Open 10am to 5pm

The Reptile Encounter features more than 20 reptile species in 17 purpose-built reptile exhibits with landscaping to match each animal’s natural habitat.

Opened on World Environment Day 1997, the Reptile Encounter invites visitors into the fascinating world of snakes, lizards and tortoises. It is fully air conditioned and displays some of Western Australia's unique reptile fauna as well as some of the world's more interesting snakes and lizards.

Don't miss the Reticulated Python, one of the world's largest snakes, or the deadly Dugite! Watch the Fijian Crested Iguana change colour from green to black.

There are daily reptile special presentations by our experienced keepers. This is the perfect opportunity to cure any phobias and answer your questions about snakes.

What's in the Reptile Encounter ‘Nursery’?

Oblong Turtle
Chelodina oblonga

Born in early July 2006, our new Oblong Turtle can be seen exploring his new home. The Oblong Turtle, with is extraordinarily long neck, is commonly found in water ways around suburban Perth. Nesting takes place between September and January each year. Females will seek out suitable nesting sites near water bodies, sometimes even in residential backyards. During these times it is important to watch out for tortoises crossing the road.

Jacky Lizard
Amphibolurus muricatus 

These lizards are usually found perched on logs. Their skin colour helps them camouflage against the wood to avoid predators. Jacky Lizards belong to the same family as the Frilled Dragon. Like the Frilled Dragon and
other agamids, the Jacky Lizard runs on its
hind legs to escape its pursuers.

Discover some of the other animals on display in the Reptile Encounter...

Dugite  
Dugites are venomous snakes that vary in colour from grey to olive to brown on the top of their bodies, with an olive or yellowish belly. Dugites may be found sheltering beneath logs or rocks or living in abandoned burrows or hollow logs.

Fijian Crested Iguana  
When a Fijian Crested Iguana is aroused or disturbed, it rapidly changes colour from green to jet black. The reversal process takes much longer.

Frilled Dragon  
This lizard is the largest of Australia’s ‘dragon’ family of lizards, or agamids. It is most commonly known because of the large frill around its neck that extends when threatened.

Perentie  
The Perentie is Australia’s largest lizard. Perenties track their prey by sight or by sensing with their tongue. Once caught, the Perentie will violently shake the prey until it is dead and then swallow it whole.

Tiger Snake  
Tiger Snakes are one of the world’s deadliest snakes. While they are most active during they day, these snakes can sometimes be found hunting at night.

Western Blue-tongue Skink  
Western Blue-tongued Skinks are smooth-scaled and have a broad, triangular shaped head. They also have a fleshy blue tongue, which gives them their name.

Woma  
The Woma is grey-brown or golden-brown on its back with dark brown bands across its body and a yellow or white belly. Unlike other pythons, the Woma has a narrow, pointed head causing it to often be mistaken for a venomous snake.