Meet 'Barbara Holbache'

The Biology Department have a new resident. ‘Barbara Holbache’ is a Boa constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Her natural range would be the jungles of Central and South America ('Barbara' came from a North Wales Reptile Rescue Centre).

In the wild, her diet would consist of small mammals and birds. Very large Boas might take monkeys or the occasional capybara. We feed her on humanely killed white rats, one of which she enjoys each week.

Barbara, as her name suggests, is a girl. Female boas grow larger than males, so although Barbara is already quite large (6 feet), she could grow to double that length! She is probably about 4 years old, but since boas (when well cared for) are a very long lived species, she could be part of our school community for another 45 years.

She is very placid, and doesn’t mind being handled at all, so you can happily drop in to see her without any fear of being eaten.