Nature Park opens reptile exhibition, raises snakebite awareness

PYTHONS, lizards and turtles were exhibited at the long-awaited Reptile Haus at the Port Moresby Nature Park yesterday.
“The ability of multiple organisations to come together and jointly support and fund our new Reptile Haus facility has been wonderful,” Nature Park general manager Michelle McGeorge said.
She said the facility would provide important messages on education, conservation and health.
“I have no doubt that the signage and messages within the exhibit on venomous snakes will one day save someone’s life.
“Reptiles are often misunderstood, particularly in Papua New Guinea where they are often feared, mainly snakes,” McGeorge said.
“We are committed to educating the community on snakes and reptiles and their importance within our ecosystem.”
The new reptile house will showcase six non-venomous snake species, three lizards and two turtle species, the largest collection of reptiles on public display in PNG.
Of the 112 snakes in PNG, only seven are life-threatening to humans.
“This exhibit also enable us the ability to raise awareness on venomous snakes and the risks that they place on humans,” McGeorge said.
The park together with St John Ambulance and the Charles Campbell Toxinology Centre (CCTC) will be partnering for the next six weeks for the Snaketastic event from Sept 7 to Oct 13 to raise awareness on the importance of snakes and how to be snake safe.
St John Ambulance chief executive officer, Matthew Cannon said Snaketastic was a wonderful platform by the park to learn about the different types of snakes in the country.
“PNG has some of the most venomous snakes in the world and early first aid management of snakebite is the most important step to saving a life before getting to a hospital,” he said.
“Don’t cut snakebite wounds or suck the venom out because it doesn’t help.”
The Komuniti First Aid team from St John PNG will be at the park throughout the event to provide general first aid information while the CCTC will be giving live demonstrations on the making of anti-venom, used to save lives in the hospital.
Holy Rosary Primary School grade six students were the first to see the exhibition as part of a plant and animal classifications exercise.
Nature Park chairman Murry Woo thanked and acknowledged the sponsors, Red Sea Housing Ltd, Exxon Mobil PNG, Niugini Glass and Aluminium, Sir Brian Bell Foundation, Curtain Brothers, Moni Plus, Goodman Fielder, Oil Search, The National, Total and Amazing Port Moresby for their support in building the Reptile Haus.