There are concerns for the reptiles as some are sensitive and require high maintenance, and without proper care there is a significant risk of them not surviving.

Australian Reptile Park senior curator Liz Vella said they were unsure exactly which animals and how many were missing.

"We haven't been able to get into the park to do an animal count because the police are still taking fingerprints and investigating,'" she said.

She said the animals stolen were all part of the park's educational collection.

"These are the ones we take out to show our visitors,'" she said.

"They are very rare and specialised - they aren't dangerous but they need our care. A lot of them are also used in our regional breeding programs with other zoos.'"

Ms Vella said the animals taken were a mix between exotic and native and included geckos, lizards and a baby alligator.

"We're devastated. We love these animals like they are our own,'" she said.

"They all have their own personalities and we are really worried about them."