On November 9, 2025, while much of Manchester was absorbed with the city marathon, the DoubleTree Hotel hosted the Reptile Expo for the third time this year. As before, crowds flocked to the event, and countless snakes, turtles, and geckos were sold like mere trinkets.
NHARL held a peaceful protest outside the event. Holding a banner reading “Skip the Reptile Expo” and handing out postcards, we urged attendees to reconsider the ethics of keeping wild animals in captivity.
With runners and spectators lining the streets for the Manchester City Marathon, our banner got plenty of attention.
The cruelty of reptile shows
Reptile shows exploit reptiles and amphibians for profit, disregarding animal welfare, public health, and conservation concerns.
These expos pack convention centers with vendors who confine snakes, lizards, tortoises, frogs, and other animals in tiny containers — treating them as products rather than living beings.
Beyond the immediate stress and suffering animals endure at the show, reptile expos fuel the harmful captive reptile trade, leading to widespread animal neglect and ecological harm.
Uninformed Buyers, Unintended Cruelty
A big concern with reptile shows is how how easily reptiles are sold to people with little understanding of their complex needs.
We saw people walking out with snakes tucked inside their sweatshirts — not even in containers.
Others treated the sentient beings they had purchased like inanimate objects.
