Our Story
Proteus Reptile Trust
Founded in 1991, Proteus Reptile Trust is a registered charity based in the West Midlands.
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Our mission is to rescue and
rehabilitate reptiles, raise
awareness and find 'forever homes' for the animals in our care.
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Our rehoming centre houses a wide range of reptiles, including some who will be with us long term due to medical conditions.
We offer holiday boarding facilities, with all proceeds going towards helping care for our animals. We operate along the same lines as any reputable dog or cat sanctuary, but for reptiles!
The animals we take in come from a variety of situations. We are currently seeing increasing numbers of people giving up their reptiles due to the rapid rise in energy bills and cost of living.
We do our best to offer help to those who need support, being a charity, we rely solely on our volunteers and donations in order to care for our animals.
Our team is experienced and knowledgable about all things reptile - You can learn more about them below...
Centre Co-ordinator
Amy Taranaski
"I began my journey with Proteus as a volunteer in 2007. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn about a hobby I had enjoyed for several years; whilst also giving time back to help a fantastic cause.
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I was offered an employed position within the charity several years later and haven't looked back since.
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Reptiles truly are remarkable and it's amazing to help so many and give them a second chance."
Our Volunteers
Our volunteers are a crucial part of our team; without them we couldn't carry out the vital rescue and rehabilitation work we do.
Jo Parkyn
"I began volunteering for Proteus after adopting my Bearded dragon. Having always loved reptiles, I wanted to give something back and be part of helping these amazing animals get the care, understanding , and second chances they truly deserve."
"Reptiles hold a very special place in my heart. They are so often misunderstood and underrated, but i'm passionate about helping people see just how intelligent, fascinating and full of personality they really are. Being able to play even a small part in changing perceptions and supporting their journey to new homes means so much to me."
Millie copeman
"Having rehomed reptiles from Proteus myself, I quickly noticed how caring and compassionate the charity are towards the reptiles in their care. I adore how they encourage and promote children to be educated and offer opportunities to interact with the animals.
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Volunteering for Proteus is incredibly rewarding and I feel fortunate to get up close to some of the most beautiful animals in the world."
Charlie Hanson
"I've been a volunteer at Proteus for nearly 2 years. My favourite thing is getting to interact with these beautiful animals and making sure they have a nice, clean home to go and hide away in.
I've gained a huge amount of knowledge from Amy and the team, which I'm hoping to take with me on my journey into veterinary medicine."
chloe Hanson
"I got into volunteering through my husband, Charlie. I had limited experience with a bearded dragon and that was it! I started helping out with animal care and now the admin side too. It is so rewarding seeing the reptiles find new homes or just enjoy the enclosures we provide.
I have found such a love and respect for reptiles and now keep many species myself!"
If you're interested in becoming a volunteer, please visit our volunteering page for more information