A good experiences in Sweden
A trip to a different animal park
Around New Year 2014/15, I received an inquiry from Tropikariet (the Tropicarium) in Helsingborg in Sweden, who inquired about the possibility of buying Grey-headed Lovebirds (Agapornis canus). Tropikariet is an indoor exotic "zoo" (animal park), which focuses on a number of selected animal species. It is a different animal park, but also a really exciting animal park, which has its home in a 4-storey high former factory building in the central part of northern Helsingborg.
Tropikariet was founded back in 1994 by Magnus Lindqvist, who right from childhood has had a deep passion for the animal world and about whom it is said that as a child he had "insects in his head". Tropikariet has everything from lemurs (semi monkeys, (Strepsirrhini)) and monkeys to sharks, crocodiles, turtles as well as both rattlesnakes and venomous snakes, selected birds, etc. The animal park is currently divided into 8 different sections, depending on which place on earth the animals come from:
- Rainforest Night
- Africa
- South America
- Expedition Madagascar
- Knowledge Corner
- Shark Reef
- The ”clap” ponds
- African Savannah.
At the entrance to "Expedition Madagascar" is, among other things, recreated a small piece of beach with wreckage, including an old ship's chest.
Tropikariet strives to give its visitors a world-class experience within its field, an experience for people of all ages. In these localities, the adventure comes into its own, when you get inside a moonlit rainforest (behind glass), e.g. come across large constrictor snakes or want to walk on the African savannah, or dive down to a coral reef off the Maldives. Today, Tropikariet is considered one of Helsingborg's attractions, visited by people of all ages, including people interested in rare animal species.
The inquiry to me came from Johnny Möllerström, who is a zoologist and department head for animals at Tropikariet. He told me that they were in the process of completing a completely new exhibition section, "Expedition Madagascar", which would exclusively present animals from this - the world's 4th largest - island, which is off the east coast of Africa, and which has a truly unique wildlife. On a large number of square meters, they were in the process of planting bushes, trees and cliffs, which would restore part of the island's special fauna. The facility would house some of the animals that Madagascar is known for, among other things: Chameleons, a free-ranging Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) familiy and Red-billed hornbill (Tockus erythrorhynchus).
Johnny Möllerström said that this new section would be completed at the beginning of summer 2015, and that the facility naturally also should contain a flock of Grey-headed Lovebirds, which also live in the wild on Madagascar. They wanted to establish a small flock consisting of male birds, so it was a welcome request, as breeding of this species nearly always results in an excess number of males. Johnny Möllerström, came shortly after New Year 2015 to pick up the birds, where he suggested that I could stop by this summer after the opening of "Expedition Madagascar".
"Expedition Madagascar" shows e.g. Ring-tailed lemur, they are semi-apes, which are only found in Madagascar. They are mainly found in dry forest areas on the island's western side and the rainforest on the eastern side. They have a characteristic black-and-white edged tail and are not afraid of humans. Tropikariet works with so-called environmental enrichment to stimulate its animals, e.g. in the form of challenges with looking for food in the facilities, to ensure that the animals' well-being is optimal. You move along paths through the natural environment with bushes, trees and cliffs, where you can have many experiences.
Time passed, and it was already summer, when I suggested to my wife that we should go on an extended weekend trip to Helsingborg, where we could also use the opportunity to visit Tropikariet and see the Grey-headed Lovebirds that I had bred.
Madagascar is also known for its many different kinds of chameleons, which can change to some incredibly beautiful colours depending on, among other things, surroundings and its mood.
It was a good experience, as already upon arrival at Tropikariet on the hot summer day we met two huge land turtles, there were "aired" out on the lawn in front of Tropikariet's parking lot. The visit included many exciting experiences along the way, also fun pranks with leafcutter ants, who in glass tubes meter after meter above our heads moved around between different plants with animals and finally came out to their own little island surrounded by water in one of the plants.
Along the way through the different facilities, I also came across the Red-headed Lovebird (Agapornis fischeri), before we arrived at the newly opened section, "Expedition Madagascar", which is an open facility, where i.a. the Ring-tailed lemurs freely move around in trees etc., and where the Grey-headed Lovebirds fly around above your head under the ceiling.
Tropikariet also has leafcutter ants, which are quite large ants that move around in long glass tubes above the heads of the audience to reach various facilities, e.g. a small island surrounded by water.
The visit ended with a good cup of coffee and cake in Tropikariet's Café Masai Mara, where you can sit and watch some of the animals in their enclosure at the same time.
All in all, a different and exciting experience, which I can recommend to others. At the same time, it should also be mentioned that there are many good restaurants in the central part of Helsingborg, not least down towards the harbor with a view to Hamlet’s Kronborg Castle in Denmark.
Tropikariet's address is Hävertgatan 21, 254 42 Helsingborg, and you can find more information about the place on the website www.tropikariet.com.
Jorgen Petersen
Conceived/Updated: 12.02.2016 / 10.01.2024
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