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Fancy petting a python? Snuggling up to a sand boa?
Visitors to the National Zoological Gardens in Dehiwela will be able to handle selected reptiles and take photographs with them following the success of a pilot project aimed at educating people to conquer their fear and disgust of the creatures.
“I thought the snake would get me but he did nothing,” said Senuka, a four-year-old boy who petted an anaconda. “He is a good snake. I’m not scared of them any more.”
The programme is aimed at conquering one’s fear of snakes. Pix by Anura Bandara
“This programme takes place from Monday to Wednesday during the school vacation. After schools reopen it will be held during weekends,” an official said.
The objective was to give the message to people that all reptiles are not venomous and dangerous.
The curator of the herpetarium (reptilian section) and aquarium, Sumedha Abeysinghe, said visitors would be allowed to touch and stand for a picture with reptiles such as pythons (Python molurus molurus), green anacondas (Eunectes murinus), Sri Lankan sand boas (Gongylophis conicus brevis) as well as star tortoises (Geochelone elegans).
Say cheese: It’s time to pose with a python
He said two sets of animals would be used for this programme to minimise health risks. Two pythons, two pairs of green anacondas, two sand boas and six star tortoises will be used.
“We use well-trained reptiles. Pythons have been taken to Kid’s Corner in former years and never had been aggressive, Mr. Abeysinghe said.
He explained that snakes are trained when they are young. He said zoo keepers trained them with frequent petting.
An education program be would run alongside the physical contact program to teach visitors about venomous and harmless snakes.
Sampath Amarasinghe, a keeper in the herpetarium, said tickets for the contact and photograph opportunity would be limited to 50. Tickets would cost Rs.100, and double that for overseas visitors.
The programme would have a limited time slot, from 1pm-4pm, another zoo-keeper said.
People can photograph themselves with the zoo exhibits, and if they are not carrying a camera zoo employees would have one and take a photograph for them and email it to them free of charge.
Three keepers will be on hand to ensure the safety of both visitor and reptile.
Mr. Abeysinghe said the changing temperature of reptiles and the constant temperature of humans made it possible for there to be safe contact between the two species without risk of disease.
Schoolboy Dusheeban Kumara said that he had touched the big python and the anacondas and found it to be like touching fish, and his fear of snakes had gone away.
“Holding snakes is cool,” said young Sukanthan Sivakumar. “I was scared and thought this would be a dangerous thing but I know at here at the zoo it is a safe thing to do.”
Nimal, a technician in a garment factory, said it was the experience of a lifetime and thanked the zoo for giving him the privilege of having his photo taken with a python.
Ayesha Alvis said that snakes filled her with disgust but after the experience of touching them at the zoo the revulsion had vanished. She said she did not understand how pythons and anacondas, which are shown as monsters in movies, were so harmless.