exists in West
Australia. This biennial event was held for the first time
in a larger venue, the Claremont Showgrounds, and was
preceded by a gala dinner, for which WAHS President
Gary Davies enforced a strict dress code – you could
only get in if you were wearing your best pair of thongs!
Guest of honour Neville Burns entertained the audience
with anecdotes from a lifetime dedicated to reptiles.
At 10am the next day, Sunday 16 th July, the expo opened
with a huge queue of people waiting outside the doors.
They were treated to a wide variety of exhibitors,
interstate and local, featuring the latest in husbandry
equipment and an amazing range of reptiles native to the
state. It was interesting how the prices of animals for sale
reflected a very different captive abundance from the
eastern states. A juvenile Stimson’s Python could be
snapped up for only $50, whereas a wild type Central
Bearded Dragon could fetch up to $300. The ’Unusual
Pet Vet’, James Haberfield, was conveniently on hand to
offer free reptile sexing to prospective buyers. There
were informative talks throughout the day, including one
by our own Kit Prendergast, and Neville and Gary took
turns in holding a number of very popular demonstrations
with local elapids in a special mobile pit. Neville
certainly had his work cut out, as between the snake
shows, he gave three more talks, but he never tired of
telling people about himself!
Once again, a great deal of credit must go to the entire
team who organised this event, all of whom are volun-
teers from the West Australian Herpetological Society.
Whether you live locally or interstate, if you are inter-
ested in reptiles, it would be well worth getting along to
the next one, and there is talk of one in 2018. It is the
equal of any expo in the country, with a unique West
Australian feel – and there are no excuses as you have a
whole year to plan your trip!
Left: iHerp Australia’s Kit Prendergast with a friend.
Below left: Gary Davies conducts a demonstration with
elapids in the pit.
Below: Neville Burns made plenty of new friends in the
West. Here he is with Becca and Kim from Discover
Deadly venomous displays and education.