snake day

  
■ The European Snake Society organises its annual Snake Day on Sunday October 11, 2009 at Expo Houten in Houten (5 km south of Utrecht), in the Netherlands. The address is Meidoornkade 24, and it can be reached by regional coach from Utrecht railway station or by coach from Houten railway station. If you travel by car choose exit ‘Houten’ on the A27 and follow the signs for the industrial park ‘Doornkade’ (also see map further on). The Snake Day opens at 9:30 hours and closes at 16:30 hours. Admission is free for members of the European Snake Society and their children in the age under 12 years, provided they bring the original entrance ticket sent with Litteratura Serpentium. Non-members pay an entrance fee of € 6,─. During the Snake Day you can get information at the Society stand and buy back volumes of Litteratura Serpentium or renew your membership of the society. There will be stands of commercial dealers offering snakes, terrariums, terrarium equipment, books, prey animals etc.

Those who want to make a table reservation for 2009, please contact Richard de Jong, phone +31-6-45930954 or e-mail secretary@snakesociety.nl

It is possible to buy or sell snakes at the Snake Day, but under certain strict restrictions:

 
  • Make sure you have all documents necessary to import and/or export the snakes you intend to bring or take back with you. If you bring snakes, bring export permissions (CITES) with them, so you can sell them to people from outside Holland
  • It is forbidden to bring or trade any of the indigenous Dutch species: Coronella austriaca, Natrix natrix, Vipera berus
  • Because of European legislation, species mentioned on the Budep-list can only be brought, bought or sold if you have arranged permits from the Dutch authorities at forehand
  • Please handle the snakes as little as possible during the Snake Day; make sure they are (and stay!) packaged during transport and during tte Snake Day
  •  It is not permitted to bring other animals than snakes apart from mice and rats for feeding purpose

Rules for venomous snakes:
For safety reasons there are special rules to be obeyed in the venomous snake area:
  • Venomous snakes are only allowed in the special venomous snake section of the building

  • Venomous snakes may not be transported in bages and must be housed individually in solid, transparant or partly transparant containers

  • The lid of each container must be sealed with broad tape so that no gaps are left between the lid and the rest of the container

  • It is forbidden to open boxes with venomous snakes during the Snake Day

  • It is not allowed to offer more than one venomous snake in a container otherwise the organisers will confiscate the snakes for the duration of the Snake Day

  • If you transport several containers at once, they must be carried together in a bag or box

  • Ventilation holes may not be so large as to allow the animal to escape or bite people

  • Each container should be marked ‘Venomous’ together with the scientific name of the snake

  • It is not allowed to take venomous snakes out of the venomous snake area

  • If you bought venomous snakes and intend to spend some more time at the Snake Day, a ‘snake care center’ is available, where you can leave your venomous snakes (free of charge) during the rest of the Snake Day

  • In the venomous snake area, non-venomous snakes should be handled like venomous snakes

  • Snakes that are not packed ‘adequately’ can be seized by the organisation during the Snake Day for reasons of safety. The snakes will be returned at the end of the Snake Day. What can be considered ‘adequately’ is to be dertermined by the organisation

The following venomous snakes require special documents (Budep). Without these papers it is forbidden to sell or buy Vipera ammodytes, Vipera seoanei, Vipera schweizeri, Vipera ursinii, Vipera xanthina and Telescopus fallax.

These rules will be implemented strictly. The organizers have the right to seize animals for the duration of the Snake Day when the rules are not adequately obeyed. The defenition of ‘adequately’ is up to the organizers! Your presence on the Snake Day means that you accept all rules and regulations!

Finally we want to inform you that smoking and the use of alcolholic drinks are not allowed in the main area and venomous section. The European Snake Society is not responsible for any kind of loss, damage or injury incurred during the Snake Day.

We count on your kind cooperation and we hope to see you on the Snake Day.