Dragon Training Mobile Zoo keepers Kaylan Bruton-Waite and Rory Shumack (with the real stars of the show!). Photo: Keeli Dyson.
Tarrawanna housemates have turned a passion for reptiles into a thriving business where their animals have become the stars of everything from preschool parties and aged care events to experiences with international sports stars and even a wild underwear campaign with one of the country’s most beloved celebrities.
Rory Shumack and Kaylan Bruton-Waite spend a lot of time on the road with some pretty interesting creatures.
The pair launched Dragon Training Mobile Zoo almost a decade ago after they decided to turn an interest in breeding and collecting reptiles into a business.
“I wanted to get Komodo dragons and thought getting a zoo would be the way to go and it turned out to be a good business,” Rory said.
It wasn’t an easy task, with miles of red tape consisting of trainings, courses and work experience at Australia Zoo before they could apply for a zoo licence and showcase the incredible animals across the state.
“I think we started with one Woma python, a shingleback lizard, a blue tongue lizard and a green tree frog – so we started pretty small,” Rory said.
“Now we’ve got 30 on the zoo licence and our private collection we’ve got about 150-odd.
“We’ve got three crocodiles; we’ve got probably about eight goannas – the big fella being the only one in NSW you can take out.”
Their impressive reptile collection is in high demand, with the keepers travelling into the city, along the coast and through country NSW entertaining crowds of all ages.
“The easiest thing to say about events is we do anything,” Kaylan said. “We do lots of preschools and schools, aged care facilities, disability care, all that kind of stuff.
“School holidays are jam-packed with heaps of people wanting to do things.”
F1 stars Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz get up close with Aussie reptiles. Photo: Dragon Training Mobile Zoo.
It has become popular with international visitors. Formula 1 stars even got up close and personal with the reptiles when they were in the country for the Australian Grand Prix.
“Over the last two years we’re getting more and more bigger and interesting things,” Kaylan said.
“I think it’s just the more you do, the more people recognise you.”
That recognition spiked further after their reptiles featured in that Robert Irwin BONDS campaign.
“It’s a cool thing to tell people,” Kaylan said.
“Underwear, Robert Irwin, reptiles – I always knew that was going to blow up.
“I wasn’t quite expecting it but it was pretty crazy,” Rory said.
They said he was genuinely excited to hold the animals and needed very little guidance on how to hold them properly.
“When we did meet him he was the nicest individual – the nicest person in the world,” Rory said.
“With the snakes and the goannas, all I had to do was say, ‘It’s like holding your Komodo dragon’ and he’s like, ‘Alright, OK.’
“He’s not all talk; he’s really good with the animals too,” Kaylan said.
Robert Irwin stripped down for his latest BONDS campaign, but everyone was really just focused on the perentie. Photo: BONDS.
They said whether it was big names or small parties, it helped when people were willing to keep an open mind and work through fears to help break down misconceptions about the animals.
“The most common thing we hear is, ‘A good snake is a dead snake’ which is obviously something we actively don’t encourage because none of them are really aggressive or want to hurt people, they’re just petrified of us,” Kaylan said. “If you leave them alone, they’ll leave you alone.”
“I wish more people understood that on one hand, they’re very similar to people, and not just things,” Rory said.
“They’ve got their own wants and desires.
“But they can be very affectionate.”
While the animals have become quite comfortable with the road trips, Kaylan and Rory hope that one day they can build a reptile park right on the Illawarra’s doorstep.
“Our one very big dream is that we’d like to open up a stationary place,” Kaylan said.
“The ideal place would probably be Wollongong but with pricing probably Wilton or Picton way.
“Somewhere central to Sydney, Canberra and Wollongong – at least that’s the plan anyway.”
To get in touch or to find out more visit the Dragon Training Mobile Zoo website.
