Zagreb Zoo

Short but rich; modest but important. These are the words that can best describe the history of the Zagreb Zoo. Located in the Maksimir Park, under the treetops of hundreds of years old oak trees, the Zagreb Zoo had a modest start with only five animals – three foxes and two forest owls. It was founded by the noble Mijo Filipović. It was opened on June 27^th 1925, on the location of the Swan Island, today’s first island on the First Lake. Thanks to the wealthy citizens and their donations, 320 animals lived there until 1926, when the Zoo area was expanded to the mainland. From then on, the current area of the Zoo encompasses 7 hectares, including the lake.

From the very beginnings, the Zoo, or the little Zoo as they called it at the time, attracted architects and sculptors. Many objects, which are now cherished as historical and cultural heritage, were already built in 1931. One of the most well known objects is the Lion Bridge with four stone lions. There is not a single child who does not want to be photographed riding on the back of one of these lions. The tower, which is probably the oldest object in the Zoo, is located at the very entrance of the Zoo. It once served as the bear or wolf enclosure, but has soon become unacceptable for keeping animals. Today, it offers a memorable experience to all its visitors. Some of the other protected objects that should definitely be mentioned are the “Egyptians”, statues reaching about 5 meters in length, and the “Fisherman from Naples” that fishes on the lakeshore. Each visitor riding in a boat through the First Island is bound to experience at least a small portion of the Zagreb Zoo’s history.

Today, the Zagreb Zoo is a modern institution, whose missions are animal protection, education, research, and, of course, providing a place for amusement and recreation. However, the animals are at the forefront, so special attention is given to building quality enclosures that imitate natural habitats, and introducing enrichment programs. One of the enrichment programs includes hiding the food around the enclosure, which incites the animal, i.e. a chimpanzee, to look for food and to work on getting hold of it, just like it would do in the wild. Another enrichment program rearranges stones and tree logs in wolf enclosures, which they regularly mark with their smells. We organize regular daily feeding times for some of the animals, during which the animal keeper talks about interesting facts about the animal and his/her relationship with it.

Through protection projects whose goal is the recovery of the White Stork population, the Zagreb Zoo releases its nestlings into the Nature Reserve Park Lonjsko Polje each year. Equally, the Zagreb Zoo is a sanctuary for endangered Balkan terrapins. As part of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), the Zagreb Zoo takes part in the European Endangered species program (EEP). The goal of the programme is to breed a stable population in controlled conditions of those animal species that are endangered in the wild and whose numbers are continuously decreasing. One of its goals is to reintroduce these animals to their natural habitats. The Red panda, the addax, the Bali starling, the Pygmy hippo and the Black-and-white ruffed lemur are just a few of the Zagreb Zoo inhabitants that are part of the EEP programme.

EAZA also conducts campaigns for raising the public awareness on the importance of environment and wildlife protection, as well as raises funds for conservation projects. The Zagreb Zoo takes active part in these campaigns, and has won an award for the European Carnivore Campaign in the category of raising public awareness. As great importance is given to education, the Zoo creates and implements many programmes – from adventurous ones, such as the “Wild Summer At The Zoo” and the “Abracadabra Zoo”, through programmes of mystical and theatrical character, to free guides and lectures for everyday visitors, where they have a chance to come in contact with a live animal. Petting a brightly coloured, but otherwise harmless snake, breaks all prejudices that man kept creating throughout the centuries through myths and legends. A visit to the Zagreb Zoo will be a memorable experience for each visitor.

It is a safe place, where you can forget about traffic and petty problems, relax and enjoy yourself.