Abstract:
Tomlin discusses Wilmington's Cape Fear Serpentarium and its creator Dean Ripa. Ripa is recognized world-wide as an authority on snakes, especially the bushmaster. The Serpentarium opened in 2002. The building has two floors with 6,000 square feet containing elaborate exhibits featuring waterfalls giant rainforest trees, lush jungles, and 200 different snakes representing species from all over the world.