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History of Snake Park |
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The Nairobi Snake Park was started in 1959 to meet a popular
attraction and to provide a research facility on reptiles, breeding habits, skin
casting, food and reaction to climate change. It had been noted that such
studies were difficult to be carried out in any other way.
Live snakes were exhibited on experimental basis at the entrance of the Museum
in 1958 and were a great popular attraction. When the popularity was noted, the
plot of land in front of the Museum and down by the Nairobi River was acquired
by the Museum Trustees for the development of Botanical gardens and exhibition
of live snakes. This idea was developed further in 1959, when money was made
available for a combined Snake Park and Snake study centre surrounded by a
botanical garden and war memorial garden on one end.
By the end of 1960, the Snake Park was almost completed using
funds made available by the War Memorial Committee. The Snake Park was opened to
the public in January 1961. It attracted a lot of interest from the public,
researchers, conservationist and educators. The Snake Park provided a popular
amenity, as well as being most useful from a research point of view, for both
reptiles and plants, since a part of the gardens was to be devoted to indigenous
flora. Tortoises and lizards were introduced that following year (1962). The
Snake Park also attracted a number of researchers who donated a diversity of
specimens locally and internationally.
Specimens were brought in from India, Madagascar, Europe, and USA and
South America. Among the donations was the American alligator brought in 1967
and two crocodiles in 1974.
Apart from the attraction, the Snake Park provided refuge and
home for abandoned and unwanted reptiles. The Snake Park has continued to
provide refuge to a number of abandoned, threatened, rescued and unwanted
reptiles to date.
The Snake Park has continued to attract visitors steadily
over the years. The public in Nairobi over the years to date has continued to
receive help in removal of snakes from residential premises as well as advice on
handling of reptiles especially snakes. Snake identification services are also
provided. Visitors to the Snake Park get to enjoy the exhibits of reptiles, fish
and succulent plants.
Source: Official web of
National
Museums of Kenya (2009)
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