Tropicarium Kolmården is a public aquarium and terrarium, situated outside Kolmården Wildlife Park (but run by a different management), close to Bråviken and 25 km (16 mi) from Norrköping town in Sweden. Kolmården Tropicarium is one of Sweden's largest tropical exhibitions with a covered area in excess of 2,000 m2 (22,000 sq ft).
History
Founded by Stig Gustavsson in 1972 and called "Kolmården Terrarium", with snakes and birds on show. Stig Gustavsson died in 1988. Kolmarden Terrarium was bought by Kalle Farkasdi (Kalle later founded the Tropicarium Budapest in Hungary) and his son Stefan Farkasdi in 1989. The new owners changed the name to Kolmården Tropicarium, building a half million litre shark aquarium as the main attraction and greatly increasing the number of species in the exhibition.[1] The theme for Kolmården tropicarium is "A TREK THROUGH THE RAINFOREST TO THE SEA".
Exhibits
Shark aquarium
Measuring 13 m × 11 m (43 ft × 36 ft) with a depth of 3.5 m (11 ft) and containing over 500,000 L (130,000 US gal) of seawater this is one of the largest shark aquariums in Sweden. It houses sand tiger, nurse sharks and various species of fish.
Modernisation began in 2002 through to 2013, all terrariums were replaced by biotope terrariums. Biotope terrariums are replicas of the primary animals' natural habitat, including plants, fish and animals. Tropicarium Kolmarden now has over 20 biotope terrariums containing a large variety of reptiles, amphibians and mammals.[2]
Rainforest – Jungle
There are two jungle areas housing new world primates:
The first is approximately 100 m2 (1,100 sq ft), and is home to a family of common marmosets and three species of tortoise.
The second of approximately 120 m2 (1,300 sq ft) and is home to a family of cottontop tamarins, and a pair of blue-and-yellow macaws.
Both these jungles have water features containing various species of fish and turtles.
African Savanna
The African savanna area is approximately 80 m2 (860 sq ft) and is home to a clan of meerkats.
North American Swamp
The swamp area is approximately 300 m2 (3,200 sq ft), it is home for three American alligators and various species of fish. The exhibit simulates a tropical thunder storm every half-hour.