Sept. 16 to 19 is Reptilemania at the San Diego Zoo.
Reptilemania takes place Sept. 16 to 19 at the San Diego Zoo. The newly renovated Fetter Family Galápagos Tortoise Exhibit will open on the first day of Reptilemania.
At Reptilemania, reptile enthusiasts can help name the zoo's youngest snapping turtle, watch zookeepers wrangle rattlesnakes, view and participate in animal feedings, and examine preserved reptile and amphibian specimens from the San Diego Natural History Museum. There will be dragon-themed dance performances on Saturday and Sunday. Throughout the event, families can visit a children's craft booth to make reptile-themed crafts. Young and old alike can participate in the reptile scavenger hunt.
The San Diego Zoo has more than 100 species of reptiles and amphibians.
A New Home for the Galápagos Tortoises
The San Diego Zoo's newly renovated Fetter Family Galápagos Tortoise Exhibit will be unveiled Sept. 16, the first day of Reptilemania. The exhibit will have a new, bigger barn with an indoor nest area, rubber-cushioned walls to prevent shell damage, windows and skylights, protection from weather extremes and four separate entrances. Outside the barn will be three large exhibit areas and one smaller, off-exhibit section. New outdoor features include pools to soak in, terraced ground for exploring and planters with San Diego-grown cacti and other succulents. There will also be an area in which zoo visitors can interact with the Galápagos tortoises when a zookeeper is present, and they may even have the opportunity to help feed the tortoises or scratch their necks.
The San Diego Zoo is home to 17 Galápagos tortoises, representing at least five subspecies from the Galápagos Islands. Some of the Galápagos tortoises at the zoo are yet to be identified by their exact origins on the Galápagos Islands.
