Five years ago, my family and I moved to Lubbock to be closer to my grandfather. Almost right away, I was disappointed to find there was nowhere to learn about animals here: no aquarium, no zoo, nothing except for-profit pet stores. As a passionate animal lover, this was a hard pill to swallow because my hopes of exposing my children and community to the wonders of the animal kingdom felt impossible.

Over time, we visited those pet stores, and I was let down by the husbandry on display and by the information I was given when we bought our bearded dragon. On one such visit, I overheard a family mention that they return several times a month to these stores. I realized that many in our community lack access to education and opportunities to connect with wildlife. This cannot continue.

Our community deserves a space that offers a genuine learning environment about reptiles and animals in a way that informs, inspires, and respects nature. Given Lubbock's growing population, a nonprofit reptile house could be the first step towards eventually establishing a full-scale zoo. Not only would it offer educational opportunities, but it could also serve as a tourist attraction which, in turn, could stimulate our local economy. With meticulous planning and community involvement, the reptile house could host educational programs for schools, conservation talks for the public, and reptile handling workshops that demystify these often-misunderstood creatures.

Imagine a place where children can marvel at the vibrant scales of a chameleon or learn about the gentle nature of a tortoise up close. Imagine a facility dedicated to proper animal care, where visitors can rest assured knowing the creatures they see are well-cared-for. Imagine sparking an interest in animal preservation in an entire generation.

Please sign this petition if you believe in fostering education and conservation in our community and envision a world where our children grow up informed and respectful of the natural world.
MammothPlainsWildlife.org