Community Corner
Reptile World @ Greenbelt Library
Reptile World@ Greenbelt Library!
One of America's leading reptile wildlife educators gives audiences the
opportunity to meet an interesting selection of live, large, colorful,
and gentle reptiles from all over the world. All ages.
Michael Shwedick's Reptile World will bring a variety of reptiles. These may include:
32-year-old Mexican beaded lizard named Pepe; a full-grown,
four-foot-long Chinese alligator named Okeechobee; a 3-year-old
African Nile crocodile named Kuki; a 4-year-old Mexican milk snake
named Lipstick; 10-foot-long anaconda named Jade; a full-grown
copperhead; and a cobra.
But the star of the show will be Banana Boy’s Brother, a
12-foot-long Indian rock python.
At the end of the program, Shwedick will invite the audience on
stage to touch the snake, which feels more like vinyl than a live
animal.
Exerpts from: Star Democrat Posted: Thurs., Sept. 28, 2006 1:00 am
Find out what's happening in Greenbeltwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
By GREG MAKI, Staff Writer
http://www.stardem.com/news/article_ffe4a7d3-1547-5bd8-827a-567819b50487.html?mode=story
“They might not be cute,” Shwedick said. “Reptiles might never
be cuddly. But they share our land and air.”
have slime. Snakes have shine.”
Shwedick originally shared Banana Girl in his assemblies. After
retiring her, he turned to her younger sister, Banana Peel. Then he
moved on to her brother, Banana Boy, before sharing the 4-year-old
Banana Boy’s Brother.
Find out what's happening in Greenbeltwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“I am running out of names,” he said.
Banana Boy’s Brother will grow another four to six feet and will
weigh nearly 250 pounds when fully grown, Shwedick said.
Shwedick, who is based near Annapolis, has been sharing his
reptiles with audiences since 1970. He captivated the students
during his 90-minute presentation, drawing applause when he
produced the alligator and the snakes.
Shwedick shared facts about each reptile, stressing that they
are not naturally mean creatures. Talking about Alexander the
turtle, he said, “He is more afraid of us than we could ever be
afraid of him.”
Reptiles see things bigger than them as threats and things
smaller than them as food, he said. “If we leave reptiles alone,
they will really leave us alone.”