- The team of The newspaper He visited the Caracas Terrarium and the Aqua Reptarium to learn regarding the tours they offer and the types of snakes you can come into contact with.
Snakes are reptiles that cause fear in many people, but at the same time, curiosity. In Venezuela there are more than 198 species of snakes, of which only 20% are considered dangerous to humans.
According to experts, these reptiles are part of the ecosystem and their presence is essential for the balance of nature. In the city of Caracas there are two terrariums that function as a conservation center for this animal species, as well as for exhibition and contact with the public.
The team of The newspaper He took a tour of the Caracas Terrarium, located in the Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Park, and the Aqua Reptarium at the Caricuao Zoo, to learn regarding the species of snakes they have, as well as details of the guided tours.
Caracas Terrarium
The Caracas Terrarium has on display various types of reptiles, arthropods and amphibians from Venezuela and other parts of the world. Gerardo Tortorela, the person in charge of the collection, explained that it has more than 60 specimens of snakes, most of them on display.
Although the names of snakes vary depending on the region, their scientific name is unique. These are some of the species of snakes that can be seen at the Caracas Terrarium:
-Green anaconda (Eunectes murinus)
-Mexican False Coral (Lampropeltis annulata)
-Blood Python (Python brongersmai)
-Mapanare (Bothrops colombiensis)
-Jingle Bell (Crotalus)
-Boa Arborícola (Corallus Ruschenbergerii)
-Rat snake (Senticolis triaspis)
-Uracoa Rattlesnake (Crotalus vegrandis)
-Burmese Python (Python bivittatus): albino and green.
-Madagascar Boa (Acrantophis madagascariensis)
During the tour, the guides provide information regarding each specimen and where they come from, since many of them are only seen in certain regions of the country. In addition, the specialists detail the diet of these species, as well as their methods of survival.
World Snake Day
Every July 16th, World Snake Day is commemorated, a date to raise awareness regarding the value of this animal species. Of the almost 200 species of snakes that exist in Venezuela, which are grouped into 8 families.
The snake is a type of reptile characterized by its elongated body and lack of legs. This species can move both on land and in water. Its skin is covered with scales and its type of skeleton provides flexibility.
These animals are carnivores and feed mainly on prey from other species; to do so, they use a constriction mechanism to suffocate their prey or by injecting venom through a bite.
Price of tickets to the Caracas Terrarium
The Caracas Terrarium is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Tickets cost 108 bolivars and photos with the animals cost 36 bolivars. Children under 4 years of age and seniors enter for free.
The animal shows are held only on weekends and last at least 30 minutes. On weekdays, people can visit the site accompanied by guides and feed the turtles (food costs 36 bolivars).
People can take photos with some species of snakes during the tours offered by the terrarium on weekends. The snakes that can come into contact with humans vary depending on the date, since only those that have already eaten and gone through their digestion stage are taken out of their niches.
Currently, the Caracas Terrarium has among its services “the mobile terrarium”, with which they attend schools or birthday parties and bring several specimens to provide an educational show.
Water Reptarium
The Aqua Reptarium is an ex-situ conservation centre, which is understood as the maintenance of some components of biodiversity outside their natural habitats. Its spaces have more than 80 niches containing reptiles, amphibians, arthropods and small mammals.
The terrarium has several species of snakes. Here are some of them:
-Cascabel (Crotalus)
-Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus)
-Anaconda verde (Eunectes murinus)
-Mapanare (Bothrops colombiensis)
-Burmese python (Python bivittatus): albino and green.
-Royal python (Python regius)
-Eyelash vipers (Bothriechis schlegelii)
-Cazadora negra (Drymarchon pearls)
-Tragavenado (Boa constrictor)
– Snakes (Colubridae)
At the entrance of the place you can see several meerkats, which were confiscated and rescued following being trafficked to Venezuela. They are currently under the care of the Caricuao Zoo.
Aqua Reptarium opening hours and ticket prices
The Aqua Raptarium is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on weekends from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. General admission is $2 and admission for people ages 5 to 15 is $25 bolivars. Children under 5 and seniors over 60 are admitted free.
Sidney Calderón, guide and caretaker of the terrarium, explained that the days when contact with the snakes is possible are Saturdays and Sundays. Photos cost 1 dollar or 40 bolivars.
In the Aqua Reptarium you can see other species such as tortoises, turtles, chameleons, frogs, iguanas, lizards, among others.
Awareness talks
The Caracas Terrarium has a team of veterinarians, assistants and caretakers who are responsible for the health and well-being of all the species found there. The guides provide information regarding the species to visitors and give talks regarding the importance of their conservation.
Gerardo Tortorela explained that there is no such thing as a bad snake, because these species are pest controllers because they feed on small rodents and other snakes. “It is more beneficial to have a live snake as an ally than to kill it when you encounter one,” he said.
The Aqua Reptarium guides are also responsible for educating visitors regarding snake conservation and providing some recommendations if they encounter one.
In their spaces they also have a store where they sell souvenirs and items related to snakes and other species. Shirts and caps with images of the species in the collection cost $8 and $6, respectively.
Both spaces function as a sanctuary for the specimens of the different species they have, many of which were rescued or born in captivity.
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2024-07-16 13:00:43
