Text & layout:
Rune Midtgaard
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Prehistory
Terrariet was founded in 1973 by Carl Aage Gram, a gardener by profession, but through the most of his life, Gram had also had a particular interest in reptiles and amphibians. He was born and raised in Odense, and one of the early childhood memories he often mentioned was a school excursion to Næsbyhoved Forest, where he caught a Viviparous Lizard, which he took home and set up a cage for. Later, he brought the cage to an exhibition, where the proud young Gram received a diploma. Carl Aage Gram’s father was a friend of Chr. Jensen, the founder of Odense Zoo, where Carl Aage worked as a volunteer.
Carl Aage Gram later moved to Copenhagen and eventually got a flower shop at Lyngbyvej (Lyngby Road). Reptiles had become his big free time occupation, and after the second world war, when import bans were finally cancelled, the attic above the flower shop was established as a pet shop. In connection with the subsequent expansion of the Lyngby Road, Gram was given a financial compensation large enough to open a new pet shop in Dybbølsgade (Dybbøl Street) in the Vesterbro area of central Copenhagen.
In the early 1970’s, Carl Aage Gram went into a dialogue with the council of the former Vissenbjerg County (now part of New Assens County), who offered the old vicarage stable at a very favourable rent with the perspective of being transformed into a public terrarium. This was the first stepstone in establishing the first Scandinavian reptile zoo, at the time of the opening the largest collection of reptiles and amphibians in Scandinavia. Thanks to the many acquaintances Gram had made during his years as a pet dealer and as a member of the private reptile keeper community, a major part of the work which needed to be done in the buildings were done by volunteers, generously spending their evenings, weekends, and holidays during the Summer of 1973 in the proces of getting the buildings ready for the opening.
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The charismatic founder of Terrariet, Carl Aage Gram (1920-92), beholding his creation at the opening on July 28th, 1973.
(photographer unknown, 1973) |
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From Carl Aage Gram's early days as a pet dealer, with a Spiny-tailed Lizard (Uromastyx sp.) in his hands.
(photographer and year unknown) |
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The first years
On July 28th, 1973, Carl Aage Gram could finally open the doors to what had been his dream of a lifetime: his own reptile zoo. Already before the opening, the interest of the press had been huge, but no less was the interest of the public after the opening of Terrariet, when the usually spacious parking areas at Terrariet proved to be insufficient, due to the huge crowds of visitors.
But in spite of the good beginning, a closure came close to reality already during the first year, due to the oil crisis of the Autumn of 1973, when private car driving was banned on Sundays. Before having become established, Terrariet almost had to close down, but managed to survive, mainly due to fact that the Sunday driving ban was cancelled again before the financially paramount high season of the Summer of 1974.
Many locals probably recall the long-lasting conflict between Terrariet and Fyns Amt (the regional county of Funen) regarding the establishment and number of road signs leading to Terrariet. The road signs were much in demand, but proved to be so hard to establish. Terrariet’s scrap books from the early years show numerous examples of the charismatic and ingenious ways Carl Aage Gram used the press through various “media stunts” to catch public attention to the quite unreasonable and very real problem that many of our visitors had great difficulty in finding their way to Terrariet. Finally, Fyns Amt were persuaded, and an adequate number of road signs, similar to that of the other public attractions of our island, were established, and today the conflict is only history.
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A snake demonstration for visitors in the Summer of 1979.
©
Rune Midtgaard 1979 |
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Carl Aage Gram inspecting a couple of Spiny Turtles (Heosemys spinosa).
(photographer unknown, 1973) |
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Through the years, Terrariet has gained international attention through some remarkable breeding results. Among the first events was the breeding of Leopard Tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis, formerly Geochelone pardalis) in 1976, and of Nile Crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus). The latter event was one of the first times the Nile Crocodile had been bred in a European zoo. Among the more recent successes is the breeding of the Madagascar Spider Tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides) in 2004 (see under "News").
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The breeding of Nile Crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) in 1979 raised international attention.
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Rune Midtgaard 1979 |
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Change of generations
In September 1992, when Carl Aage Gram at the age of 72 years felt the need to be released in his duties, Klaus Dræby was appointed as manager in charge of the daily routines. Only six weeks later, Carl Aage Gram died, and an era in the Danish herpetoculture and zoo world came to an end.
Carl Aage Gram’s brother, Axel Gram, was the inheritor, and he extracted Terrariet from the heritage on the condition that an independent foundation was established with the purpose of continuing the management of Terrariet. This model is continuously in use, and Klaus Dræby is now the director of Terrariet. | |
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Terrariet's director since 1992, Klaus Dræby, tête-à-tête with a Marine Toad (Rhinella marina, formerly Bufo marinus).
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Klaus Dræby 2002 |
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Terrariet's mission
Terrariet seeks to distribute the knowledge of reptiles and amphibians and the conditions under which they live, and to create an opportunity for our visitors to be fascinated and thrilled by these often misunderstood animals. As a modern zoo, Terrariet has an obligation to participate in education, research, and conservation in collaboration with other institutions and organisations. This is a responsibility that we gladly accept, and, in all modesty, we actually do achieve quite a lot, particularly when our limited financial resources are taken into account.
As an example, we could mention that two veterinary science students from Landbohøjskolen in Copenhagen (now Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen) included research on turtles made in Terrariet in their dissertation, which resulted in both important new knowledge on the dietary requirements of turtles and in top grades for the two students, now veterinarians, at their final exams. Several biology students at Syddansk Universitet (University of Southern Denmark) have also used Terrariet in their studies. In that context, Terrariet’s job is to be in charge of the daily care of the animals and to do the sampling needed for the studies.
Terrariet’s director, Klaus Dræby, is a member of EAZA’s (European Associaton of Zoos and Aquaria) so-called Amphibian and Reptile Taxon Advisory Group, where he has been appointed as Regional Collection Planning Officer for the world’s largest living family of lizards, the skinks (Scincidae) which comprises about 1500 different species, mainly distributed in Australia, Asia, and Africa. His job is to advise European zoos in relation to their conservation and breeding of this group of lizards.
Klaus Dræby is also in charge of updating the stud books on the Gila Monsters and Beaded Lizards, the world’s two only venomous lizards, in European zoos, a work which falls under EEP (European Endangered species Programme). The aim of this work is to maintain an updated survey of specimens of these two lizard species kept in European zoos, with the perspective of planning, optimizing and co-ordinating breeding programmes and reducing problems with in-breeding, etc.
To the best of our financial capacity, Terrariet supports a conservation project in the Rhodofi region of Bulgaria, which teaches school children of the importance of protecting the local reptiles and amphibians, particularly the tortoises of the area.
Terrariet also colaborates with Skov- & Naturstyrelsen (the Ministry of Environment) where we provide accomodation facilities for animals confiscated by custom officers or by the police from people without required permits. We are also registered by European Union authorities as a rescue center in case of larger confiscations in other EU countries.
For years, Terrariet has been providing assistance when needed - 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year - to Falck, police, and other authorities in connection with escaped pets, animals such as reptiles, amphibians, spiders, and scorpions entering the country as blind passengers with imported products, etc. Non-native animals are either included in our exhibitions or passed on to other facilities. Native animals, often Grass Snakes, are released into a suitable habitat. On an almost daily basis, Terrariet is contacted by private pet keepers seeking advice about the care of their animals. Finally, Terrariet often participates in public debate regarding issues concerning the captive maintenance and import of exotic animal species. | |
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Klaus Dræby gives directions to European zoos on behalf of EAZA regarding the captive maintenance of skinks, the most speciose family of lizards in the world. In the picture is a handful of newborn Solomon Islands Giant Skinks, the largest skink species of the world, which Terrariet bred succesfully in 2002.
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Klaus Dræby 2002 |
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The stud books on Gila Monsters and Beaded Lizards in European zoos are also managed by Terrariet's director, Klaus Dræby. In the picture is one of Terrariet's own Gila Monsters.
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Rune Midtgaard 2004 |
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This beautiful Sinaloan Milksnake was one of the animals Terrariet was called to rescue, found under a container in a recycling center. The snake is harmless and probably escaped from a private terrarium.
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Rune Midtgaard 2005 |
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Klaus Dræby with one of Terrariets former prides, an Australian Lace Monitor (Varanus varius).
©
Rune Midtgaard 2003 |
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Terrariet in the future
Terrariet receives no financial support from the government and has at no point had a real solid economy which could ensure a long-term survival. Several times during Terrariet’s history, a closure has come close to reality, but through the aid of the county (formerly Vissenbjerg County, now included in Assens County), the former regional county (Fyns Amt), and a few generous sponsors, a termination has been avoided, and Terrariet continues to serve the community.
Our greatest wish for the future is to establish a financial foundation, be it sponsorships or anything similar, which could secure our continued existence. This includes a permanent, professional staff of zoo keepers, biologists, and teachers, who could provide the optimal conditions for the maintenance of the animals and exhibits, research and conservation, and the best service to our visitors, including schools and other institutions.
Any person, company, or institution with an interest in contributing to the continued existence of Terrariet are more than welcome to contact us at Terrariet. | |
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Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis).
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Rune Midtgaard 2004 |
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Terrariet's protector
author, former TV-host Poul Thomsen
Terrariet's board
director Henning Clausen (chair)
senior sales support manager
Bjarne Slott Byrgesen (vice chair)
veterinarian Beth Fledelius Forrai
biologist Sune Obsen
teacher Rune Midtgaard
Commissioned to the board
accountant Axel Gram
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Carl Aage Gram with one of his favourites, an almost 4 m long reticulated python (Broghammerus reticulatus, previously Python reticulatus).
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Rune Midtgaard 1985 |
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