Cooper Ravensak has always had a healthy obsession with creepy crawlies.
The 14 year-old Sunbury boy’s fascination with reptiles, amphibians and insects started during early childhood visits to the zoo and museum, mum Tracy says.
Cooper (pictured) decided to buy a bearded dragon lizard with his birthday money, then two geckos later – inspired by Macedon zoologist Chris Humphries.
“One of his brother’s classmates was selling stick insects, so Cooper bought two, set up a home for them and started a breeding program,” Mrs Ravensak says.
“He had great success and on-sold to friends, a pet shop and the Coburg aquarium.”
The teen has since expanded his breeding program to include a pair of Flinders Ranges scorpions.
Cooper says his aim is to study zoology and environmental science to someday pursue a career in researching and breeding endangered species.
