Once upon a time I lived in St. Cloud. I was a herpetologist with a strong interest in venomous snakes, especially the use of venom in medicine. Naturally I found myself drawn to Reptile World, where the many snakes I had only seen in books (like the mambas, the Gaboon viper, and the great variety of cobras) were right there for me to watch and observe for as long I wanted. As if that wasn't enough, George Van Horn's milking ""show"" addressed the very subject I was pursuing. Understand that George is a brave man who not only knows what he's doing, but treats his animals with care and respect. Now I understand that this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but this is a rare find in a world where exploitation of life for maximum profit is the norm. When I had the opportunity, Reptile World was a weekly destination for me. I also supported the work being done to supply venom for medical experiments--if you didn't know, they've been known to work. If you go, however, I suggest you take your own water and plenty of it. The exhibit hall wasn't ai conditioned the last I was there, and things can get hot.
Pros: Price, education, variety
Cons: Not exactly modern
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