Meet Ari Flagle

Ari Flagle, Curator of Reptiles at Reptilandia – Reptile Lagoon, is a lifelong reptile enthusiast with decades of experience. A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Ari worked for 10 years in the Fort Worth Zoo's Herpetology Department before pursuing global field studies in Latin America and Southeast Asia.

In the late 1990s, his fascination with the rare Black Python (Simalia boeleni) led him to spend nearly a decade living and working in West Papua, New Guinea, solidifying his role in reptile conservation. Ari has authored two books on the Black Python, with a third on the way, and has presented research worldwide, including in the U.S., Europe, and Indonesia.

In addition to his scientific work, Ari is an artist and designer, specializing in exhibit construction and Oceanic ethnographic art reproductions. He’s also an avid collector of herpetological literature and art, with a passion for New Guinea’s cultural heritage.

Ari’s expertise, creativity, and dedication make him an integral part of the Reptilandia team, inspiring curiosity and conservation in every visitor.