According to the new book "What Zoos Can Do" Wroclaw Zoo has over 200 species of reptiles and amphibians and more than 1,500 individual animals contained within this historic building. That is a staggering total, but are the exhibits as impressive as the vast collection? In the ZooChat gallery there are a lot of photos of cold-blooded animals, but not many shots of the actual terrariums.
I've attached a few shots of the interior. Nothing too remarkable, but far from being below par. Very nice house overall - the collection is, as you say, remarkable - we had to take a break after doing the ground floor as we were in danger of getting 'reptiled out' - we came back later in the day to tackle the first floor!
Thanks very much for posting the photos, and is this the largest reptile house in Europe in terms of sheer number of animals? Even though it has a vast amount of species, how would you rate it overall? Is this the premier reptile house in Europe in terms of visitor factors, exhibit quality, rarity of species, etc?
I honestly have no idea of the figures, but my impression is that Wroclaw have more species on show than any other single house I've visited. Couldn't swear to it though.
Even though it has a vast amount of species, how would you rate it overall? Is this the premier reptile house in Europe in terms of visitor factors, exhibit quality, rarity of species, etc?
It's a very good house. To be honest in my experience I've not found a 'premier' reptile house in Europe as such (I'm not sure there is one in the sense of a single 'stunner') because most of the big reptile houses are pretty much variations on a theme. Wroclaw, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, London, Barcelona, Rotterdam and more all have really good reptile houses, but they are all the same kind of design and really hard to separate.
Snowleopard, not all species of reptiles and amphibians are kept in this house. Great majority - yes, but tens of species you can find in other buildings - Madagascan House, Desert House, Crocodile House and Aquarium. And curious detail - before war in this building was zoo restaurant, the biggest restaurant in whole Wroclaw. It was transform into reptile house in 1979. Several exhibits are still to small (there were exhibits even in staircase) but in last years it was gradual eliminated. Generally one of the best and most interesting reptile house I ever seen.
