In Rennes, a refuge collects abandoned lizards and snakes -

20 Minutes

  • In Rennes, Benoist Baucheron opened a refuge for abandoned reptiles and amphibians.

  • While waiting to find a more suitable place, he collects in his apartment snakes and lizards abandoned by their owners.

  • With his Zanndoli association, he wants to break down prejudices about reptiles, in particular through desensitization workshops.

The atmosphere is hot and humid and the vegetation is omnipresent.

In the bedroom of this apartment located south of Rennes, the decor looks like a tropical forest.

This is where Benoist Baucheron fully lives his passion for snakes and reptiles.

In the terrariums that surround the room, royal pythons wisely coexist with blue-tongue lizards, chameleons and even turtles.

Some of his creatures belong to the "personal collection" of the young man, very early in the reptilian bath.

“I grew up when I was two years old with a turtle,” says Benoist, who holds a bachelor's degree in biology.

And at 14, it was the trigger during a family trip to Guadeloupe where I was able to discover a whole bunch of lizards ”.

Owning a reptile has constraints

His fascination with reptiles will no longer leave him with the firm intention of making a profession of them.

After having learned to "handle scorpions and crocodiles" at the Tropical Farm in Paris and followed courses in zoological parks, the young man, aged 23, embarked on the adventure in the spring by launching with three friends the Zanndoli association.

Like the SPA for dogs and cats, the structure is intended as a refuge for abandoned reptiles and amphibians.

Each week, Benoist sees the arrival in his apartment of nice creatures neglected by their owners.

"There are plenty of scenarios," said the young man.

There are some who buy a snake from a pet store on a whim but are unaware that it takes up space and that it lives a long time.

There are others who collect the animals after the death of the owner and do not know what to do with them ”.

Looking for a more suitable place

No reception structure exists for reptiles in Brittany, so they turn to Benoist, the Good Samaritan.

After a complete check-up to ensure that the animals are in good health, the latter then has the task of finding them a new foster family.

“I question the new owners a lot and I can also refuse to let the animal go if I don't feel them,” he says.

In lack of space to accommodate all these beautiful people, Benoist and his associates are now trying to find a place more suited to their activity.

"We are looking but it is not easy, the owners are a little puzzled when we tell them that we take care of snakes and lizards", he smiles.

Our Animals file

Once the premises have been found, the young man has already planned to organize desensitization workshops there to “dispel misconceptions” about reptiles.

“I myself was scared of snakes,” he says.

But I got to know them and overcome my fear ”.

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  • 20 minutes video

  • Reindeer

  • Animal protection

  • Abandonment

  • Animals

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  • Reptile