PERENTIE MONITOR FUND RAISING PROJECT
YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED
Terri
Irwin, wife of the late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve
Irwin, and owner of the renowned Australia Zoo
announced February,2007, that Indian River Reptile
Zoo would be the recipient of a breeding pair of
Perentie Monitors.
This
gift to Canada was in gratitude for Canada's
support of Steve Irwin's early films. Canada was
the first country to support Steve in his efforts
to educate the world concerning reptiles.
We need to expand our zoo to provide a home for these two rare captive bred reptiles.
Contributions have started to come in from local businesses and we invite everyone to become a sponsor. Donations can be sent by cheque or money order to: Indian River Reptile Fund, R.R.#3, Indian River, Ontario, K0L, 2BO. Donations can also be made securely over the internet via Paypal
We need to expand our zoo to provide a home for these two rare captive bred reptiles.
Contributions have started to come in from local businesses and we invite everyone to become a sponsor. Donations can be sent by cheque or money order to: Indian River Reptile Fund, R.R.#3, Indian River, Ontario, K0L, 2BO. Donations can also be made securely over the internet via Paypal
Indian
River Reptile Zoo will be one of only two zoos in
North America to have these amazing animals on
display.
OUR ZOO IS A SANCTUARY
The
Indian River Reptile Zoo is the only reptile zoo in
Canada that does not sell reptiles and is not a pet
store.
Many people do not realize that reptiles are abandoned just like cats and dogs. Sadly, over 90% of people that purchase reptiles at other reptile “zoos” and pet stores do not keep the reptile. They frequently die due to improper care, are given up because they have grown too large, lived too long or are difficult to care for. When animals are seized by Wildlife Canada, The Ministry of Natural Resources, OSPCA, Humane Society Offices, the reptiles are brought to Indian River Reptile Zoo. In order to house and care for these animals and others we rescue, we have started a non-profit charity called The Indian River Reptile Fund.
Many people do not realize that reptiles are abandoned just like cats and dogs. Sadly, over 90% of people that purchase reptiles at other reptile “zoos” and pet stores do not keep the reptile. They frequently die due to improper care, are given up because they have grown too large, lived too long or are difficult to care for. When animals are seized by Wildlife Canada, The Ministry of Natural Resources, OSPCA, Humane Society Offices, the reptiles are brought to Indian River Reptile Zoo. In order to house and care for these animals and others we rescue, we have started a non-profit charity called The Indian River Reptile Fund.
This
fund will also support the expansion of enclosures
for the animals at the zoo and the construction of
an enclosure to house the Perentie Monitors gifted
to our zoo by the Irwin family and the Australia
Zoo.
The
Perentie (Varanus giganteus) is the largest
Australian monitor lizard. They are dark in colour,
grey or brown with rows of light coloured spots or
stripes. They display a forked tongue, a long
slender neck, flattened head, strong tail, powerful
legs with 5 clawed toes. They have numerous sharp
curved backward pointing teeth and excrete toxic
venom with their bite. These lizards can grow to a
length in excess of 2.5 meters and weigh up to
15kg.
