Article travel to zoos in Europe. The largest zoo in Russia. Edinburgh ZooEdinburgh, UK
In one of the groups on Facebook, I saw a heated discussion about which zoo in Europe is better? I think that the results of the discussion will be interesting to you.
Berlin
Address: Hardenbergplatz 8, 10787 Berlin, Germany, metro station U1, U2, U9 and train S5, S7, S75: Zoologischer Garten Bhf (Berlin)
In general, this zoo cannot be called special. But for some reason, everyone - adults and children - has pleasant memories after visiting it. It is located in a park, it is very pleasant to stroll slowly and look at the animals. There are separate pavilions with lions: the enclosures are located so that you can admire the king of beasts from the outside and closer - from the inside. We saw a lion half a meter away from us - impressive. My daughter liked the pavilion with monkeys: you can stay there for a long time - it’s very funny to watch our relatives. We liked the bird pavilion - a wide variety of exotic birds from different parts of the world. You can look into the animals' kitchen; through the glass you can see what the pets are fed.
A fairly compact territory, divided into geographical zones. We walked around the entire zoo in three hours, but you can stay there longer. There is an aquarium nearby, you can buy a combi ticket.
The Berlin Zoo is famous for the sad story of the polar bear cub Knut: this bear cub was born in the zoo, which happens extremely rarely in captivity. He brought fame to the Berlin Zoo, but, unfortunately, in 2011 Knut died suddenly.
Please note that there are two zoos in Berlin: the zoo near the Zoological Garden, we wrote about it above, and the zoo on Friedrichsfeld (Metro Tierpark (main entrance) or Friedrichsfelde, line U5). The second zoo is located on the territory of the Friedrichsfelde palace park. A mini-train runs through the area. Both are good in their own way.
Vein
Address: Maxingstrasse13b, 1130 ViennaAustria, metro station U4: Hietzing.
Nigel's Europe & beyond 2 @ Flickr.com (under CC)
Barcelona
Address: Parc de la Ciutadella, 08003 Barcelona, Spain. StationsmetroL4: Barceloneta and Ciutadella-Vila OlimpicaAndL1: Marina and Arc de Triomf.
helst1 @ Flickr.com (under CC)
Munich
Address: Tierparkstrasse 30, D-81543 Munich. U3 metro station: stop Thalkirchen.
Sameer Gharat @ Flickr.com (under CC)
Ranua, Finland: a zoo in the Arctic Circle
Address: Rovaniementie 29, 97700 Ranua, Finland
If you ever come to visit Santa Claus in Lapland, be sure to visit the polar zoo, where you will not see elephants and giraffes, but northern animals: polar fox, polar bear, moose, lynx, wolves, polar owl. The zoo is located on a large area, in the polar forest, but the route itself is short: at the entrance you will be given a map of the zoo with the route you need to follow to see all the animals. A wonderful zoo in a winter forest! When leaving the zoo, don’t forget to stop by the Fazer chocolate shop.
Read about holidays in Lapland.
flowbadger @ Flickr (under CC)
Jerusalem: Zoo with Biblical Animals
Address: Jerusalem, derech Aharon Sholov, Menahat Park
This zoo is famous for its exhibit of animals that are mentioned in the Bible. This is one of the most visited places in Jerusalem. Of course, you can meet more than just biblical animals at this zoo. Little kids can have a great time in the lively area with goats, chickens and other animals. You can feed and pet them. The ark-shaped bird pavilion has interactive projectors where you can watch a film about the zoo.
rustybrick @ Flickr.com (under CC)
Himalayan Zoo in India
Address: Jawahar Parbat, Darjeeling, West Bengal 734101, India
Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is one of the largest high-altitude zoos in the world. There you will see unusual animals such as snow leopards, Tibetan wolves, Himalayan salamanders, red pandas, blue sheep, etc. Many of these animals are critically endangered, and the Himalayan Zoo has successful breeding programs for snow leopards and red pandas.
plynoi @ Flickr.com (under CC)
Recently, on the pages of the famous travel supplement to the popular publication Forbes, a ranking of the most attractive zoos in the world was published, which included representatives from 4 continents.
The tenth position is taken by the oldest zoo in Austria, Schonbrunner Zoo, which turns 257 years old this year.. Founded in 1752, the zoo was closed to the public for a long time. Today, it was once opened to the Viennese by the husband of Maria Teresa.
Schönbrunn covers 17 hectares. Schonbrunner Zoo is part of Austrian history: behind the ancient trees and enclosures lies the imperial residence in the Baroque style and the glass and metal structure erected in 1883 - the “House of Palms”. Many people visit the zoo not so much for the opportunity to see rare animals, but for the sake of studying the historical heritage of Austria.
Ninth place in the ranking is occupied by the American San Diego Zoo, rightfully recognized as the world's most progressive zoo. Much of the hundreds of acres can be explored by tour bus or cable car. The zoo is famous for its largest population of pandas living in the wild. The desire to brighten up the lives of individuals of a rare and rather capricious species led to the creation of a huge collection of plants, including about twenty species of eucalyptus trees and four dozen species of bamboo. Today, the San Diego Zoo is home to 4,800 animals, and this number is constantly growing.
In eighth position is National Zoological Gardens of South Africa., which is often unofficially called the Pretoria Zoo after its hometown. Born in 1899, at the height of the second Anglo-Boer epic, the park received national status just 17 years later. The 198-acre area is divided into two parts by a river flowing at the foot of a high hill. Thus, some of the species that can be reached via two bridges live on a large slope. Official statistics state that the National Zoological Gardens is home to 2,570 species, of which only 1% of the inhabitants were born outside the national zoo.
The small Czech Prague Zoological Garden, according to Forbes Travel, deserves seventh place in the ranking. On an area of just 110 acres there are 630 species, i.e. a total of about 4,600 individuals. Last year, the park celebrated several events: the birth of a baby southern pudu and a Komodo dragon. The population of rare Rothschild giraffes is gradually increasing. Over time, the Czech zoo has won the title of home for the rarest species on the verge of extinction.
The top five is completed by another American zoo - Bronx Zoo.. The New York institution is considered the largest in the United States: the zoo houses more than 4,000 animals, including many endangered species. The park is divided into several sections, among which the Asian wing of the zoo is the most popular. Traveling on the Wild Asia Monorail allows you to experience all the Asian species represented at the zoo.
The fourth position is in the Berlin Zoological Garden. Founded in 1844, today the German capital's zoo is home to almost 1,400 species - about 14,000 individuals, most of which roam freely in fenced enclosures. Interestingly, after World War II, only a hundred animals remained on the territory of the Berlin Zoological Garden. During the economic thaw, the enclosures placed by Pieter Lenne began to fill up again. Note that the largest zoo, in which there are practically no classical cages anywhere, is part of German history. Built by order of Frederick William IV, it became a reflection of major events, witnessing changes in styles and entire eras.
Zoo de Beauval entered the top three, France. The Boval Zoo was reborn from a bird aviary opened in 1980. Only birds were kept on a fairly large area - only after ten years did the first exotic species, mainly of African origin, appear. Today Zoo de Beauval is home to 4,000 animals, including marine animals. The collection of the Beauval Zoo is recognized as the largest in France.
The second most popular was the Swiss Basel Zoo, which the townspeople affectionately call Zolli. Founded in 1984, the zoo is visited by about a million tourists every year. It is interesting that such attendance makes the zoo the second most visited historical and cultural monument in the country as a whole. Basel Zoo has six hundred species, i.e. almost six thousand animals, including quite rare individuals. The most popular at the Basel Zoo is the so-called vivarium, which clearly demonstrates the evolution of species.
Topped the ranking of the most popular zoos in the world Animal Kingdom, built on a wave of love for Disney creations. The park in Orlando (USA) is divided into seven thematic sections, crowned by the Tree of Life: a structure about 40 meters high. The artificial crown accommodates 325 animal models, including everyone’s favorite Mickey Mouse. The mythical part of the park, Dinoland, is very popular, where you can meet real dinosaurs and magic dragons. Safari Village offers a unique safari experience that often includes non-African species, while the Asia section offers the chance to brave a raging river or walk along a tiger trail. That. Animal Kingdom is a striking example of the successful interweaving of ephemerality and reality, a successful transition from the world of cartoons to the wonderful world of animals.
© depositphotos.comChildren need to be taught to travel from childhood, because nothing develops like new discoveries - people, places, languages and vivid impressions. If you have never taken your child abroad before, then read it and go on a trip with your baby. Today we will recommend the 5 best zoos in Europe, which will be interesting not only for children, but also for adults.
- The best zoos in Europe - Vienna Zoo
The best zoos in Europe - Vienna Zoo © depositphotos.com
What's interesting: considered the oldest in Europe. More than 500 species of animals - from the Siberian tiger to hippopotamuses and rhinoceroses. The huge tropical pavilion is definitely worth a visit. ,
a large pavilion of animals of South America and a greenhouse -
home of the Viennese orangutans. Also don't forget to meet the panda couple - their names are Yang Yang and Long Hui.
Working hours: from November to January - 9:00 - 16:30, February - 9:00 - 17:00, March, October - 9:00 - 17:30, April-September - 9:00-18:30. The ticket office closes one hour before the zoo closes.
Entry fee:€15 - adults; €7 - children, teenagers (from 6 to 19 years old) and pensioners. Children under 6 years old - free. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
- The best zoos in Europe - Ranua Zoo, Lapland
The best zoos in Europe - Ranua Zoo, Lapland © depositphotos.com
What's interesting: The northernmost zoo in the world is located just south of the Arctic Circle. Located right in a coniferous forest, there are no cages; you can explore the zoo by walking across a three-kilometer wooden bridge. In total, about 60 species of northern fauna live. The highlight of the zoo is the polar bears.
Working hours: from September 1 to May 31 daily from 10:00 to 16:00. From June 1 to August 31, daily from 9:00 to 19:00.
Entry fee: Adults - €14, children (from 4 to 14 years old) - €11, pensioners - €12, students - €11. Children under 4 years old enter the park free of charge.
- The best zoos in Europe - London Zoo
The best zoos in Europe - London Zoo © depositphotos.com
What's interesting: more than 16,000 animals, the world's largest collection of reptiles. There is a unique children's farm where you can take care of pets. One of the most favorite attractions among visitors is the Gorilla Kingdom. By the way, some pavilions of the London Zoo are architectural monuments, for example, the Clock Tower.
Working hours: from July 21 to September 2 - 10:00 - 18:00. The rest of the time is 10:00-17:30.
Entry fee:£20.50 for adults, £19.00 for students and £16.00 for children. Children under 3 years old are free. On weekends and holidays the price increases: £22.00 for adults, £20.00 for students, £17.00 for children.
- The best zoos in Europe - Prague Zoo
The best zoos in Europe - Prague Zoo © depositphotos.com
What's interesting: On an area of 45 hectares, 4,600 animals belonging to 630 species are kept. Particularly interesting is the zoo's unique pavilion "Indonesian Jungle", which recreates the atmosphere of a tropical jungle. Unfortunately, the zoo suffered greatly after the terrible flood of 2002, when more than 100 animals died, but now, fortunately, only a few signs remind of this.
Working hours: November-February from 9:00 to 16:00, March - 9:00-17:00, April, May, September, October - from 9:00 to 18:00, June, July, August - 9:00 to 19 :00.
Entry fee: 150 CZK for adults, 100 CZK for children (3-15 years old), children under 3 years old free, for pensioners the fee is symbolic - 1 CZK.
Many people have mixed feelings about zoos. On the one hand, you can see your favorite animals up close, but on the other hand, they live in captivity, and this is bad. However, overall the zoo is a pleasant place. A place where animals live.
But isn't a zoo with animals the only type of zoo? Unfortunately, until recently, human zoos were very common. People were kept in captivity, exhibited to the public for entertainment, and other people paid to see them.
Below you will see photo evidence of the existence of these terrible places.
1. These Selk'nam aborigines were exhibited in a human zoo during a "tour" in Europe.
Carl Hagenbeck is often credited with creating animal zoos as we know them today. He created more natural enclosures for animals, closer to their own habitat.
However, a lesser known fact about him is that he was also the first person to "show" his own kind and create a human zoo.
In 1889, with the permission of the Chilean government, he took with him 11 people of the Selk'nam tribe, put them in cages and took them to show them all over Europe. Later, people from other related tribes suffered the same fate.
2. This African girl was exhibited at the human zoo in Brussels, Belgium in 1958.
This photograph has become a symbol of the terrible phenomenon of human zoos: a little African girl in a "white" dress. She is fed by the hand of a woman from the crowd of visitors. There is a fence between them.
Fortunately, the “exhibition” did not last long, because interest in it soon disappeared due to the advent of cinema. People could now satisfy their curiosity about foreign countries through films.
Moreover, by the time the exhibition began in Brussels, the concept of a “human zoo” was considered disgusting by the world community, and in most countries it was prohibited.
But unfortunately, changes did not affect the residents of this zoo so quickly. Most of the 297 people died and were buried in a mass, unmarked grave.
3. Ota Benga, a Congolese pygmy, was shown at the Bronx Zoo in New York in 1906. He was forced to carry orangutans and other monkeys in his arms during “shows”.
"Age 23 years old, 4' 11" tall, 103 lbs. Brought by Samul Werner from the Kasai River region, Congo Free State, South Central Africa. On display every day through September."
This was the inscription near Ota's "house", where he entertained spectators by shooting at targets with a bow and arrow and making funny faces. He was sure that he was going to work at the zoo to take care of the elephant.
He also performed various tricks on orangutans and other apes to amuse as many people as possible, of whom a great many came to see this interesting specimen at the zoo.
However, this case drew criticism from several states, which led to the withdrawal of the “exhibit”.
His teeth were pointed downwards, according to the tradition of his tribe, and the floor of his dwelling - a cage - was strewn with bones. The organizers did this to make him look intimidating.
He played the role of a savage and was even kept in a cage with monkeys for some time, this was supported by the anthropologist Madison Grant, later secretary of the New York Zoological Society and future eminent evangelist.
The New York Times announced the exhibition with the headline: "Bushman Shares Cage with Bronx Monkeys."
In the article itself, Ota was referred to as a Bushman (a collective name for several indigenous African hunter-gatherer peoples). Scientists in those days rated the Bushmen very low in terms of importance.
The public came out in droves. Often up to 500 people at a time, and at the height of the exhibition people came in the thousands.
However, the issue was causing increasing concern. A number of prominent pastors have spoken openly about how this is a terrible disrespect. Reverend James H. Gordon, director of the Brooklyn Orphanage, was one of the exhibition's most vocal opponents.
Benga was eventually released. After leaving the zoo, the man returned to Africa, but no longer feeling like he belonged to that world, he soon returned to the United States. However, even here he was unable to find peace of mind, which led him to commit suicide in 1916 with a shot in the heart.
4. Human zoo in Paris Jardin d'Agronomie Tropicale
In their grandiose but morally twisted quest to exert power, the French, also for the purpose of demonstrating their colonial power, built six villages that represented the French colonies at the time (Madagascar, Indochina, Sudan, Congo, Tunisia and Morocco). The exhibition lasted from May to October 1907.
During the six-month exhibition, more than one million people gathered to see the colonial power of the French. The villages were designed to reflect colonial life in reality, from architecture to agricultural practices.
Pictured above is a Congolese "factory" built in Marseille to represent colonial life. In this regard, several people were brought from the Congo to “work” in this factory.
What then attracted countless people is now abandoned and ignored, a historical stain that France has too quickly forgotten. Since 2006, although the grounds and pavilions of the human zoo have become accessible to the general public, few have actually visited them.
5. Sarah Baartman, a girl who embodied all the inhumanity of such a phenomenon as human zoos.
In 1810, 20-year-old Sarah Baartman was hired as an exotic animal dealer. With promises of wealth and fame, Sarah went to London with him. There began something that was very far from what was promised.
Sarah naturally had large, protruding buttocks and an unusually shaped genitalia, so she became the subject of much speculation and an excellent exhibition piece.
She was dressed in tight clothes and presented as a “novelty”, as “something exotic”. She died in poverty, and her skeleton, brain and genitals were exhibited at the Museum of Humanity in Paris until 1974. In 2002, at the request of President Nelson Mandela, her remains were repatriated.
6. "Village of blacks" in Germany. Mother and child.
At the World Fair in Paris in 1878 and 1889, a “village of blacks” was presented. It was visited by about 28 million people, and during the world's fair in 1889, representatives of 400 indigenous tribes were the main "attraction".
The idea of such a village took root best in Germany, where the theories of Social Darwinism were widespread and accepted by many people. Otto von Bismarck even visited the exhibition.
7. Several representatives of indigenous peoples, as well as African and Asian races, were very often kept in cages and displayed in makeshift natural habitats.
8. Paris World Fair, 1931.
The 1931 exhibition in Paris was so successful that 34 million people visited it within six months.
A smaller counter-exhibition, “The Truth about the Colonies,” organized by the Communist Party, attracted far fewer people.
9. People visiting zoos at world's fairs were entertained by groups of pygmies who were ordered to dance.
10. In 1881, five Indians of the Cavescar tribe (Terra del Fuego, Chile) were kidnapped and transported to Europe to become exhibits in a human zoo. They all died a year later.
11. Here, indigenous people take part in archery at the Savage Olympics exhibition, organized in 1904.
Organized by white Americans, the Savage Olympics were attended by indigenous people of various tribes from different parts of the world, such as Africa, South America, the Middle East and Japan.
12. One of the first public exhibitions of man was the exhibition of B. P. Barnum.
He made an exhibit of Joyce Heth (1756 – 1836). She was an African American slave. In 1835, towards the end of her life, the woman was blind and almost completely paralyzed (she could speak and move her right hand).
That's when Barnum bought it. He began his "career" by displaying a dying woman and claiming that she was George Washington's 160-year-old nurse. A year later she died at the age of 80.
Even today there are echoes of human zoos. The reclusive Harava tribe lives on the Andaman Island in India. The video, which surfaced in 2012, showed one of the safari trips on this island in the beautiful Bay of Bengal, which has recently become a popular tourist destination.
But during the safari, people were shown not only animals; tourists were initially promised the opportunity to observe the life of members of the Harawa tribe in their natural habitat.
However, in reality, apparently, everything is not so simple, because in that video the islanders danced specifically for tourists.
These indigenous peoples were just beginning to make contact with the continents, and their willingness to interact with the outside world was very quickly taken up and resulted in some groups today being no better than the human zoos of the past.
At the entrance to the “reserve” there was a sign prohibiting interaction and feeding of the tribal residents, but tourists, hundreds of them visiting it every day, always came with fruits and nuts.
The "reserve" has police officers who are supposed to protect the tribal people from contact, however, in one video the "protector" was clearly seen instructing naked tribal women how to dance as food was thrown at them. Unfortunately, throwing food in anticipation of contact is actually a routine activity and not an exception to the rule.
The government demanded that all this action be stopped, and in 2013 the Supreme Court of India completely banned such safaris. However, some activist groups claim that the service continues to be provided to tourists in secret.
In 2014 in Oslo, as part of the celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the country's constitution, two artists decided to stage a recreation of Congo Village, a famous 1914 exhibition in Norway held a century earlier.
Then, a hundred years ago, the exhibition featured 80 Senegalese in an authentic environment.
One hundred years later, Mohamed Ali Fadlabi and Lars Cuzner recreated the exhibition. They called it European Attraction Limited and tried to explore what they saw as Norway's colonial and racial amnesia, as well as start a conversation about the legacy of colonialism.
People of all nationalities from all over the world were invited to relax in this post-modern zoo.
However, the reaction was not what the artists expected. Many critics said the exposition simply reaffirmed and rewrote the world's racist and colonial beliefs. They denied that there was any artistic value in repeating such a dehumanizing spectacle, especially in a world that had not yet fully recovered from racism.
10th place is occupied by the French zoo La Palmyre Zoo located in Le Mat. It was founded in 1966 by Claude Caillet and is located on an area of 18 hectares of pine forest, 14 of which are landscaped parks. Visitors can get acquainted with more than 1,600 animals kept here, among them many quite rare animals such as orangutans from Borneo, South American monkeys, Indian elephants, rhinoceroses from Sumatra, as well as a large collection of marine mammals. The advantage of the zoo is its well-established animal reproduction system.
In 9th place is Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, Devonshire, UK. More than 2000 animals live in the zoo. Here you can see giraffes, lions, gorillas, cheetahs and “creepy” crocodiles, as well as cheerful and cheeky meerkats, colorful snakes and cheerful monkeys. The zoo has six habitat zones, where the natural habitat of animals is reproduced. You can see the zoo's inhabitants from the Jungle Express train. Animals feel very comfortable in such an environment; recently a couple of giraffes gave birth to a lovely baby only 180 cm tall.
Number 8 at the British Colchester Zoo, Colchester. The zoo contains a huge number of animals, birds and fish. The number of visitors to the zoo is approaching a million. The fauna is represented in a number of territorial and climatic zones, for example, “Forgotten Madagascar”, “In the wilds of Asia”, “Edge of Africa - Kingdom of Wildlife”, “Edge of Africa - Kingdom of Elephants”, “Forest of Orangutans” and many, many others. A “Taiga of Tigers” zone has been created for two Amur tigers. For young visitors there are special playgrounds where they can interact with small animals, including a baby kangaroo. For the convenience of guests, there are many cafes in the park where you can take a break.
7th place went to ZooParc de Beauval, Saint-Etienne, France. The zoo was organized relatively recently, but is approaching to become one of the most beautiful zoos in the world. Natural zones have been created on the territory of the zoo, such as the African savannah and the Australian zone. Here animals live in conditions close to their natural environment. This is the only French zoo where a pair of pandas lives.
6th place at Palmitos Park in Masapalamos, Gran Canaria. It is the most popular theme park, combining a botanical garden and a zoo. Huge ornithological parks have been created here in the depths of the island’s canyon, which are home to birds and animals from all over the world. Shows featuring birds such as eagles, falcons, owls, inventive parrots and rare exotic birds, marabou and kookaburra, attract a huge number of spectators. The Orchid House, the unique Butterfly House, an aquarium with colorful tropical fish and, of course, the Dolphinarium, where shows with dolphins are held, also attract the attention of visitors.
5th place is occupied by Biopark, Valencia. Here animals live in conditions as close to natural as possible. Visitors are given the opportunity to observe animals in their natural habitat. The zoo area is divided into zones. Here, much attention is paid to animals living in large groups, you can observe the interaction of different species with each other, but the inclusion of predators is only visual, in fact they are separated by invisible barriers. The spectators are also separated from the animals by natural barriers or a moat with water.
4th place went to Tiergarten Scoenbrunn Zoo, Vienna. It is the oldest zoo in the world, founded in 1752. Up to 2.8 million people visit it annually. Its territory is home to more than 8,000 individuals of 730 species of animals. The park has several thematic pavilions, one of them is the Polarium, where conditions with low temperatures are created for polar species of animals (penguins, sea lions), and polar bears live nearby. You can watch them through glass. The Tropic House is home to animals that live in the tropics. Well, the public's favorites are the pandas and their three cubs, born right there in the zoo.
On the 3rd step is the Prague Zoo. The territory of the zoo is divided into indoor and outdoor pavilions. In closed pavilions, predatory animals such as panthers, tigers, lions, as well as giraffes and monkeys are kept. A special place is occupied by the Indonesian Jungle pavilion, which managed to recreate the climatic conditions of the tropical jungle; it has no analogues in Europe. The zoo specializes in breeding endangered and rare animals, such as the Przewalski's horse, for example. According to Forbes magazine, the zoo ranks 7th in the world.
2nd place went to Chester Zoo, Chester, UK. This is the largest British zoo, with an area of 160 hectares. Chester Zoo not only contains over 400 species of animals, but also 265 species of plants, many of which are rare and endangered. You can move around the zoo not only on foot, but also on the monorail. The goal of the zoo is to recreate the natural habitat of various animals, while avoiding the terrible cages and enclosures. Different climatic zones have been recreated in different places of the park. The corner of the tropical rainforest recreated for elephants is especially stunning. Elephants feel very comfortable here; they have already had offspring here. The zoo is home to spotted jaguars, rhinoceroses, spectacled bears, tapirs and many others. Today the zoo houses more than 7,000 animals.
Gold went to Loro Parque, Tenerife. This is the largest and most visited zoo in Tenerife, with up to forty million people visiting it every year. The park has the largest collection of parrots in the world, about 500 species of parrots, and some species are no longer found in nature. But not only parrots are interesting in the park; there is a unique collection of penguins, a one-of-a-kind collection of orchids, more than 1000 species. And, of course, the largest dolphinarium in Europe, where daily shows with dolphins, sea lions and killer whales are held. Today Loro Parque is simultaneously a zoo, a dolphinarium and a botanical garden.
