QUEENSLAND TIMES (Ipswich, Australia) 15 November 10 Festival a slithering success (Zane Jackson)
Most people run away when they see snakes – not flock to the scaly serpents in their thousands.
But that’s what happened at Ipswich’s second annual Scales and Tails Reptile Festival on Saturday, with a bumper crowd on hand to see an interesting array of snakes, reptiles and turtles.
About 2500 people packed the Ipswich Turf Club grounds to see a range of demonstrations and stalls selling everything from enclosures to frozen rats.
A speech on conservation by well-known wildlife campaigner Bob Irwin was also a major drawcard.
Co-organiser Joy Kuligowski, whose family publishes the Scales and Tails magazine, said it was a great day for beginners and reptile experts alike.
“We tried to cater for everybody – from people who are only just looking to get into having reptiles to more-experienced reptile handlers,” she said.
Andrew Chant, an Ipswich-based breeder with Premier Pythons, attracted plenty of attention with his albino Darwin carpet python.
“The hobby’s becoming more and more popular. It becomes a bit of an addiction once you get a reptile,” he said.
“Snakes are a really low-maintenance pet – you feed them once a week.”
Those as brave as Blake Walker, four, and sister Elana, three, took the opportunity to have their picture taken with a python.
Organisers said they were confident the popular event would return next year.
Festival a slithering success