Date: Friday 19th March 2027
Time: 10:00 – 14:00
Location: Online (link provided upon registration)
Cost: £30 per attendee
Delivered by:
Dr Sonya Miles BVSc CertAVP (ZM), CertAqV, MRCVS
RCVS Recognised Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine
WAVMA Certified Aquatic Species Veterinarian
Just Exotics
Chaired by: Sharon Edwards, Senior Animal Health Inspector, City of London
Overview
Join us for this dedicated half-day CPD event focused exclusively on reptile welfare and compliance within UK farm attractions.
Developed in response to feedback from our 2026 programme, this session provides greater depth, more detailed guidance, and significantly increased time for discussion, allowing delegates to explore the complexities of reptile care and inspection in real-world settings.
Each session combines in-depth teaching with extended opportunities for discussion, and will highlight:
- Welfare issues specific to reptiles in farm attraction settings
- Relevant legislation, licensing, and inspection frameworks
- Recommended and unadvisable husbandry practices
- Zoonotic risks (including Salmonella) and public health considerations
- A structured, practical set of reptile welfare standards
- A clear, applicable checklist for use by attractions and local authorities
What makes this session different?
– Focuses on one complex taxonomic group in detail
– Explains why reptiles require a fundamentally different inspection approach
– Emphasises environmental management as the core driver of welfare
– Addresses hidden and chronic welfare failure, not just overt disease
– Provides practical tools that can be immediately applied in inspections or husbandry
Core topics covered
– Accommodation and enclosure provision
– Environmental control (temperature, lighting, humidity)
– Water provision and aquatic systems
– Nutrition and supplementation
– Handling and public interaction
– Hygiene, biosecurity, and zoonotic risk
– Health monitoring and veterinary oversight
– Record keeping and compliance
– Higher-risk categories (venomous and native species)
Delegates will receive
– Reptile-specific welfare standards
– Practical inspection and compliance checklist
– Summary of relevant legislation and best practice
– Certificate of attendance (Reptile Welfare CPD)
Who is this CPD for?
– Farm park and animal attraction staff responsible for reptile care and husbandry
– Local authority inspectors overseeing animal welfare standards
– Veterinary professionals and animal care students
– Professionals and volunteers who influence or implement welfare standards
Agenda
10:00 – 10:10
Welcome and introduction
Sharon Edwards, Senior Animal Health Inspector, City of London
10:10 – 10:30 (20 mins)
Foundations: Why reptiles require a different approach
10:30 – 11:20 (50 mins)
Enclosure Design & Practical Husbandry
11:20 – 12:20 (60 mins)
Environmental Control: The Core of Reptile Welfare
12:20 – 12:30
Comfort break
12:30 – 13:00 (30 mins)
Nutrition, Handling, Public Interaction & Biosecurity
13:00 – 14:00 (60 mins)
Case Discussion & Extended Q&A
