Workshop on Reptiles Held in Kenya; Press Release by Prof. John Cooper
Thursday, July 26th, 2007A one-day workshop on the Care, Health and Welfare of Reptiles was held at the Nairobi Snake Park, National Museums of Kenya, on Wednesday 13 th June, 2007. Sponsored and supported by the British Herpetological Society (BHS), the workshop was designed primarily for those who keep and exhibit reptiles. It was intended to provide an introduction to the care of snakes, lizards, tortoises and crocodiles in captivity and how best to keep them healthy. Fifty people attended the workshop and these participants included curators of reptile collections, owners of “snake parks” and similar exhibits, academics, professional and amateur herpetologists and local naturalists.
Dr. John Cooper teaching in the Nairobi Snake Park pit; in his capable hands: a boomslang
The programme for the morning consisted of lectures on the biology of reptiles, legal aspects, captive management and health. In the afternoon there was practical work – handling of live reptiles, health-monitoring, clinical investigations and postmortem examination.
Dr. Cooper demonstrates correct procedure for herpetological autopsy
All attendees received copies of course notes and literature that was kindly provided by the BHS, the British Chelonia Group (BCG) and the journal “Applied Herpetology“.
Dr. John and Margaret Cooper with workshop participants
Full reports are in preparation. Further information about these and other events planned by the Nairobi Snake Park, National Museums of Kenya is available through Ms. Damaris Rotich, Senior Curator, National Museums of Kenya or Professor John E. Cooper, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad.
Photographs courtesy of Margaret Cooper.