Ranua Zoo

Ranua Zoo
Full name	Ranua Wildlife Park
particularities	Northernmost zoo in the world
place	Rovaniementie 29 97700 Ranua Finland
opening	1983
Animal species	approx. 50
Individuals	approx. 200
Species focus	Arctic animals and animals native to the far north
Visitor numbers	approx. 100,000 per year
organization
management	Mari Heikkilä
Member of	EAZA
www.ranuazoo.com

Coordinates: 65 ° 56 '38.4 "  N , 26 ° 28' 0.1"  E

The Ranua Zoo (Finnish: Ranuan eläinpuisto ) is the northernmost zoo in Finland and was opened in 1983. There are around 50 arctic or polar animal species with a total of around 200 specimens. The zoo is open all year round, with different opening times in summer and winter.

location

The zoo is located in the eponymous town of Ranua and can be reached from Rovaniemi in about an hour's drive via Cantatie 78 in a south-easterly direction. It is embedded in a large forest area and has large game reserves .

All animals can be observed very well on a 2.8 km long path, which mainly consists of wooden paths and bridges. With the exception of a small ascent at the beginning of the path, this can also be managed with a wheelchair or walker. On the way there are several secured fireplaces where you can and may prepare your own food.

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Animal species

The only polar bears in Finland that live in this zoo are special . The following animals can also be observed here: brown bears , wolves , lynxes , otters , martens , beavers as well as elk , deer , reindeer , wild boar and various species of birds such as ducks , owls and eagles .

Species protection

The Ranua Zoo specializes in arctic and northern animal species. Particularly noteworthy are polar bears , arctic foxes , snow owls and musk oxen .

Another task is the care of sick or injured wild animals in the vicinity. Over the years 90 animals have been looked after and cared for. Mostly they are swans, woodpeckers or owls, but a seal has also been looked after.

Polar bear breeding

All polar bears in Ranua Zoo

Surname		Kolmården	Rostock Zoo	Ranua Zoo	Zoo by the sea	Schönbrunn Zoo
Manasseh	male	November 28, 1989 - December 19, 1990		December 19, 1990 - August 28, 2017
Venus	Female		December 9, 2004 - May 29, 2006	May 29, 2006 - currently
Valeska	Female		December 9, 2004 - May 29, 2006	May 29, 2006 - April 17, 2012	Apr. 20, 2012 - Current
Ranzo	male			November 18, 2011 - May 5, 2014		May 5, 2014 - currently
Sisu	male			November 21, 2016 - currently

Ranzo is the first polar bear cub born at Ranua Zoo. Since it was also the first polar bear born in Finland, it became a small attraction. Over 30,000 people took part in the name search. Ultimately, the choice fell on Ranzo, based on Ranua.

The mother and father of Ranzo and Sisu are Venus and Manasseh, respectively. Valeska is the sister of Venus.

Tourist opportunities

A restaurant, a café, apartments for overnight stays, a conference room and several parking spaces for mobile homes are located on the extended site of the complex. In winter, various tours with sled dogs or snowmobiles can be booked.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Joseann Freyer-Lindner: Finland . Ed .: Marco Polo. Maro Polo, ISBN 978-3-8297-2752-5 , pp. 115 .
2. ^ Animals. In: RanuaZoo. Retrieved September 1, 2019 . 
3. ↑ Kartta yes info. In: RanuaZoo. Retrieved September 5, 2019 (Finnish). 
4. ↑ Suojelu. In: RanuaZoo. Retrieved September 1, 2019 (Finnish). 
5. ↑ Hoivaeläintoiminta. In: RanuaZoo. Retrieved September 1, 2019 (Finnish). 
6. ↑ Manasseh ♂ - †. In: Polar Bears in the Zoo - Polar Bears in Zoos. December 1, 2010, accessed September 2, 2019 . 
7. ↑ Venus ♀. In: Polar Bears in the Zoo - Polar Bears in Zoos. December 1, 2010, accessed September 2, 2019 . 
8. ↑ Valeska ♀. In: Polar Bears in the Zoo - Polar Bears in Zoos. December 1, 2010, accessed September 2, 2019 . 
9. ↑ Ranua: The first polar bear offspring in Finland is raised in Ranua. In: Polar Bears in the Zoo - Polar Bears in Zoos. December 12, 2011, accessed September 2, 2019 . 
10. ↑ Sisu ♂. In: Polar Bears in the Zoo - Polar Bears in Zoos. April 26, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2019 . 
11. ↑ Two polar bears for the Schönbrunn Zoo. Retrieved September 2, 2019 . 

Web links

Commons : Ranua Zoo  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files