Koch, A. 2025. Carl Hagenbeck’s Trade in Reptiles, His Historical Reptile Exhibitions, and His Herpetological Legacy Bibliotheca Herpetologica 19(12):132–150.
The name of Carl Hagenbeck is commonly linked to the Hamburg Zoo, a circus, the large-scale animal trade, and the controversial historical ethnological shows, so-called human zoos or Völkerschauen. All these enterprises were involved with animals, whether they were wild or domestic. Although reptiles, and particularly amphibians, appear to have played no major role in Carl Hagenbeck’s international endeavors, this paper aims to explore his historical impact on herpetologists, reptile keepers, and the public, particularly in German-speaking countries. I will demonstrate that historical studies of herpetology and herpetoculture have neglected Carl Hagenbeck’s firm and will reveal the significant role that large reptile species, such as crocodiles, alligators, and giant snakes played in his various endeavors, but especially in his reptile exhibitions, which have received little attention from historians and herpetologists to date. Therefore, Carl Hagenbeck’s influence on scientists, animal keepers, and the general public deserves greater recognition.
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