Education, awareness raising
In addition to presenting our activities, as an important task of the Rákosi viper protection program, forming the approach is also an important role, as active protection of a venomous snake may not be an obvious goal for everyone.
The aim of our communication campaign is to educate, to show the importance of these animals in our ecosystem, and to disprove misbelieves. By these dissemination materials we would like to improve the public perception about vipers and their conservation. For this purpose collegues of MME-BirdLife Hungary, Duna-Ipoly National Park, Fertő-Hanság National Park and Kiskunság National Park make presentations in educational and social institutions about the Hungarian meadow viper as well as other snake species in Hungary. Adults can learn about this special snake and the conservation work in various events and public forums.
The aim of our informational campaign is to present he role of these organisms in the Hungarian ecosystem and to dispel the misconceptions about them, thus improving the general perception of the vipers.
The Hungarian meadow viper Conservation Centre, based in the Kiskunság National Park since 2004, is the most important part of our conservation program. It was needed to establish the facility, because the natural population of Hungarian meadow viper was decreasing dramatically, and it projected the grim picture of extinction of this unique species. The breeding of the snakes was started with 10 animals, which were captured in 4 different habitats in 2004. At the moment 700 vipers live in the Centre.
The main goal of the Centre’s operation is to breed vipers collected from threatened populations. In the seminatural outdoor enclosures vipers from different populations have a chance to breed, eliminating problems such as inbreeding arising from small isolated populations.
Near the Centre a nature trail were created where the typical habitats of the region can be seen. Also, a roofed open-air classroom, and an exhibiton terrarium were built presenting not only the Hungarian meadow vipers but diomestic lizard species as well.
Since we opened the Centre several groups from kindergartens, school classes and universities have visited us. Furthermore many thesis were made with the cooperation of the Hungarian meadow viper program. The Centre is opened all year round, creating chance for anybody interested in observing these snakes, or gaining information about our conservation program. The Centre and the nature trail can only be visited with professional guide.
- The Hungarian Meadow Viper Center can be visited from spring to autumn only by prior arrangement.
Contact:
Anna Egerer
+36 20 229 6986
The Venomous House has been opened for the public in 2009. Besides the Hungarian Meadow Viper interactive exhibition, one of Europe’s largest venomous snake collection can also be found here.
Sixteen species, and more than fifty animals are presented here. The venomous snake exhibition located in the roof area, is the biggest one in the world.
The Venomous House can be visited during the opening hours of the Budapest Zoo- and Botanical Garden.
We opened a permanent exhibition in Schönbrunn Zoo on 6. August 2009, as the main attraction of the “Biodiversity Week”. The outdoor terrarium, built in the frame of LIFE+ program, is in front of the building of Terrarium and Aquarium. It is part of the exhibition presenting native amphibian and reptile species in Austria. In the other two terrariums visitors can see dice snake, fire-bellied toad and tree frog.
Annualy more than 2 million vistors come to the Sconbrunn Zoo, with an increasing number of Hungarians wanting to see the first zoo in the world, opened in 1780. The Schönbrunn Zoo is not only the first Zoo, but it is the only baroque one, that is a part of world heritage together with Scönbrunn Castle.
Since September 6, 2014, visitors at the Szeged Wildlife Park visitors have been able to close monitor the rákosi viper, as well as domestic lizards, gliders and the marsh turtles. A total of three vipers live their everyday lives in the two outdoor terrariums.
Our two thematic mobile exhibitions available nationwide serve as closer knowledge to the Hungarian meadow viper and domestic snake species as well. Mobile exhibitions are available free of charge to educational, social and cultural institutions, combined with an educational lecture, if required.
For further information and ordering our mobile exhibitions please, contact us via the following email address:
