Reptile Fest, Chicago

[MMRR - jif]

If anyone is in the area, or even a couple of hours away, you should consider taking in Reptile Fest in Chicago this weekend. It is hosted by the Chicago Herp Society and is strictly an educational event...no live animal sales although there are dry goods, supplies, and gift items for sale. I was told last night that there are close to 160 tables of reptiles and information this year. I will be attending as a member of the Iguana Squad with several different species of Cyclura and Ctenosaura. I'm also taking a couple of monitors along for the Monitor Wall which will include Croc monitors, Dumerils, albigs, Timors, and quite a few more species. There are always lots of turtles and torts, humongous snakes, and a really nice display of live crocodilians. Des will be there representing the IRCF. Lots of stuff for kids to do including a scavenger hunt and face painting!

For more info visit:

http://www.chicagoherp.org/fest/main.htm

Pics from last year.

 

[ZEKE]

cool. im nowhere near there so i wont be going but i wish i could. it looks fun.

i feel bad for those crocs tho they cant even turn around in those tubes. why are they in there and not just in a big cage where they can at least move?

 

[MMRR - jif]

photos from Fest '08

Theses first two are of iguana and gecko row. We exhibited about 40 animals that we transported from Michigan to chicago with enclosures for all of them. My van was packed to the roof!

Crocodilian alley. The enclosures look inadequate but the animals do fine for a 2 days exhibit.

There were huge snakes on display, including a 220 pound Afrock.

Box turtle table

One of the smaller gators

My ugly tired mug with my baby, Azul.

The event was a huge success with a record gate...over 6000 paying people through the doors. There were more exhibitor tables than the last 2 years and lots of educating going on. I came home with only a few animals that I didn't take... a burm, a gopher snake, a boa, and a few scorpions. For some reason they wanted to display Clifford, my red tegu, with the monitors. He got lots of wonderful comments and several people offered me some good sums of money if I were interested in selling him. I had to decline...he's not going anywhere.