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Reptiles need adopting amid 'rehoming crisis'

Josh McLaughlin / BBC Valentina the green basilisk who is about six inches long.Josh McLaughlin / BBC
The RSPCA Reptile Centre in Brighton is calling for people to adopt a reptile. Pictured, Valentina the basilisk

Pet lovers in Sussex are being urged to adopt a reptile with the RSPCA declaring a “rehoming crisis”.

The animal charity has revealed that last year it had 42% more animals handed in than those that were adopted.

Some of the animals arrived as stowaways in shipping containers or were handed in by people who could not look after them anymore.

They include Valentina, a green basilisk, who has been looking for a home for three years, and Elon the musk turtle.

George Carden / BBC A green lizard with a crest which runs down its backGeorge Carden / BBC
The reptile unit says it gets pets from owners who can no longer look after them

“This is the only RSPCA reptile unit in the entire country,” said Fred Bark, head of reptiles at the centre.

“We get them in from all different sources whether it’s people who can't look after them anymore, sometimes there’s cruelty cases, or stowaways in people’s luggage when they get back from holiday. They've also come from shipping containers and bags of salad."

He said it was important for owners to know about the different requirements of each species before getting reptile as a pet.

"It’s not as a simple as getting a cat or dog," he said.

George Carden/BBC A very bright lizard with yellow eyes looking straight at the cameraGeorge Carden/BBC
The reptiles need specialist homes with lots of space, the centre says

Other animals in the Brighton Reptile Centre include Ben the boa constrictor, Lucio who is a 5ft (1.5m) ornate monitor lizard, and Obsidian the royal python.

“We try to prioritise the animals that need the most help,” said Catt, another worker at the centre.

“I specialise in taking giant monitor lizards home because they are so hard to find the right keeper who will provide the right space for the rest of their life.”

Valentina the basilisk is one of the reptiles that has been in the centre for three years, making her one of the animals that has been there the longest without being adopted.

Catt added: “She requires such a specialist home, she needs a large enclosure where she can run, climb and swim.”

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