Our location:
Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo is Canada’s largest reptile rescue, assisting the humane society and SPCA in rescues across Canada. Over 80% of our animals are confiscated or unwanted pets! We are a fully insured zoo, with all necessary permits and we are regularly vet-inspected!
Our Newfoundland location offers our full range of programming that includes: home birthday party packages, summer camps, school shows, specialized programing, and daycares. For years Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo has been the nation’s leader in fun, interactive, educational programming for children of all ages. Whether you are 4, 34, or 84 Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo will be the hit of your event. Our unique approach to fun, interactive, educational programming is second to none.
Little Rays Reptile Zoo Newfoundland’s programs are contracted out to Leanne Guzwell. She is not inspected or accredited by CAZA. However she works very closely with Fish and Wild Life as well as with local animal welfare organizations. Leanne is a biologist and holds all of the required permits and licenses to keep exotic animals and care for them. She has a wealth of knowledge and maintains the highest standards of animal care. Leanne continues to support animal rescue and welfare in the province.
A bit about us:
My name is Leanne Guzzwell and I have dreamed of working with reptiles for a very long time. When I first heard Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo would be visiting my home town, I knew I had to be a part of it! I began volunteering with Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo when they first visited Newfoundland in July of 2009. I continued to volunteer each year until I started the Newfoundland branch in November of 2011. I have always been very passionate about wildlife, nature and conservation and I knew this was the field I belonged in. By 2012 I had completed both a Bachelor of Arts and Science at Memorial University of Newfoundland. In the past, I have been lucky enough to work in various jobs such as training seals, teaching kids about the importance of caribou in our province and teaching both kids and adults about the plant and animal species that live in Newfoundland. My passion for reptiles began about 10 years ago when I got my very first reptile, a baby bearded dragon.
As of 2011 I have been able to teach, through our outreach program, many, many kids about one of my absolute favourite things: reptiles! In 2010 I got my certification as a reptile specialist through PIJAC Canada. I have helped numerous people in the past to rehabilitate their sick or injured reptiles. Helping and teaching people about these misunderstood creatures is why I love to do what I do. I often meet people with a fear of snakes or spiders, and I love helping them to overcome their fear; by learning about these animals and what makes up their world, you come to love, or at least respect these creatures. With a little knowledge about these animals, you realize just how fascinating they really are. My passion however, is not only reptiles, but birds as well! Last year I travelled to Corner Brook, NL to study ornithology at Grenfell University. Since then I have been an avid bird watcher and I do volunteer work in both St. John’s and Witless Bay with sea birds! If I can help an individual animal or a species as a whole through education and conservation efforts, then I feel I have successfully done my job!
“When I look into the eyes of an animal I do not see an animal. I see a living being. I see a friend. I feel a soul.”
~A.D. Williams
