Chameleon Village Reptile Park and Zoo was established in 2006. At the park we currently have approximately 60 display enclosures with roughly 150 different snakes (venomous and non-venomous), with approximately 100 different snake species. We have several unique display reptiles at the park including at least one of each to the following:
· Fastest venomous snake in Africa = Black Mamba (both longer than 3m);
· Most venomous snake in Africa = Boomslang;
· Venomous snake with the longest fangs = Gaboon adder; and
· Largest venomous snake in the world = King Cobra
We also have several non-reptile related animals such as Piet, our Chacma Baboon, jackal, porcupine, suricates, etc. We have approximately 15 outside enclosure where more reptiles are housed, such as the crocodiles, rock and water monitors, Iguanas, and of course our tortoises.
We have live interactive shows on a daily basis, snake and crocodile shows, where we try our best to educate this generation to conserve all reptiles as much as possible for future generations. We discuss different venom types and what occurs when we happen upon a snake in the wild. All snakes utilized in the snake demonstrations still have their fangs intact, and no milking occurs at our park.
We wish to take this opportunity to inform you that a significant news event will take place at the park beginning the 14th of June 2008. Chameleon Village Reptile Park and Zoo propose to break the world record for "the longest duration of living with highly venomous snakes" such as cobra and mambas.
The current world record is held by Austin James Stevens. In 1986, he lived with 36 highly venomous snakes in an enclosure for 107 days and nights at the Hartbeespoort Snake and Animal Park.
The venomous snakes that was housed in the enclosure in 1986 included:
· Snouted Cobras, Black Mambas, Boomslang and Puff adders
The Hartbeespoort Snake and Animal Park arranged the snake sit-in to raise money, with a target of $ 200 000.00, to purchase a female Gorilla for the lone male Gorilla, Kaiser, at the park.
22 Years later, Chameleon Village Reptile Park and Zoo, will endeavor to break Austin J. Stevens' record and officially set a new world record, to be written up in the Guinness Book of World Records, with regards to both aspects:
· The number of highly venomous snakes in the enclosure with the representative, and
· The number of days and nights the representative lives in the enclosure with the highly venomous snakes.
We propose to have our representative stay in the enclosure for a minimum period of hundred and ten (110) days, with forty (40) highly venomous snakes. The proposed snakes to be housed in the enclosure during this 2008 world record attempt will include:
· Black Mambas, Snouted Cobras, Boomslang, Green Mambas and Puff adders
Chameleon Village Reptile Park and Zoo wish to attempt this feat to raise funds for the expansion of the park. We have already registered with Guinness World Records on the 10th of April 2008 and received our registration number on the 14th of April 2008.Our main aim with this snake sit-in is to acquire a pair of, or more, Komodo Dragons for the Chameleon Village Reptile Park and Zoo. To successfully keep and accommodate these amazing giants of the reptile world, we will drastically have to expand the Park. Our target is therefore to gain the support from the public sector to donate, over a minimum period of 110 days, in monetary value, the amount of R 3 500 000.00 for the essential expansion, and construction of, an additional area to the park in which we can ultimately accommodate these awesome creatures. As part of the expansion process we wish to become the first privately owned "green" reptile park and zoo within the next 3 - 5 years.
Also attached please find the newspaper article that was published on the 21st of May 2008 with regards to the snake sit-in.
As part of the 2008 world record attempt, Chameleon Village Reptile Park and Zoo are working in conjunction with the Save A Child foundation, in order to donate a certain percentage of all the donations that Chameleon Village Reptile Park and Zoo receive, toward the Save A Child fund.
From the inception in 1998, the vision was for needy and disabled children. The focus evolved to cerebral palsied children, due to the fact that items such as specialised wheelchairs and particularly incontinence nappies were not readily available to them. There were short periods of time when limited supplies of both these items were available from state hospitals. The practice was however discontinued almost as soon as it started.
Save a Child's main expense remains the purchases of incontinence nappies for the majority of their 40 children. This, Save a Child has projected at R160 000 for the 2008 / 2009 year. Costs of second hand wheelchairs, contributions to Franco van Dijk Trust (amputee), school / transport fees, and emergency assistance (medical bills, prescriptions etc.), are estimated at R2 200, R12 000, R13 200 and R12 000 respectively.
In addition to cerebral palsied, they also have children suffering from disabilities such as muscle dystrophy, blindness and ones requiring artificial limbs. When medical procedures involve doctors and hospitalisation, they endeavor to obtain these for free. Sometimes however, they have to supply funding for a back support at around R4 000 or a suction pump (to avoid a child choking to death) for R7 000 or a couple of hundred Rand to fill a prescription.
Save a Child do not budget for food as a rule. When tinned food is donated, Save a Child distributes it to their beneficiaries as well as to other charities in need. Save a Child like to visit the families, when delivering nappies and food, so that they are aware of progress or the lack thereof. The increase in the fuel price has made this near impossible, and they are currently having most of the nappies delivered to families that live further a field than the local beneficiaries.
This year marks the tenth year of involvement with disabled members of communities that are spread over an area comprising around half of South Africa. Save a Child feels extremely privileged and honored at their involvement and hope to continue their work. All of this work would not have been possible without the generous support from both private and business donors over the years.
I have decided to send this email to the RAW team, to find out whether it will be possible to get them involved with this Guinness World Record Attempt. There are several ways of involving the RAW team in this project, and I therefore wish to arrange a meeting, at their earliest convenience. We also wish to invite them to the opening day, on the 14th of June 2008, to join us in the cheese and wine gathering when Martin will be entering his new home for the next 110 days and nights, or more...
If you have any enquiries please do not hesitate to contact me directly on one of the following numbers:
Office: +27 12 2535 119
Mobile: +27 72 404
I hope to hear from you
Kind regards,
Candice Snyman
Assistant Events Coordinator
cutman.candy@gmail.com
Home Portal* 
Reptile Rescue Den 
