Yes, you are lucky to live in Europe for more than one reason though we do have it pretty good where I live as far as keeping some species.
-Well actually you don't have to be a "zoo." Basically any educational &/or research facility can get permits (this includes private facilities) from their State & Federal Fish and Wildlife Department, and of course these permits would have to be verified by the breeder before purchase of illegal species. CITES permits aren't too hard to get for Gila Monsters (Heloderma), but that doesn't mean other species will be the same especially since Gilas are widely bred here in the US.
-I’m currently studying populations of T. e. elegans and T. sirtalis concinnus in the Willamette Valley. I currently don't have permits for the species but would like to have contacts first, and I already know who to contact for permits. I’m still trying to find a long-term breeding project but I’m still not exactly sure which species to work with yet. I’ve personally kept about 75 different species of herps, and have only found a few that I‘m willing to work with long-term. Some of these species include Garters in my own backyard (concinnus, elegans, & ordinoides), well these were interesting but I would prefer knowing breeders of the sub-species. One of Oregon’s laws is that you can’t, Buy, Sell, or Trade any native species except those that are morphologically different from our own except for Lampropeltis g. californiaensis. So, I would also need a permit from ODFW (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife) to purchase any native Garters, we have 7 different sub-species; T. e. elegans, terrestris, & vagrans, T. s. concinnus & fitchi, T. ordinoides, & T. atratus. Other than that our state law states that any non-native; Milk, Pine, Corn, Rat, Garter Snake are non-controlled species. For more info on Oregon’s State Laws;
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Division 056: Importation, Possession, Confinement, Transportation, and Sale of Non-Native Wildlife
(Note: There are 2 main parts, controlled and non-controlled species, basically whatever listed in non-controlled you can keep unless it’s in the controlled species part but if it isn’t mentioned in either then it shall be considered illegal until further notice)
One stupid thing about Oregon’s Laws though is that you can’t buy, sale, or trade any natives but anything that’s not protected you can collect or kill as many as you want. I hear so many people telling me about killing snakes in their yard or purposely swerving to hit one on the road it makes me sick. I personally think some of California’s law about controlling collecting by a “fishing” license is more ideal.
-If you don’t feel well giving me these (illegal species) contacts, that is fine and no hard feelings. Though,, I would still like to know breeders of the other species/sub-species if you don‘t mind.
Here’s info on import/export of endangered species
http://www.fws.gov/permits/ImportExport/ImportExport.shtml
Whew, that was a lot. Let me know and thanks for your replies.

Sincerely,
Mark
PS- Yes you are right Adamanteus, people still take Tetretaenia along with other endangered/protected herps. Some know this a don't give a .... well you know and others (usually kids) don't know better. I would someday like to photograph some of these in the wild but who knows how well the population will be (maybe by that time they'll be too hard to find), if I ever get down there.