Randers Regnskov marks 30 years with exotic wildlife

Randers Regnskov, the Danish tropical zoo, celebrates its 30th anniversary this weekend, reports DR.

The facility’s three iconic domes now house a vast collection of animals from Asia, Africa, and the Americas, a project that began with director Henrik Herold’s trip to Costa Rica in the 1980s.

Herold shared his ten favourite species from three decades of operations. Among them is the king cobra, which he once milked in Thailand for venom strong enough to kill an elephant. Though not naturally docile, he believes they can be accustomed to human contact.

Leafcutter ants also hold a special place for the director. He describes their behaviour as almost agricultural: they cut leaves, feed them to a fungus in their nests, and live off the fruit it produces.

The poison dart frog, encountered on his first Central American trip, remains unforgettable. The species secretes one of the most potent toxins known when handled.

American alligators, which Herold first met as a child in the US, were among the zoo’s earliest residents. The reptiles can survive winter by surfacing through ice to breathe.

A memorable moment came with the birth of a tapir calf, Aqua Heroldine. Herold rescued the newborn from the water where it was born, performing life-saving first aid while standing waist-deep in the enclosure.

Jaguars, the largest predators in South America, fascinate him for their unique hunting method: they crush their prey’s skull with their teeth, unlike other big cats that suffocate their targets.

The Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard, evokes a sense of awe in Herold, reminding him of prehistoric dinosaurs.

Wolverines, once native to Denmark, now live in the zoo’s outdoor Ice Age exhibit. Herold admires their strength—a 15-kilogram wolverine can take down a reindeer—yet notes their surprisingly gentle nature.

Prairie dogs, another childhood encounter, now populate the same outdoor area. Herold originally wanted ground squirrels but settled for prairie dogs as a substitute.

His fascination with large venomous snakes remains undiminished, particularly the bushmaster, which can grow up to 2.5 metres long.