Growing up on a pig farm gave Pete an early introduction to the animal kingdom, but it was reptiles that truly captured his imagination. At the age of 12, he welcomed his first reptile—a garter snake—which sparked a lifelong passion.  By 16, Pete was working weekends in a local reptile shop, further deepening his fascination. […]

Katie’s love for animals began at a very young age. As soon as she could walk, her dad would take her on country walks to observe butterflies, grasshoppers, and all sorts of critters. Watching nature documentaries and discussing animals quickly became one of her favourite pastimes. It didn’t take long for her to realize that

REPTA has released a Large Terrestrial Chelonian Pre-Ownership Policy focused for now on two of the most demanding pet tortoises: Sulcata (Centrochelys sulcata) and Aldabra (Aldabrachelys gigantea) tortoises. Developed with input from leading experts, the policy gives REPTA members—particularly retail shops—an authoritative tool for educating customers before they commit to these long-lived, space-intensive species. It

REPTA has published its 2025 Commercial Pet Reptile Sector Analysis, revealing the extraordinary scale and contribution of the UK’s reptile trade – and highlighting urgent reforms needed to protect responsible businesses and animal welfare. Key findings from the report include: The report also confirms that the UK reptile sector now surpasses rabbits, guinea pigs, and