Zagreb Zoo

Zagreb Zoo
Zagreb ZOO, Main Entrance
45°49′22″N 16°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.hr/en

Zagreb Zoo (Croatian: Zoološki vrt Grada Zagreba) is a 7-hectare (17-acre) zoo located within Maksimir Park in Zagreb, Croatia, and is across the street from Zagreb's Maksimir Stadium.^[4] It is one of three zoo parks in the country.

Zagreb Zoo is a member of both the European^[5] and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums^[6] and is a participant in the European 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, architect Vjekoslav Heinzel. It was opened on the site of Swan Island, today's first island on the First 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 in Southeast Europe, and today it is the largest zoo in Croatia.

In the summer of 1928, the zoo was temporarily moved to an address at Jelačić 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.

• 1905: The idea of establishing a zoo was promoted in Zagreb. The idea was promoted by the governor's advisor Dr. Ivo Malin, Prof. Dr. August Langhoffer and Dr. Ervin Rössler.
• 1925 : On June 27, the Zagreb Zoo was founded by Mijo Filipović, making it the oldest zoo in Southeast Europe. It is worth mentioning that on the day of its opening, there were only five animals there – three foxes and two owls. The foxes were donated by August Langhoffer, then director of the Zagreb Zoological Museum. The owls were donated by Petar Dimec, who brought them in a green hat. The entrance fee in the first days was one dinar.
• 1926 : The zoo expanded and moved from the island to the mainland.
• 1933 : The monthly magazine Zoološki Vrtić (Zoo kindergarten) began publication.
• 1972 : The Tropical House was built and one of the longest-lived residents moved in – a Nile crocodile.
• 1990 : A major renovation and modernization began. The animals were given larger, more beautiful, and more modern housing, and animals that could not be given adequate space were relocated to other zoos. The zoo also began organizing educational tours, entertainment, and events.
• 2014 : In May of that year, a new 1,800-square-meter lion enclosure was built. This was a major expansion, as the previous enclosure was only about two-hundred square meters. The enclosure has its own lion cave, savanna-like rocky islands, its own watering hole, and a heated rock in the middle on which lions can bask in the sun.
• 2017 : On June 4, the aviary for African birds was opened, allowing bird watching without any visible barriers. Thanks to modern architectural solutions, African waterfowl were given a huge vaulted space that allows them to stay on the ground, but also fly. Visitors could enter the habitat and see the birds as in nature, but only a meter or two away. Observation posts were also provided from which birds can be viewed with the help of binoculars and telescopes.
• 2019 : Duh monsunskih šuma (The Spirit of the Monsoon Forests) pavilion was renovated, and a king cobra moved in. A new home was also given to the Komodo dragon, which had been waiting since 2016. Eight new terrariums were renovated, housing ten new species that had not been visible to visitors.^[9]

Lions Bridge

Egyptians statues

Neapolitan Fisherman statue

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 magnificent Egyptians, statues about 5 meters tall, and the Neapolitan 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:

• Zagreb Zoo
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  Tropical House
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  Zoo houses for brown bears
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  Small clawed otter
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  Sea lion pool
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  European bison
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  Monkey Pavilion
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  Pelicans
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  House for lions
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  European lynx
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  Gray wolves

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zagreb Zoo.

• Official website
• Novi projekti i sve više sadržaja za posjetitelje (in Croatian)
• Gradi se novi zoološki vrt, gotovo četiri puta veći od maksimirskog! (in Croatian)