World Reptile Day

When is Reptile Awareness Day?

Reptile Awareness Day is held every year on October 21st.

3 Reptile facts

Here are just some reptile facts to get you ready for World Reptile Day.

• Where in the world do reptiles live?

Reptiles can be found in all areas of the world except Antarctica. Hot, tropical areas will usually have more reptiles than drier, colder ones.

• Are reptiles endangered?

Yes, many species of reptiles are endangered. Border laws vary between countries, which fuels both legal and illegal international trade.

According to CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), which regulates the trade in endangered species, approximately 91% of all reptiles remain unprotected.

• Do reptiles have feelings?

Reptiles are sentient animals. They can feel emotions like joy and fear, and they have personal likes and dislikes. Some reptiles care for their offspring and even play. Captive reptiles rarely have these needs met.

What is World Reptile Day?

World Reptile Day is an international event designed to celebrate the diversity of reptiles. It’s also a time to raise awareness of the plight of reptiles worldwide.

Why is Reptile Awareness Day celebrated?

Reptiles can easily be ignored in the push for animal protection in favour of mammal and bird species. But they desperately need our help too. More than one in five reptile species is threatened with extinction — largely due to human activities and exploitation. 

Their biggest threats include:

• Habitat loss: A large proportion of reptiles are threatened by habitat loss. As forests and other reptile habitats are cleared for agriculture, logging, and urban expansion, reptiles have less suitable space to find food, shelter, and a mate. 
• Wildlife trade: Reptiles are bred for profit and taken from the wild as part of the illegal wildlife trade. Reptiles like turtles, snakes, and lizards are sold as exotic pets, while crocodiles are traded for their skins.
• Wildlife tourism: Reptiles are also bred in captivity and taken from the wild to be used as part of wildlife tourism attractions. They’re kept in stressful and unnatural environments and are often forced into cruel interactions with humans, prioritising entertainment over their welfare.

How to protect reptiles

Reptile Awareness Day is an opportunity to speak up for reptiles living in captivity or being kept as pets, as well as ongoing concerns about more reptile species becoming endangered in the wild.

You can play your part in protecting reptiles this National Reptile Awareness Day and beyond by:

• Never buying reptiles or reptile products, such as skins
• Being a responsible traveller and rejecting wildlife entertainment involving reptiles
• Supporting habitat protection and climate action
• Learning about the impacts of the exotic pet trade
• Supporting organisations working to protect wildlife and end exploitation

Donate to World Animal Protection or subscribe to stay informed and help us end wildlife exploitation.

International Reptile Awareness Day FAQs

Are lizards good pets?

Lizards shouldn’t be kept as pets. Many owners see lizards as low-maintenance pets, but this isn’t true. Lizards have complex physical, emotional, and social needs that vary wildly depending on the species.

Lizards aren’t domesticated. They’re wild animals and must remain wild to live healthy, fulfilled lives. Lizard and other reptile owners can’t properly create an ideal environment for their pets.

Should I release my pet reptile?

No! We shouldn’t be keeping reptiles as pets, but releasing pets into the wild is not a good idea. Releasing previously captive reptiles into the wild can damage the ecosystem.

If you own a pet reptile, learn as much as you can about their needs and do your best to meet them. If you can’t keep your pet reptile anymore, you should find a local rescue to take them in. 

Are reptiles cold-blooded? 

Although reptiles are often referred to as cold-blooded, this is something of a misnomer. They are instead ectotherms, meaning that they don’t generate their own body heat, but instead regulate it by moving into different temperatures. For instance, if they need to warm up they’ll move to a sunny spot, and if they need to cool down they will move to the shade.

Are birds reptiles?

It depends on which scientists you speak to. Animals can be classified in different ways. So some scientists would argue that, because they are feathered and warm-blooded, birds are not reptiles. Others would argue that, because birds and reptiles have a common ancestor in carnivorous dinosaurs, birds are in fact a type of reptile.  

Are turtles reptiles?

Turtles are reptiles. They breathe air with lungs, have scaly skin, are cold-blooded, and lay leathery or hard-shelled eggs on land.

Are dinosaurs reptiles?

Dinosaurs were a type of reptile. They differ from the reptiles of today because they had straight back legs, rather than the sprawling legs of crocodiles and lizards.

Are snakes reptiles?

Like turtles, lizards, and crocodiles, snakes are a type of reptile. While some snakes give birth to live young, most lay eggs. They also have scaly skin, are cold-blooded, and breathe air through their lungs.

What is a reptile?

A reptile is a cold-blooded animal that breathes air through its lungs. It is covered in scales or bony plates, and it sheds its dry skin sporadically. Most species lay eggs. Common types of reptiles include snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodiles, and alligators.

What do reptiles eat?

Most reptiles are carnivorous, meaning they eat insects, molluscs, birds, frogs, mammals, fish, and other reptiles. Large snakes, like the reticulated python, can even eat large mammals, like pigs and deer.

Do all reptiles lay eggs?

Not all reptiles lay eggs, though the majority do. However, some snakes and lizards give birth to live young, with mothers incubating their eggs internally.
The three-toed skink, a lizard living in Australia, can alternate between laying eggs and delivering live young depending on its environment and population. In warmer areas, they tend to lay eggs, while in colder regions they give birth to live babies.

What is the difference between reptiles and amphibians?

Reptiles and amphibians are both cold-blooded animals, and they sometimes look very similar. But there are a couple of key differences:

• Reptiles have dry, scaly skin. Amphibians have moist skin and usually have to stay close to water or a high-moisture environment.
• Most reptiles lay leathery or hard-shelled eggs on land. Amphibians lay gelatinous eggs in water.
• Reptiles start life as a smaller form of their adult selves. Amphibians start out as aquatic larvae with gills before developing lungs and limbs.

Some examples of amphibians include frogs, toads, and salamanders.

Can reptiles get rabies?

Reptiles can’t get rabies because they’re cold-blooded, so the rabies virus can’t survive in their bodies. Only mammals can contract rabies.

How do reptiles breathe?

Reptiles breathe through their lungs. Reptiles that spend time underwater have to hold their breath (which some species can do for extended periods) and come up to the surface to breathe.