ways You can support us

At Northern Ireland Exotic Sanctuary, we are dedicated to providing a safe haven for reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates in need. Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome these wonderful creatures while educating the public about their needs. We also offer permanent sanctuary for some our residents, who for health or legal reasons cannot be rehomed.

We receive no government funding and have no paid staff. Instead we rely on our team of fantastic volunteers, who help to do everything from cleaning, feeding and socialising animals, to attending fundraising events and helping to plan future fundraisers.

We have capacity for around 100 animals, and run close to or at capacity for most of the year, often also with a waitlist for unwanted animals. We also take in stray/ abandoned reptiles, and work with local authorities and animal welfare, as well as other rescues.

 Without a dedicated team, the rescue couldn't be what it is today. We work full time jobs as well as running the rescue and it truly is a labour of love.

Meet the team:

Lindsey has been actively involved in local animal rescue and animal rights campaigning for over 15 years. A keen keeper herself, she enjoys the challenges that running an animal rescue presents, though her experience in events management definitely helps keep stress levels to a minimum.

Depending on the day you’ll find her caring for our residents, organising fundraising, or doing all the essential paperwork that keeps us running.

Rachael is relatively new to the wider world of reptile keeping, though she has experience keeping turtles and fish. She uses her science background to pick out all the latest care and behaviour information and adjust our enclosures and diets to suit the best needs of our animals, most definitely earning her her place as Lindsey’s second in command.

We are supported by a wonderful team of volunteers, without whom, we couldn't do the job we do!