Endangered species

Stockholm Aquarium is located on the premises and part of one of the world's oldest open-air museums, Skansen, which was founded in 1891. Skansen, consists of historical buildings and dwellings that provide a sense of Swedish history. The Aquarium comprises many species exotic to Sweden's fauna, and it is obviously an add-on to the original idea of Skansen's founder Hazelius to show only indigenous species in the museum's Zoo. The 'Akvariet' is operated by another organisation, which explains the additional admission fee - on top of the Skansen admission fee - that is charged for this small but nevertheless interesting zoo (the name aquarium is misleading).

Although part of the Akvariet - at least that is what I assume because it houses exotic species as well - 'Our Africa' is free of charge. It is a separate building across from the Akvariet with an outdoor and indoor enclosure for black-and-white colobus monkeys. Besides these monkeys it has African bird species on display. The indoor part is atypical because the terrace, that is separated from the colobus monkey enclosure by large viewing windows, functions as a walk-through aviary as well. The African birds (St. Helena waxbill, orange-cheeked waxbill and yellow-fronted canary) fly around freely and are nesting in this area. They seem at ease and not too much disturbed by the constant stream of visitors. In addition to the flying birds there's a terrestrial bird (Harlequin quail) as well using the terrace as its domain. It is roaming around freely in the area between the viewing windows and the small fence that keeps the visitors from coming too close. The black-and-white colobus monkey (Colobus guereza) are housed together with black-cheeked lovebirds. The monkey enclosure itself contains many climbing enrichment features, such as ropes, tree trunks and some high level platforms. I have seen three specimens of the colobus monkey, which is a rather low number for a species that live in territorial groups of about 9 individuals on average.

Apart from the colobus monkey outdoor enclosure there are two other outdoor exhibits. Both are part of the Akvariet complex. One of them is the ring-tailed lemur walk-through enclosure you are able to see from outside without entering the Akvariet. But it is empty during my visit because the ring-tailed lemurs do not like the cold and therefore it is closed. The other one, the hamadryas baboon rock, requires that you enter the Akvariet. The baboons have a choice to be in or out, and it must be because of the 'scenery' in the outdoor exhibit that the baboons brave the cold. It is a scene that could come right out of an 'Indiana Jones' movie with a four-wheel drive jeep crashed on a partly demolished bridge. It provides a variety of climbing enrichment.

But before you arrive here you pass the entrance to the, now closed, ring-tailed lemur walk-through, and two mixed species exhibits. One with red titi monkeys, pygmy marmosets and Hoffman's two-toed sloths, and the other one with golden lion tamarins and common iguana. The tamarins are taking part in a reintroduction programme in Brazil. Both enclosures have viewing opportunities all around, woodchips bottom covering, lots of climbing enrichment and nebulizers to create the moist environment that resembles South-America's jungle. Considering the numerous youngsters to be seen the breeding track record within the collection of small primates seems good.

Next, after the baboon rock, you enter the original Akvariet building which starts with an interesting collection of reptiles, such as the Caiman lizard (Dracaena guianensis), rhinoceros ratsnake (Rhynchophis boulengeri), sedge viper (Atheris nitschei), Wagler's pit viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri), the eyelash viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) and more. The setup is spacious with large vivariums. Following the path you enter a room with small species (birds, reptiles and mammals) that live in hot and dry habitats - deserts.

Then, again a walk-through primate exhibit follows with white-faced saki and cotton-top tamarin. This small example of a rainforest is not really fit for tall people to walk through, but this could be the whole idea behind it. After all, a real jungle is also not easy to navigate and to walk through. There's also a lot of attention paid to educate the visitor about the threats to rainforest ecosystems worldwide.

From the rainforest exhibit you walk to a mixed zone with fish and reptile exhibits. There's even a very special enclosure with a turtle pool, alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) and matamata turtle (Chelus fimbriata), and Goeldi's monkeys living in the tree trunks above it. Other eye catchers are the tank with four-eyed fish (Anableps anableps), and the large tank with leopard shark, guitar fish, moonfish and stingray.

The Cuban crocodile enclosure is the centrepiece of this room. The Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) is a small but aggressive species of crocodile found only in Cuba. It is one of the most threatened crocodile species in the world and listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. The two Cuban crocs of Skansen Aquarium are one of the few breeding pairs outside of Cuba (see more info).

In the same room you will find the few real aquariums of the Akvariet, presenting coral fish.

Just before the exit spider lovers will find something to their liking, because there's a whole section especially focused on venomous spiders.

Last but not least it is worth mentioning the modern information panels they use at some of the enclosures. These computer screens can be easily adjusted and provide day-to-day updates on the species on display. Moreover, video presentations can be made on these screens, which make them very useful for educational purposes.

And hey, did I mention already that the word Aquarium is misleading.

The Cuban crocodiles of Skansen-Akvariet

The Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) is a small but aggressive species of crocodile found only in freshwater swamps in two small areas on Cuba. The largest population is located in the Zapata swamp, but there is also a small population found in the Lanier Swamp on the Isle of Youth. It is one of the most threatened crocodile species in the world and listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. The most recent estimation suggests that about 3,000-5,000 individuals still exist in the wild.

The threats to the Cuban crocs are many: hybridisation with the American crocodile, competition with the introduced spectacled caiman, and hunting and habitat destruction are also affecting the population.

The two Cuban crocs of Skansen Aquarium are one of the few breeding pairs outside of Cuba. In 1978, they were given as a gift from Fidel Castro to a Russian cosmonaut on visit. He brought them back to Moscow. After some time he donated them to Moscow Zoo.

When Jonas Wahlström, the founder of Skansen-Akvariet, visited Moscow Zoo in 1981, the crocodiles were donated to Skansen-Akvariet. At the time, they were about one meter long, but Aeroflot accepted them gladly as hand-luggage.

Since 1984, the Akvariet breeding pair has regularly produced eggs, normally between 15-20 eggs at a time.

Since there is an embargo from American authorities regarding Cuban goods, crocodiles born in Cuba are not allowed in the USA. On the other hand, if they are born in Sweden the USA do allow them into the country. This makes the Sweden route the only way for American zoos to acquire these rare crocodiles.

While the tension between Cuban and American governments is starting to ease in 2015, Skansen Akvariet already came to an agreement with Cuban government to support Cuba's efforts to sustain the critically endangered Cuban crocodile. In April 2015 Skansen Akvariet sent 10 baby crocs, each about 1.5 years old, to Cuba, where they were placed in quarantine before their release into the wild of the Zapata Swamp.

Watch and listen (if you're able to understand Swedish) Jonas Wahlström telling the story himself on Swedish television (Nyhetsmorgon, TV4):

It's the dream of any zoo director to be part of releasing animals into the wild

Jonas Wahlström, Skansen Akvariet founder and director >>

Skansen Akvariet had sent hatchlings to zoos worldwide, but this was the first time offspring of his breeding pair was given to Cuba for introduction into the wild, added Wahlström.

It was also the first time that Cuban crocodiles raised abroad were introduced into the wild in Cuba. The Cuban crocodile can be distinguished from its American cousin by the way it walks and its characteristic bony ridge behind the eyes. But you cannot distinguish hybrid crocodiles from pure-bred Cuban crocodiles by their appearance. Therefore, the Akvariet offspring was to be genetically screened, before their release in the wild, to ensure that they came from a pure breed. Jonas Wahlström said he was sure his crocodiles were pure Cubans and expected them to adapt quickly to the real world.

To get a good idea about Cuba's wildlife, its current situation, the threats and expectations, see this documentary:

(Source: Skansen-Akvariet information panel; Wikipedia; Associated Press, 19.04.2015)

In a project funded by the European Union three zoos - Tallinn Zoo, Korkeasaari Zoo in Helsinki and Skansen Zoo in Stockholm - in collaboration with two universities developed an innovative approach on how to attract the interest of the public for the educational activities of the zoos involved. Creative adventure learning with mobile devices it is called in the project description. Nowadays, most people below roughly 40 years of age become nervous when they do not have their smartphone in close range - their smartphone can be regarded as an inseparable extension of their hand, as if it is a natural body part. So, it could be a smart idea to challenge the zoo visitors with adventurous and educational tasks on a social interactive internet platform, because they are very much used to such platforms. Moreover, it seems that young people outgrew the simple method by which many old-timers have been educated in zoos - read the information panels!

SmartZoos is a location-based game service, where the activities will guide players through their environment and teach them a thing or two. In other words, SmartZoos is an online environment where people can complete exciting discovery trails. People who engage with SmartZoos will find out interesting knowledge about animals, will learn to watch and observe animals, get to solve exciting tasks, develop orientation skills and by accomplishing certain tasks within SmartZoos, they will be rewarded with badges. SmartZoos is a modern way to combine education with gamified fun, and is further promoted like this, 'you can create fun and activities to be used by you and other SmartZoos users when you have a Creator account.'

The SmartZoos project is part of the European Union's Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme in the framework of which the aforementioned partners have set up a series of gamified, yet educational discovery trails. More discovery trails will be established, the trails will constantly change and new features will be added.

(Source: Tallinn Zoo website; SmartZoos platform; Interreg Central Baltic website )

Some additional information, such as contact details and involvement in breeding programmes.

Directions to Skansen Aquarium, Stockholm

There are many ways to get to Skansen. It's situated on the island of Djurgården in the middle of Stockholm.

Address:
Djurgården
S-115 93
Stockholm
Sweden

public transport

by bus, metro and/or tram

• Bus 44 takes you to Skansen via Karlaplan. The metro station at Karlaplan is served by the red line to Ropsten. Timetables for bus 44 available here.

• From T-Centralen in the city centre you can take bus 69 or bus 69K and change to the No.7 tram at Norrmalmstorg, Nybroplan, Styrmansgatan or Djurgårdsbron. The tram takes you out to Djurgården and stops at Nordiska museet/Vasamuseet/Junibacken, Liljevalchs/Gröna Lund, Skansen, Djurgårdsskolan and Waldemarsudde.

• From Slussen you can take bus 76 (destination Frihamnen or Ropsten) and change to tram No.7 at Nybroplan, Styrmansgatan or Djurgårdsbron.

More information on Stockholm's public transport, including a route planner is available here.

by ferry

The ferry leaves from Slussen at the end of Gamla stan. The ferry takes visitors to Skeppsholmen and to Allmänna gränd on Djurgården. The nearest bus stop in Gamla stan is Räntmästartrappan. Bus 2 and bus 76 access the stop. The ferry terminal is a short walk from the Slussen metro station. The ferry timetables are available here.

by bicycle or on foot

Skansen is not very far from the centre of Stockholm. Cycling or walking from here gives you a very nice tour of the Stockholm waterfront.

by car

Going by car is not recommended since it´s difficult to find parking space on Djurgården and traffic is quite heavy during rush hour.

Download the Skansen map here.