Vivarium de Quito

What Vivarium de Quito does

Vivarium de Quito is a non-profit conservation center and educational facility operated by Fundación Herpetológica Gustavo Orcés (FHGO), founded December 1, 1989 in Quito, Ecuador by French herpetologist Jean-Marc Touzet. The organization manages approximately 350 amphibians and reptiles across roughly 40 species distributed across a public exhibit, venomous and non-venomous laboratories, an amphibian conservation center, a clinic, quarantine facilities, and an in-house bioterium that produces rodents, insects, snails, and earthworms as feed. It operates as the official recipient of trafficked herpetofauna from Ecuador's Ministry of Environment (MAE) and Environmental Police, and is regulated by MAE since 2009 under a comodato agreement with the Quito Municipal Council for the heritage 'Casa del Agua' building in Parque La Carolina. The organization has educated over 1,000,000 people across 31 years and currently serves approximately 50,000 visitors annually.

The Vivarium generates revenue through a diversified portfolio of visitor-facing and institutional offerings. General admission is priced at $1.75-$4.00 by demographic, while three premium guided packages (exploration, feeding demonstration, physical health check) are priced $7-$14. Annual memberships at three tiers ($75-$125), animal sponsorships at $80-$375 per animal per year, school/university group visits (in-person and virtual), and corporate training programs in snake handling and ophidic accident prevention provide recurring and B2B revenue. The organization supplements this with donations (monetary and in-kind), events (Cicleando con Ranas cycling tours, Desafío Escamoso virtual challenge, Colada Morada solidarity campaign), and co-marketing promotions with partners including La Cayetana craft brewery and Quito Bike Tours.

The institution is led by Executive Director María Elena Barragán-Paladines, a herpetologist serving on the WHO Expert Group on Snakebite Envenoming since 2021 and recipient of multiple international recognitions. The organization maintains strategic alliances with Wildlife Conservation Society, Amphibian Ark, Save The Snakes, AEZA, Sistema de Museos de Quito, and Red de Educación Ambiental. A small team of approximately 11 employees operates the facility, supplemented by an internship program accepting pre-professional students across biology, veterinary, environmental management, and communications disciplines.

Name

Vivarium de Quito

Legal name

Fundación Herpetológica Gustavo Orcés

Website

https://vivarium.org.ec

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vivarium de Quito is a non-profit herpetofauna conservation center in Quito, Ecuador, founded in 1989 by the Fundación Herpetológica Gustavo Orcés. It serves visitors, schools, and professionals through public exhibits, premium tours, animal sponsorships, and snakebite prevention training, while officially rehabilitating trafficked wildlife for the Ecuadorian government.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Education

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Parks & Private Nature Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAB), Wildlife Sanctuaries & Rescue Centers (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAA)

Keywords

• Herpetofauna conservation center
• Wildlife education programs
• Reptile amphibian exhibits
• Environmental training services
• Zoological institution services

Headquarters

HQ city

Quito

HQ country

Ecuador

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. General admission tickets: Self-guided public exhibit visits with standard tickets priced by age category (children $2.50, adults $4.00, seniors $1.75, persons with disabilities $1.75). No reservation required for regular visits.
2. Premium experience visits: Reserved, personalized group visits (2-6 people) that include access to technical areas, laboratories, animal feeding demonstrations, and physical health examinations. Three packages priced from $10 to $14 per adult, with children's and senior discounts available. Barter/trade option offered in exchange for fruits, vegetables, medical supplies, or cleaning products.
3. Annual memberships (Golden, Silver, Junior): Annual membership programs offering free unlimited entry, exclusive merchandise, and discounts on events and courses. Golden: $125/year; Silver: $100/year; Junior: $75/year.
4. Animal sponsorship / apadrinamiento: Annual sponsorship of specific amphibians or reptiles. Sponsors cover the cost of care, feeding, and medicine for their chosen animal. Prices range from $80 to $375 per year depending on species. Sponsors receive a gift kit, invitations to special activities, and an annual facility tour.
5. Donations (economic, in-kind): Accepts monetary donations via bank transfer, deposit, or PayPal, as well as in-kind donations of fruits, vegetables, and medical supplies. Donors can contribute at the facility or remotely.
6. Professional training and capacitations: Theorist-practical training programs for environmental education, amphibian and reptile handling, containment, and prevention of snakebite accidents. Offered to schools, indigenous communities, companies, consultancies, and life sciences professionals. Pricing is quoted upon request.
7. Events and special activities: Revenue generated from ticketed events such as the Colada Morada solidarity initiative, the Cicleada cycling tour, Desafío Escamoso virtual challenge, and promotional events in collaboration with partners like La Cayetana and Quito Bike Tours.
8. Group visits (presencial and virtual): School and university group visits available in-person or virtually. Virtual group sessions held in private rooms for up to 35 people with real-time interaction. Requires 50% deposit booking with balance paid on visit day. Pricing quoted in cost table.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Vivarium de Quito is a non-profit herpetofauna conservation center and public exhibit that houses approximately 350 amphibians and reptiles across 40 species. It operates an integrated facility in Parque La Carolina, Quito, offering self-guided and premium guided visitor experiences, group educational visits (in-person and virtual), animal sponsorship programs, annual memberships, and professional training in snake handling and ophidic accident prevention. The organization is the official recipient of trafficked herpetofauna confiscated by Ecuador's Ministry of Environment and Environmental Police.

Product overview

Vivarium de Quito is an NGO reptile and amphibian conservation center operating as a single-location zoo and educational facility. The organization offers a portfolio of visitor experiences centered around its core exhibit housing approximately 350 animals across 40 species. The main offerings include self-guided Normal Visits, three tiers of Premium guided experiences (Explorando el Vivarium, Día de Alimentación, Día de Revisión Física), and Group Visits available in-person or virtually. Additional revenue streams include an Animal Sponsorship Program (Apadrinamientos), a three-tier Membership Program (Golden, Silver, Junior), and Training Courses (Capacitaciones) for various audiences. Supporting programs include an Internship Program, Educational Materials, and a year-round Events Program featuring workshops, webinars, and special promotions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Visitas Normales (Self-Guided Public Visits) Self-guided tours through the public exhibit showcasing approximately 40 species of amphibians and reptiles, with QR-coded audio information in Spanish or English. Priced by age category: children $2.50, adults $4.00, seniors and persons with disabilities $1.75. Open Tuesday to Sunday.
• Visitas Premium (Premium Guided Experiences) Reserved, personalized group experiences (2-6 persons) including access to technical areas and laboratories. Three packages are offered: Paquete 1 'Explorando el Vivarium' (60-70 min, from $10), Paquete 2 'Día de Alimentación' (feeding demonstration, from $12), and Paquete 3 'Día de Revisión Física' (health check demonstration, from $14). Bilingual specialist guidance and printed photo included.
• Visitas Grupales (Group Visits - In-Person and Virtual) Organized educational group visits for schools, colleges, and universities covering species biology, natural history, distribution, and conservation. Virtual sessions use private rooms for up to 35 people with real-time interaction, digital workbooks, and 50% deposit booking. Curriculum-aligned content available.
• Apadrinamientos (Animal Sponsorship Program) Annual sponsorship program for specific amphibians or reptiles. Sponsors cover care, feeding, and medicine for their chosen animal, with prices ranging from $80 (Rana Marsupial Andina) to $375 (Verrugosa del Chocó) per year. Sponsors receive a gift kit (diploma, photo, t-shirt), invitations to special activities, and an annual facility tour.
• Membresías (Annual Membership Program) Three-tier annual membership: Golden ($125/year) including book, t-shirt, cap, two carnets with free entry plus a beneficiary with 50% discount; Silver ($100/year) including framed photo and carnet; Junior ($75/year) including Terra Incógnita magazine and child carnet. Includes 15% discount on up to 3 events/courses per year for Golden tier.
• Capacitaciones (Professional Training Courses) Theoretical-practical training programs covering environmental education, amphibian and reptile handling and containment (basic, medium, advanced), ophidic accident prevention, snakebite treatment, protocol design, and drills. Offered to organizations, companies, consultancies, biological professionals, veterinarians, tourism guides, photographers, epidemiologists, and indigenous communities. Pricing quoted on inquiry.
• Eventos (Events Program) Ticketed and free special events including the Colada Morada solidarity initiative, Cicleando con Ranas urban cycling tour ($20-$25), Desafío Escamoso virtual challenge ($20/team), Anfi y Repti Bingo Virtual, workshops, webinars, and seasonal commemorative events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000,000 people reached through its educational program over 31 years
• +4 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Cervecería La CayetanamajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 December 2020Collaborative promotion 'Promo Guagsa' to celebrate Quito and its reptiles and amphibians. La Cayetana produces a Guagsa Pale Ale craft beer. The promotion combined Vivarium admission tickets with the craft beer, driving cross-audience engagement.
• MicrocosmosminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 November 2020Microcosmos collaborated with the Vivarium to design the 'Desafío Escamoso' (Scaly Challenge), a virtual adventure game that educates participants on identifying and differentiating snake species through an interactive digital experience.
• Bici FlashminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 October 2020Bici Flash provides eco-friendly bicycle messenger delivery services for the 'Colada Morada' solidarity campaign. They deliver colada morada and bread snake packages to customers across Quito, supporting the Vivarium's fundraising events with sustainable logistics.
• Quito Bike ToursmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 September 2020Jointly designed the 'Cicleando con Ranas' (Cycling with Frogs) urban tour, a 4-hour cycling experience in Quito that combines cultural activities with environmental education about herpetofauna. Quito Bike Tours provides bicycles and safety equipment for an additional cost.
• AEZA (Asociación Ecuatoriana de Zoológicos y Acuarios)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Vivarium is a member of AEZA, the Ecuadorian Association of Zoos and Aquariums, aligning with the broader zoo and aquarium community for best practices, networking, and collaborative conservation efforts.
• Sistema de Museos de Quito (SMQ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Vivarium participates in the Quito Museums System, connecting it to Quito's cultural and educational heritage network and providing institutional recognition within the city's museum community.
• Red de Educación Ambiental (REA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Vivarium is part of the Environmental Education Network, facilitating collaboration on environmental education programs and outreach initiatives across Ecuador.
• WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWCS is a global wildlife conservation organization. The Vivarium collaborates with WCS Ecuador on conservation programs and initiatives related to Ecuador's wildlife.
• Pete Oxford PhotographymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned wildlife photographer Pete Oxford provides photography for the Vivarium's publications and website. All amphibian and reptile photographs on the website are credited to Pete Oxford.
• Tesoro Escondido ReserveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Vivarium collaborates with the Tesoro Escondido Reserve on conservation and environmental education initiatives in Ecuador.
• AArk (Amphibian Ark)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAArk is a global initiative dedicated to amphibian conservation. The Vivarium collaborates with AArk on amphibian rescue and conservation programs, leveraging international expertise and resources.
• Save The SnakesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSave The Snakes is an international snake conservation organization. The Vivarium collaborates with Save The Snakes and in 2020 awarded its Women Leaders in Snake Conservation award to the Executive Director María Elena Barragán-Paladines.
• Mujeres y Conservación (AMC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMujeres y Conservación is an organization focused on women in conservation. The Vivarium collaborates with AMC on projects and initiatives related to conservation and community engagement.
• AgropesaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgropesa supported the FHGO in producing educational materials including the 'Guía básica de serpientes del Occidente del Ecuador' and snake identification posters, contributing to public education on snakebite prevention.
• MAE (Ministerio del Ambiente de Ecuador)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Vivarium works in official alliance with the Ministry of Environment (environmental authority) to receive amphibians and reptiles confiscated from illegal wildlife trafficking. The MAE is the governing body that has regulated the FHGO since 2009.
• Policía Ambiental (Environmental Police)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Vivarium collaborates with the Environmental Police to receive and rehabilitate trafficked herpetofauna. Animals confiscated from illegal trade are delivered to the Vivarium for care, rehabilitation, and when possible, reintroduction.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Wildlife Conservation Society (Bronx Zoo): Large incumbent conservation organization operating the Bronx Zoo and global field programs, including Ecuador work. The Vivarium collaborates with WCS Ecuador and operates in overlapping conservation/herpetology space at very different scale.
• Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach): Public aquarium with conservation and education programs including herpetological exhibits. Comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit aquatic/wildlife attraction, though focused on marine species rather than herpetofauna.
• Nashville Zoo: Accredited US zoo with a dedicated Frogery exhibit and significant herpetology programming. Overlaps with the Vivarium on amphibian/reptile conservation and education but operates at much larger scale and taxonomic breadth.
• Bioparc Valencia: Modern zoological park in Valencia, Spain focused on immersive multispecies habitats and conservation. Comparable as a contemporary zoo operator with strong educational programming, though at a much larger scale and broader taxonomic scope.

Others

• Save The Snakes: International snake conservation organization that awarded the Vivarium's director in 2020. Comparable in mission (snake conservation, snakebite awareness, education) though structured as an advocacy/training nonprofit rather than a zoo.
• Amphibian Ark: Global amphibian conservation initiative coordinating ex-situ programs worldwide. The Vivarium is an active AArk collaborator in Ecuador; both share amphibian conservation and husbandry focus, though AArk is a coordinating network rather than an operator.

Direct peers

• Reptile Gardens: Long-running reptile attraction in Rapid City, South Dakota, founded in 1937, with public exhibits of reptiles and amphibians plus educational programming. Comparable as a heritage single-site reptile park with educational and conservation focus.
• St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park: Historic zoological park in Florida specializing in crocodilians and reptiles with public exhibits, education programs, and species recovery work. Closely matches the Vivarium's model of a single-site herpetological zoo with strong conservation and education orientation.
• Australian Reptile Park: Specialized reptile and spider park in Somersby, NSW, combining public exhibits with venom-milking programs for antivenom production. Directly comparable as a single-site reptile/amphibian-focused zoological and education center.

Regional players

• Parque Cóndor: Ecuadorian raptor and wildlife observation park in Otavalo focused on conservation education and rehabilitation of native species. Regional peer operating in the same Ecuadorian wildlife-education space with similar NGO/government partnership structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vivariumquito
• Facebookfacebook.com/vivariumquito
• Instagraminstagram.com/vivariumquito
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vivariumquito

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vivarium de Quito