BION Terrarium Center was organized in 1993 by D. A. Tkachev – a herpetologist, herpetoculturist and a student of the famous Ukrainian zoologist – Prof. N. N. Shcherbak.

During 29 years of operation, BION Terrarium Center has evolved from a commercial company selling exotic animals to an international reptile breeding, educational and research Center.

Today BION Terrarium Center is united by BION Breeding Center, Ekzoland  Zoo and non-profit foundation “Responsible Zooculture”, which is engaged in educational and research work.

From 1993 to 2021, BION’s specialists have bred 121 species of amphibians and reptiles. For many species, professional manuals have been developed and a unique information base has been collected that is of great interest for zoos, breeding centers and conservationists.

Particular attention is paid to the training of professional staff, which determines the successful work with rare and valuable species.

The specialists of the Center participate in the preparation of scientific publications, practical and scientific conferences, organizing of thematic events (including seminars and conferences for zoos in Ukraine). For example, BION was a key speaker at the first international conference on herpetoculture “Herpeton-2019” in June 2019 (San Diego, USA).

BION Terrarium Center is one of the founders and an active member of the Association of Zoos of Ukraine (AZU) and maintains working relationships with its colleagues.

In 2011, Dmitri Tkachev, on the basis of the “Dream Town” shopping center in Kyiv, created the original Zoo “EKZO Land” ( https://www.facebook.com/EKZOland) which specialized in educational programs for children and adults, being popular with residents and guests of the capital of Ukraine. Currently, the Zoo has been evacuated due to combat operations.

The policy of BION in the field of Zoo business includes the training of keepers, including internships, the preparation of professional manuals for keeping and breeding amphibians and reptiles, the exchange of experience and participation in mutual partnership projects. The key partner of BION in Ukraine is the Cherkasy Zoo.

The key educational project of the BION Terrarium Center (headlined by Dmitri Tkachev, Oleksii Marushchak, Sergei Prokopiev) today is the launch of the international online project – Responsible Herpetoculture Project (RHP), which was launched at the height of the Russian invasion to Ukraine – on March 30, 2022. The project coordinates experts that from around the world – www.responsibleherpetoculture.com.ua.

The situation with BION during the war can be found via the following link https://bion.com.ua/bion-in-the-middle-of-war/.