Press: Reptile show-and-tell captivates school

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: (Photo: Matthew Findley holds a reticulated python so that Lucille Moore Elementary School students can touch it on Thursday, during a show by the Bay County Reptile and Amphibian Society. Alex Irizarry, 9, is in the background. News Herald Photos: Robert Cooper.) : NEWS-HERALD (Panama City, Florida) 02 February 01 Reptile show-and-tell captivates school (Mohammad A. Faruqui) : Snakes, lizards and blue-tongued skinks - oh my. : The Bay County Reptile and Amphibian Society held a show and tell at Lucille Moore Elementary School on Thursday. : "This is a pair of African Fat Tail Gecko and here is a pair of Leopard Gecko," said Kira Burdeshaw, president of the Reptile Society. "They are unusual geckos because they have eyelids. : "Do you know the GEICO gecko from the (insurance) commercials on TV? That's a Giant Day Gecko and it really does lick its eyeballs." : She said the Giant Day lacks eyelids, so it has to lick the eyeballs to keep them moist and clean. : The school cafeteria was full of whispering and gasping third- and fourth-graders who were anxious to touch every animal displayed. : The Reptile Society gave educational handouts to teachers so they could encourage the children to research and learn more about the animals. : "There is so much information about every animal but it is hard to detail all 15 of the ones we're displaying in 45 minutes," said John "Snake Boy" Moravek, vice-president of the Reptile Society. : He said people who keep venomous or exotic animals have to be federally licensed after taking at least 1,000 hours of "handling training" for each type of animal. : Some of the exotic animals shown were boa constrictors and anacondas. : "I also have this Rose Haired Tarantula," said Moravek. "It has half-inch venomous fangs. : "But its primary method of defense, when a large animal attacks, is to release some of its fur into the air." : He said the fur would act like a respiratory irritant. : Members of the Reptile Society often help local police departments with rescuing exotic or dangerous animals that might be loose in people's yards. : "It's kind of a nuisance removal service," said Burdeshaw. "We then release the animal into an environment, where it can thrive." : Reptile notes : The Reptile Society meets at the Junior Museum of Bay County on the third Wednesday of every month, at 6 p.m. : Neighborhood nuisance removal can often be at the expense of the Reptile Society if an animal has to be taken to a veterinarian. So, most donations and collections from shows go to pay veterinary bills. : Source: John "Snake Boy" Moravek

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