Pedro Trebbau

Pedro Trebbau (born Karl Peter Trebbau Millowitsch, May 20, 1929) is a German-born, Venezuelan zoologist. His career has been characterized by the promotion and preservation of Venezuelan wildlife and nature. His research and collaboration with the herpetologist Peter Pritchard produced the still extant reference book on the turtles of Venezuela.

Trebbau was born in Cologne, where he very early on showed a keen interest in the natural world. He obtained bachelor's degree in Biology at the universities of Frankfurt and Freiburg, as well as Veterinary degree from the University of Giessen.

He arrived in Venezuela in 1953 and enrolled at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Central University of Venezuela (UCV), based in Maracay, Aragua. Shortly afterwards he decided to remain in Venezuela, and obtained the Venezuelan nationality in 1957.

His work in Venezuela began as a technical director of El Pinar Zoo, in Caracas. Between 1965 and 1970 he also worked as a professor at the Institute of Tropical Zoology of the UCV. In 1968 he led an expedition and rescue operation in the region of Guayana that protected an estimated 10.000 animals of 53 different species that would have drowned as a result of the construction of theGuri Dam.

In 1974 Trebbau accomplished the endowment and foundation of the first modern zoo in Venezuela. Eventually called Caricuao Zoo, it was inaugurated in 1977 and Trebbau remained as its president until 1979. He would then set his sight to work as the zoo coordinator for the National Parks Institute (Inparques), and as Special Commissioner for the Ministry of Environment. From 1980 to 1983 he was president of the Humboldt Cultural Association. In 1989 he took an active role on the advisory committee for a new Wildlife Law, and in 1991 he became president of the National Foundation of Zoological Parks and Aquariums.

Trebbau produced and hosted several TV programs aimed at the dissemination of the knowledge of the local fauna, especially among the younger generations. Among these Zoológico Infantil (Children's zoo), La Fauna (The Wildlife) and Campamento en la Selva (Jungle Camp), were broadcast by the former National Television-Channel 5 and Venezolana de Televisión for several years.

His scientific research has been widely published in technical journals around the world; but he is most proud of his role as a disseminator of the local knowledge of the fauna to the local population. For him, the entertainment role of zoos was always secondary to its role as an educational and research producing institution.

• Roze, J.A.; P. Trebbau (1958) Un nuevo género de corales venenosas. (Leptomicrurus) para Venezuela. Acta Científica Venezolana Number 9
• Trebbau, P. (1971) A note on a fostered common opossum. Didelphis marsupialis. International Zoo Year Book. Volume 11
• Trebbau, P. (1972) Notes on the Brazilian Giant Otter. Pteronura brasiliensis in captivity. Zoologischer Garten N:F: Leipzig 41
• Trebbau,P. (1979) Some observation on the Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochoaeris). Zoologischer Garten N.F.Jena 49
• Trebbau P. (1975) Measurementts and some observations on the Freshwater-Dolphin (Inia gooffrensis) in Venezuela Zool. Garten 45 : 153 – 67
• Trebbau, P.; P.J.H. Van Bree (1974) Notes concerning the freshwater Dolphin (Inia geoffrensis, Blainville 1917) in Venezuela.
• Trebbau, P.; P.J.H. Van Bree (1974) Algunas anomalías del esqueleto de la Tonina de agua dulce. Inia geoffrensis, Blainville 1817. Venezuelan Academy of Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences. Volume 33. Number 100
• Trebbau, P. (1977) Parques Zoológicos. Cuadernos Lagoven. Number 6
• Trebbau P. (1978) Observation on the mating behavior of the Brazilian Gian Otter. Ptenonura brasiliensis. Der Zoologische Garten. Volume 2/3.
• Prichard, P.; P. Trebbau (1984) The Turtles of Venezuela. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. 403 pp.
• Trebbau, P.; M. Díaz; E. Mujica (1994) The potential for captive breeding programs in Venezuela-efforts between Zoos, government and NGO. In: Creative Conservation-Interactive Management of wild and captive Animals. Chapman and Hall. London.
• Pauler, I. ; P. Trebbau (1995) Erstnachweis von Podocnemis lewyana Dumeril, 1852 (Testudines) in Venezuela. Salamandra 31.3.
• P. Trebbau, E. Mondolfi (2001) Jaguar. Encyclopedia of the World´s Zoos. Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Chicago, London.
• P. Trebbau, Israel Cañizales (2001) Fundación Nacional de Parques Zoologicos y Acuarios. Encyclopedia of the World´s Zoos. Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Chicago, Londres.
• P. Trebbau (2001) Parque Zoologico Caricuao. Encyclopedia of the World´s Zoos. Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Chicago, London.