The Tropiquarium raises awareness of biodiversity and introduces visitors to little-known animals that are sometimes threatened with extinction. The zoo owes its existence to the passion for nature of its owner, Philippe Morel.
Trained as an ornithologist, he opened his first greenhouse to the public in 1979, immersing visitors in a small tropical jungle where magnificent exotic birds fly freely around them. The aim was to raise visitors’ awareness of the wonders of nature, and to teach them to understand and respect its biodiversity. Ever innovative, the facilities are diversifying, and in 2003 the Tropiquarium was opened.
In 2014, assisted for several years by his son Thomas, they designed a dome to house and attempt to reproduce especially rare species on the brink of extinction, such as the Komodo dragons.
The Tropiquarium’s facilities feature numerous tropical trees that produce delicious fruit throughout the year, including bananas, pineapples, papayas, passion fruit and pepper! The company employs a dozen people.
Mission
The Tropiquarium helps to safeguard and maintain species. It is home to several endangered species, including the Komodo dragon, the Siamese crocodile, the Cape penguin, the giant Galapagos tortoise and the Rothschild’s kingfisher. It also aims to offer you a moment of discovery away from your daily routine, while providing you with information about nature and its biodiversity.
Ecological commitment
Since 2009, a wood chip heating plant has been efficiently replacing the old oil-fired plant and providing the thermal energy to heat the Tropiquarium buildings. The wood shavings come from the forest bordering the site and are used to heat the facilities in a CO2 neutral way. The volume of fuel oil saved corresponds to the annual heating requirement of 20 houses.
Close to the power station, an educational building dedicated to renewable energies has been created to enable our young visitors to develop their ecological awareness in a fun environment.
Our partners
- Romande Energie: participation in the creation of the energy pavilion, responsible for updating it in line with technological developments.
- CarPostal: promoting our image through a commercial that runs periodically on bus screens in French-speaking Switzerland.
Our partner websites
- Energy Explorers: http://www.explorateurs-energie.ch/index.php/enseignants/excursions-enseignants
- Loisirs.ch: https://www.loisirs.ch/loisirs/100/tropiquarium-de-servion
- Pratique.ch: https://www.pratique.ch/tropiquarium-de-servion/
- La Torpille: https://torpille.ch
The best activities around Lake Geneva: https://www.leman-sans-frontiere.org
The Tropiquarium would like to thank the municipality of Servion for its support and collaboration.