The Phoenix Herpetological Society

                       

 

The Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary (PHS) is the largest non-profit reptile sanctuary in the United States. The Sanctuary plays a key role in reptiles’ and amphibians’ lives in Arizona. “On any given day, we have over 1,200 animals on the property,” says Daniel Marchand, the founder of the PHS. The Sanctuary receives their animals through the public, law enforcement, and animal welfare leagues.

Founded in 2001, the PHS’s main goal is rescue and rehabilitation. At the time, there were no shelters or sanctuaries for unwanted pet reptiles. “Some people buy exotic pets without knowing how to care for them,” says Bronti Montemayor, a conservation educator at the PHS. Although a large number of animals taken in used to be pets, the PHS also takes in native and non-native species. Another key focus of the sanctuary is their conservation efforts through education. Last year, the PHS outreach program helped 250,000 people – mainly children. Their educational programs include youth camps, educational trainings, demonstrations, and field trips.

                               

 

A Sanctuary of Rare Species and Antivenom

Today, the PHS is home to many remarkable species including one of the oldest crocodiles in the world at 93 years old! Also at the Sanctuary are a pair of Red Foxes, Capybaras, and Kinkajous. In addition, it holds the only antivenom bank in the western United States. An antivenom bank holds a large amount of antivenom, which can be taken to stop the effects of a venomous animal. The antivenom bank is necessary while handling the many venomous species on the property and in the Sonoran Desert.

Currently, the Sanctuary takes in more than 300 reptiles a year and provides training and classes for thousands of people. “The founders would never have expected the PHS to have transformed into the zoological facility we are today,” says Montemayor. Thanks to the community’s support, the Sanctuary continues to stay committed to provide a haven for creatures in need.