| Zagreb Zoo | |
|---|---|
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 Zagreb ZOO, Main Entrance | |
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| 45°49′22″N16°1′19″E / 45.82278°N 16.02194°E /45.82278; 16.02194 | |
| Date opened | 27 June 1925; 99 years ago (1925-06-27) |
| Land area | 5.5 ha (14 acres) 7 ha (17 acres) including lakes and ponds |
| No. of animals | 7,000[1] |
| No. of species | 383[1] |
| Annual visitors | 481,818 (2023)[2] |
| Memberships | EAZA,WAZA |
| Major exhibits | Insectarium Madagascar Australia Monkeys pavillon African village Twilight Zone Snakes of Croatia Tropical house[3] |
| Website | zoo |
Zagreb Zoo (Croatian:Zoološki vrt Grada Zagreba) is a 7-hectare (17-acre)zoo located withinMaksimir Park inZagreb,Croatia.[4] It is one of three zoo parks in the country.
Zagreb Zoo is a member of both theEuropean[5] and theWorld Association of Zoos and Aquariums[6] and is a participant in theEuropean Endangered Species Programme.[4]
The zoo opened its doors on June 27, 1925, at the initiative of engineer Mijo Filipović, and with the support of the then mayor of Zagreb, architectVjekoslav Heinzel. It was opened on the site of Swan Island, today's first island on theFirst Maksimir Lake. When it opened, the zoo had only five animals – three foxes and two tawny owls, and today, together with the lake, it covers an area of seven hectares. The Zoological Garden (the name remained until 1927) and today's zoo has grown to include 383 species of animals and over 7,000 individuals. When it began, it was the first inSoutheast Europe, and today it is the largest zoo in Croatia.
In the summer of 1928, the zoo was temporarily moved to an address atJelačić Square No. 15 to earn money for its support and repay a loan for the purchase of animals. The Zagreb Zoo is involved in several global organizations for the conservation of endangered species. Three key periods in the development were marked by the garden's landscaping undertaken in the 1930s and 1950s, and by a third phase that began in the 1990s and continues today. Each of these three periods was marked by some spatial, constructional and architectural arrangement of the garden, or the construction of modern dwellings.[7] Reconstruction of the old zoo began in 1990.[8] By October 2016, first part of the zoo reconstruction and modernization was finished.
Throughout the history of the zoo, many structures have been built that are today cherished as historical and cultural heritage. One of the most famous is the Lions Bridge (Lavlji most) with four stone lions. At the very entrance stands, perhaps the oldest building in the zoo from 1926, the tower known as the Enchanted Palace. It used to be a dwelling for bears or wolves, but it soon became unacceptable for housing animals. Today, it offers an experience to all who visit it and is a glimpse into the zoo's past. Some of the other protected buildings that should definitely be highlighted are the magnificentEgyptians, statues about 5 meters tall, and theNeapolitan Fisherman who fishes along the shore of the lake.[7]
The zoo is home to over 7,000 animals representing 383 species.[4][10][11][12]
Some of the mammals include:[13]
Some of the birds include:
Some of the fishes include:
Some of the amphibians include:
Some of the reptiles include:
Some of the invertebrates include:
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