World Reptile Awareness Day | What are Reptiles? | Reptiles Conservation

World Reptile Awareness day is celebrated annually on October 21^st. However, the day aims to raise awareness about reptiles, their importance to ecosystems and reptiles conservation. Moreover, it also highlights the threats to reptiles including illegal wildlife trade or wildlife smuggling, deforestation and climate change. What are Reptiles? Reptiles are cold blooded vertebrate animals. They include snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, crocodiles, and tuataras.

Moreover, it also raises people’s awareness about how reptiles suffer when they live in captivity or kept as pets. Thus, these threats are making reptiles endangered in the wild.

What is the History of World Reptile Awareness Day?

World Reptile awareness day was first celebrated in 2010.  The collaboration of herpetology enthusiasts, zoos, conservationist and private animal owners created this day.  However, the day aims to promote reptiles conservation and to highlights the threats they face in the wild. The World Veterinary Associations also supports this day for reptile conservation. This association encourages veterinarians and veterinary associations to engage in education about reptile care, including nutrition, housing, health monitoring, and public outreach worldwide.

Initially, people celebrated it as National Reptile Day. Over time, the celebration gained international recognition and now observed worldwide.

سانپوں کا عالمی دن، سانپوں کی اہمیت اور دلچسپ خصوصیات

What is the Purpose of World Reptile Awareness Day?

Main purpose of this day is to educate people about reptiles and their importance in ecosystems. Reptiles control pest populations, serve as both predator and prey in the wild. This day serve as a reminder to control their illegal trade and smuggling. Every reptile has its own role in the environment.

Through this day celebration, wildlife conservationists encourage people to protect reptile habitats and raise voice against their captivity.

کچھووں کا عالمی دن، کچھووں کے حوالے سے اہم معلومات اور دلچسپ حقائق

What are Reptiles?

Reptiles are ectotherms (cold-blooded) vertebrates and belong to the class Reptilia. These reptiles include snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, crocodiles, and tuataras. They have epidermal scales all over their body, amniotic development and lay shelled eggs on the land.  The class Reptilia divided into four orders. These orders include Crocodylia, Testudines, Squamata, and Rhynchocephalia.

First order Crocodylia includes Crocodiles, Alligators, and Caimans. Second order Testudines also called chelonians consists of tortoises and turtles. Third order Squamata contains lizards and snakes and fourth order Rhynchocephalia contains only 1 living species, the Tuatara.

Reptiles Conservation status and Conservation efforts

Reptiles including snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, crocodiles, and tuataras play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. However, despite their importance, they face growing threats worldwide. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), nearly 21% of all reptile species are threatened with extinction. Their population is declining due to habitat loss, climate change, pollution, poaching, and illegal wildlife trade. Therefore, IUCN has listed them under various threat categories.

The IUCN has listed out of the 19% of reptiles threatened with extinction, 12% classified as Critically Endangered, 41% Endangered and 47% Vulnerable.

Despite this status,  organizations are working on reptiles conservation efforts to control their population decline. These conservation efforts include protection of habitat loss, captive breeding programs and policy advocacy to control illegal wildlife trade.

Most importantly, World reptile awareness day is playing a vital role in raising awareness about reptiles. Additionally, many wildlife conservation organizations and zoos are working to protect them. Furthermore, research and monitoring organizations like the IUCN Reptile Specialist Group, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) Trust, and Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) are collecting vital data about reptile distribution, threats, and population trends. This information supports the development of targeted conservation actions.

Editor In Chief

Dr. Jassar Aftab is a qualified Veterinarian having expertise in veterinary communication. He is a renowned veterinary Journalist of Pakistan. He is veterinary columnist, veterinary writer and veterinary analyst. He is the author of three books. He has written a number of articles and columns on different topics related to livestock, dairy, poultry, wildlife, fisheries, food security and different aspects of animal sciences and veterinary education.

See Full Bio