Tell Mall that Greedy Reptile Petting Zoo Endangers Wild Animals and Visitors

The Manassas Mall in Virginia has a dangerous petting zoo business called Raging Reptiles. On Facebook, Raging Reptiles owner Sean Masciandaro has flaunted cruelly confining reptiles in plastic bins so small the animals had to constrict their bodies. While he is not selling reptiles at the store, he is selling hands-on interactions that put wild animals in unnaturally distressing situations and seemingly serve to create more customers for his other callous business of breeding reptiles.

In addition to Raging Reptiles risking the animals’ well-being, scientific research shows that depicting interactions between humans and wild animals increases interest in the exotic “pet” trade, drives up illegal wildlife trafficking, decreases support for conservation, and contributes to harmful human-wildlife incidents. Hundreds of wild animals have suffered and died at other similarly dangerous hands-on businesses at malls, and dozens of guests—including children—have been injured in attacks.

To endanger wild animals and wildlife conservation efforts, all for a money-hungry reptile breeder to make a buck, is a clear example of speciesism—a human supremacist worldview. But the tides are changing. Other local businesses have already turned away Raging Reptiles, and similarly seedy interactive outfits have been shutting down or prevented from opening in several states nationwide.

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