For a real zoonerd Alphen aan de Rijn in the Netherlands is actualy Avifauna, the largest and best known birdpark in the Netherlands. However, this small town has to offer a second animal-attraction, the Stichting Schildpaddencentrum Nederland ( = Foundation Turtle Tortoise center Netherlands ). In 2002 a public hall was opened and is home of one of the largest turtle and tortoise-collections in Europe with many ( very ) rare (sub)species which kept in only very few other collections. Main goal of the foundation is togive a home to confiscated, dumped and neglected tortoises and turtles and therefor quite a number of the showed animals doesn't look perfect. A second goal is education. In show-cases in the building and posters on the walls many aspects about turtles and tortoises are shown. Breeding is not done because the place avaible is needed for the many newcomers which still come in anualy ! There is however a close cooperation with other collections and when endangered species are needed for breeding-programms, the foundation will send them on breeding-loan. The building has 2 levels and after the entrance you will enter the shop / coffee-corner. In the shop a large assortiment of turtle-tortoise related items can be bought. Then you enter the hall and a few very large enclosures for water-living turtles are home to a large variaty of species. One large bassin is for "colder-climate" ( North American ) species, in another more tropical species are kept. On the first floor the tortoises are kept, also in a few very large enclosures and many species mixed together. In these enclosures also some ponds are placed and here more turtles can be seen. Because the (sub)species are mixed, it's not always easy to discover all (sub)species kept and I'm sure I missed several of them. Altogether, if you're intrested in turtles and tortoises, this place will give you a few nice hours ! Species-list can be found on Zootierliste : http://www.zootierliste.de/en/zoosmap.php?showzoo=10002952
