RRK’s mission, vision, goals and values 2026

Our purpose

We believe responsible reptile and ‘exotic’ pet keeping makes an important contribution to animal welfare, education, conservation and scientific understanding.

Responsible Reptile Keeping exists to support, protect and celebrate responsible keepers, challenge misinformation with evidence, and encourage learning through collaboration, education and research.

We bring together evidence, expertise and real-world experience to help keepers, businesses, journalists and policymakers make better decisions. We make reptile-keeping information easy to find, understand and use.

By challenging misinformation and improving understanding, we help create better outcomes for reptiles and the people who care for them.

Our vision

We aim for a world in which responsible reptile and ‘exotic’ pet keeping is universally understood, supported, protected and valued.

We want responsible reptile keeping to be recognised for the contribution it can make to animal welfare, education, conservation, scientific understanding and people’s lives.

Our mission

To champion responsible reptile and ‘exotic’ pet keeping and welfare by harnessing and sharing global expertise.

Our goals

To become the world’s most trusted and useful resource on responsible reptile and exotic pet keeping.

We will achieve this by:

bringing together reliable evidence, data and practical expertise from around the world.
creating accurate, engaging and accessible information for keepers, businesses, journalists, policymakers and the public.
building a comprehensive international library of media, research and reference material.
collaborating with experienced keepers, researchers, specialists, businesses and representative organisations.
providing tools and resources that help people become responsible keepers.
developing trusted relationships with governments, civil servants, journalists and other stakeholders.
challenging misinformation accurately, calmly and proportionately.
making relevant information available across many countries, languages and platforms.
growing the membership, partnerships, funding and professional capacity needed to extend our reach and impact.

Through this work, we aim to encourage responsible reptile keeping and protect, support and celebrate responsible keepers and businesses worldwide.

Our operational values and principles

Better outcomes for animals

Responsible keeping supports good animal welfare. We make reliable information and expertise easier to access.

Evidence over ideology

Our work is guided by reliable evidence, practical experience and honest analysis rather than assumptions, bias or predetermined agendas.

Regulate responsibility, not species 

We support education, high standards and effective self-regulation before unnecessary restriction. Regulation should address irresponsible behaviour rather than prohibit species without sound justification.