Antwerp Zoo
| Antwerp Zoo | ||
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| place | Koningin Astridplein 26 2018 Antwerp |
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| opening | July 21, 1843 | |
| Animal species | approx. 950 species | |
| Individuals | approx. 5000 | |
| Visitor numbers | approx. 1.3 million visitors annually | |
| organization | ||
| Sponsorship | Koninklijke Maatschappij voor Dierkunde van Antwerpen ( KMDA ) | |
| http://www.zooantwerpen.be/ | ||
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Coordinates: 51 ° 13 ′ 4.5 " N , 4 ° 25 ′ 15.5" E
The Antwerp Zoo is located at the Astrid Square in the center of Antwerp , Belgium , near the train station . It is home to over 5000 animals and is the oldest zoo in the country. It was founded on July 21, 1843. It has around 1.3 million visitors annually.
History of the zoo
Since its opening, the park has been run by the Koninklijke Maatschappij voor Dierkunde van Antwerpen (Royal Society for Zoology Antwerp). The original goal was to study the zoological and botanical sciences and to arouse interest in the population. The renowned zoologist and botanist Jacques Kets (November 10, 1785 - February 1, 1865) was proposed for the post of first director . He only accepted this position on the condition that a museum be built to house his natural history collections. This building was opened in 1844 by King Leopold I of Belgium. The royal predicate was added to the name of the company on this occasion.
Over the years, the zoo has tried to encourage animal and nature conservation through various activities and exhibitions on a relaxing educational, scientific and cultural level.
During the first period of its existence, the area of the site was expanded from less than 2 to more than 10 hectares. Notable buildings from this period are the elephant house (1856), modeled on an Egyptian temple, and the antelope house (1861) in the oriental style, where the okapis are now kept.
The zoo also has a cultural function. Concerts were originally held in the garden. The museum building was later demolished to build a concert hall. The museum moved to its second floor.
After the Second World War , the zoo was converted into an advanced zoo, adapting to the new and modern scientific, educational, cultural and aesthetic standards. The animal species received enough space and light. Buildings from this period include the monkey house (1958) and the anniversary complex, which was inaugurated on the 125th anniversary together with the Nocturama in 1968 for nocturnal animals. The anniversary complex is home to birds of prey and sea lions . In 1973 a modern building was built for reptiles and in 1978 one for smaller ape species. The older monkey house was renovated in 1989. The planetarium was opened in 1969.
On January 1st, 1983 the zoo was placed under monument protection. In 1997 the Vriesland (ice land) opened. King penguins and crested penguins live here . In spring 1999 the elephant house was expanded. In 2003 a large number of animals, including hippos and tapirs as well as some of the marsh birds, received a new house in Hippotopia .
Animals
Together with its outdoor station and “sister park” Planckendael, the Antwerp Zoological Society keeps over 5000 animals from around 950 species, e.g. B .:
- Crocodiles in the old reptile house, built in 1904 and renovated in 1974;
- Okapis , Antwerp was the first zoo to keep these animals;
- Great apes , including the only keeping of the Eastern lowland gorilla in Europe
- Penguins : king penguins , rockhopper penguins and crested penguins ;
- Sea lions give a performance every day.
Breeding programs
Antwerp Zoo's breeding programs play a major role in the conservation of endangered species such as Przewalski's horse and otter . The zoo keeps the stud book for the Congo peacock , golden-headed lion tamarin , bonobo and okapi as part of the European conservation breeding program .
Outstations
In 1952 the zoo management acquired a nature reserve in De Zegge in Geel , where not only animal protection, but also nature protection is an important task. The area of this area is around 96 hectares.
In 1956 the Planckendael area was purchased in Muizen near Mechelen . It covers an area of 40 hectares and has developed into an up-and-coming animal park.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Complete List of EEPs and ESBs ( Memento of December 11, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) on the EAZA website , accessed on September 4, 2014.
Competition venues for the 1920 Summer Olympics
