Conservation Through Connection
Real animals. Real connection. Real understanding.
Transforming the way the world sees reptiles — one encounter at a time.
The Scale of Curiosity
Reptiles are America's third most popular pet — yet they remain the most misunderstood. Each of those 6 million homes is proof that curiosity already exists. Our job is to turn it into understanding.
Our Story
Vivarium Culebra didn't start in a boardroom. It started in creek beds and backyards — with a kid named Braxton flipping rocks for lizards, chasing geckos after dark, and dragging every family member, friend, and visitor of his family home into his room to show off his enclosures. He was drawing snakes in preschool before he could spell their names.
"This isn't a business pivot. It's a lifelong obsession finally built into something bigger than one kid's bedroom."
Some kids grew up on cartoons. Braxton grew up on The Crocodile Hunter — sitting with his grandparents, glued to Animal Planet, watching Steve Irwin wade into rivers and grab the impossible. Nights were Crocs Rule! marathons. Steve Irwin and Tom Crutchfield became his heroes — a wildlife warrior who showed the world how to love what it feared, and a reptile pioneer who set the ethical standard for keeping these animals in captivity. They still are.
Led today by CEO Braxton Warren, a team of educators, conservationists, and keepers has turned that lifelong passion into a platform — dismantling fear through honest, up-close encounters with real animals. We're not running a zoo. We're building a movement that rewrites how the world sees reptiles.
Every animal is treated with the respect, space, and enrichment they deserve.
We make science unforgettable — through real encounters, not screens.
Our programs fund real-world conservation — in the U.S. and globally.
The People Behind It
Every encounter, every program, every animal — driven by a team that believes deeply in what they do.
Founder & CEO · Vivarium Culebra
"Education and proximity to real animals can fundamentally shift the way people see — and treat — the natural world."
General Manager
Keeper & Educator
Keeper · Maintenance & Construction
Keeper · Maintenance & Construction
We're always looking for passionate educators, animal lovers, and conservationists.
Meet the Collection
From gentle pythons to prehistoric crocodilians, every animal in our collection has a role to play in changing minds.
Explore All AnimalsEducation Programs
From school assemblies to custom curricula — we bring reptile education wherever learning happens.
High-energy in-person experiences for schools, camps, churches, and community events. Students interact directly with live animals in a safe, structured environment.
Nationwide livestream access to live animal presentations. Real-time Q&A with our educators from any classroom in the country.
Multi-week immersive experiences that allow students to observe animal behavior, growth, and ecology over time. Deep learning through real observation.
Blending virtual and in-person instruction for maximum flexibility. Perfect for schools with varied schedules or remote learners.
We work directly with educators to develop standards-aligned reptile and wildlife curricula tailored to your students' grade level and learning goals.
One-on-one mentorship for aspiring reptile keepers and educators. Learn ethical husbandry, handling, and animal welfare directly from our team.
In the Vivarium
No filters. No scripts. Just real animals being themselves — and the people who care for them.
Conservation
Every program we run contributes to three critical conservation initiatives working to protect wildlife and human communities alike.
Addressing critical funding gaps in snake conservation research while tackling human-snake conflict through education and proven coexistence strategies. Fear is the primary threat to snake populations worldwide.
72% of snake species lack dedicated conservation funding
Designing and developing engineering solutions in Africa and Southeast Asia that create physical boundaries between wildlife and human settlements — reducing conflict without harming either side.
Active projects in 3 countries across 2 continents Learn More →
Combining community education with infrastructure improvements to reduce snakebite incidents — one of the world's most neglected public health crises, affecting over 5 million people annually.
5M+ snakebite incidents occur globally each year
"We don't just teach people about reptiles.
— Braxton Warren, CEO, Vivarium Culebra
We change the way they see the world.
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
We didn't arrive here alone. These are the trailblazers, scientists, and storytellers whose work lights the way for everything we do.
Get in Touch
Whether you're a teacher, event coordinator, or community organizer — we'd love to work with you. Fill out the form and our team will reach out within 48 hours.