| Antwerp Zoo | |
|---|---|
 Entrance gate of the Antwerp Zoo | |
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| 51°12′59″N4°25′24″E / 51.21639°N 4.42333°E /51.21639; 4.42333 | |
| Date opened | 21 July 1843 (181 years old)[1] |
| Location | Antwerp,Belgium |
| No. of animals | 5000[2] |
| No. of species | 950[2] |
| Annual visitors | 1,100,100[3] |
| Memberships | 38,000 |
| Website | http://www.zooantwerpen.be |
Antwerp Zoo (Dutch:ZOO Antwerpen) is azoo in the centre ofAntwerp,Belgium, located next to theAntwerpen-Centraal railway station. It is the oldest animal park in the country, and one of the oldest in the world, established on 21 July 1843.
Since its foundation, the park has been controlled byDe Koninklijke Maatschappij voor Dierkunde van Antwerpen, a society originally calledSociété Royale de Zoologie d'Anvers (The Antwerp Royal Society for Zoology). This also became the popular nickname for the zoo, "De Zoologie". The initial objective was to encouragezoological andbotanical sciences. Its first director was renowned zoologist and botanist Jacques Kets (10 November 1785 – 1 February 1865). He accepted this position on one condition: a museum had to be built to house his nature-historical collections. This building was inaugurated in 1844 by H.M. KingLeopold I. The predicateRoyal was added to the name of the society on that occasion.
Throughout the years, it has encouragedwildlife preservation through activities and exhibits on a recreational, educational, scientific, and cultural level.[citation needed]
In its early years, the size of the park grew from less than 1.59 hectares (3.9 acres) to more than 10.5 hectares (26 acres). Notable buildings from that period are the Egyptian temple (1856) and the antelope building (1861) in Oriental style, which now houses theokapis.[1]
The zoo has also a cultural function. Originally, concerts were held in the garden of the zoo. The museum building was demolished to build a concert hall. The hall then became the residence of theAntwerp Symphony Orchestra, the symphonic orchestra of Flanders. The museum collections were moved to the second floor.[citation needed]
For the1920 Summer Olympics, a specially built stadium at the Zoo's zoology hall hosted theboxing andwrestling events.[4][5]
AfterWorld War II, the animal park was turned into a model zoo which conformed to new and modern scientific, educational, cultural andaesthetic standards. The animal compounds were enlarged and admitted more light. Buildings from this period include theprimate building (1958) and the big jubileum complex, established on the occasion of the 125-year anniversary together with the nocturama (1968), which houses thenocturnal animals. The jubileum complex housesbirds of prey and thesea lions. In 1973 a new compound forreptilians was built, and in 1978 a new building for smaller species of monkeys. The older primate building was renovated in 1989. To support its educational mission, the zoo started with group tours and special educational programmes calledzoo classes in 1969. Around the same time,planetarium exhibits were installed.[1]
On 1 January 1983, the animal park was classified as a monument. Ten years later, its 150th anniversary was celebrated. In 1997, Vriesland (Freezeland) was opened. It houses subantarcticpenguins and in the past also Alaskan sea otters. In spring 1999, theelephant compound was expanded. In 2003, many animals, includinghippos,Malayan tapirs, and a number of swamp birds received a new home in Hippotopia.[citation needed]
Together with its sister park Planckendael, Antwerp Zoo houses over 7,000 animals of about 950 species. Over 1.6 million people visit the zoo and Planckendael each year, and the zoo has around 200,000 supporting members.[6][7]
Some exhibits and species in the park include:
The zoo used to have adolphinarium called the Aquaforum. At the time of its construction, it was one of the most modern of its kind. Over the years, however, the infrastructure was considered far too small and dated. The zoo's urban location prevented any expansion and meant the society could not build a new one. In 1999, the twodolphins were relocated toDuisburg Zoo inGermany because of the new national standards for exhibits, with the exhibit too shallow to keep housing dolphins. The Aquaforum is now home tosea lions, which are much less demanding.
Antwerp Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world, established in 1843. Many buildings are very well preserved. Some of them have received new functions throughout the years.
On 1 January 1983 the entire park (architecture and garden) was listed as a monument.
Antwerp Zoo has played its role in preservation andbreeding programmes for severalendangered species, including the okapi, thePrzewalski horse, theCongo peafowl, thebonobo, thegolden-headed lion tamarin, theEuropean otter, and theKnysna seahorse. They take part in theEuropean Endangered Species Programme.[citation needed]
The Centre for Research and Conservation (CRC) is an important research department of the Royal Zoological Society ofAntwerp. The CRC is not a separate research institute, but is very much embedded in the structure and functioning of the society. Research takes place at Antwerp Zoo, at the Wild Animal Park Planckendael, in other zoos and associated institutions, in situ inCameroon with the Projet Grands Singes, inBrazil with BioBrasil, and in the RZSA's own wetland nature reserve "De Zegge" in Belgium. For all research fields, the CRC combines strictly zoo-related research and fundamental research, and reports to scientists in peer reviewed journals as well as to the general public. The conservation of wildlife and their natural habitat is very important for the CRC. The centre also receives money from the Flemish Government. In 2006 the Centre for Research and Conservation of Antwerp Zoo has won theEAZA Research Award.
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