Avi Zobel is the founder of Reptiles of Israel and the initiator of International Toad Day. A licensed snake catcher and reptile educator based in Kfar Saba, Israel, he has worked with reptiles since volunteering at the Zoological Institute at Tel Aviv University in 1991. He established Reptiles of Israel in 2016 to reduce fear and misinformation surrounding snakes and other misunderstood wildlife. His work includes public education, lectures, wildlife rescue, identification guides, environmental-data projects and grassroots awareness campaigns, including the 2018 initiative to select Israel's national snake.