Walking on the Wild Side in Europe’s Best Zoos
If you want to inject a little bit of Africa, Asia and South American into your European journey, there are many excellent zoos that can help you do just that by bringing you face to face with the animals inhabiting all these places. From the newest to the oldest, from the largest to the smallest, zoos in Europe make a great way to spend the day for the whole family. And though they can certainly get lost in the overwhelming mix of medieval churches, ornate opera houses, massive museums and luxury resorts, chances are you’re never too far from a zoo.
Tiergarten Schönbrunn, Vienna, Austria
Starting at the beginning, we must talk about the Tiergarten Schönbrunn. Starting life in 1752 as an imperial menagerie, this is the oldest zoo in the world. Located on the grounds of the magnificent baroque Schönbrunn Palace and itself boasting many classic architectural treasures, the Schönbrunn Zoo allows you to discover history and culture as you discover the animals. And the collection of animals is also quite impressive, from the orangutans and tigers, to pandas Yang Yang, Long Hui, and Fu Long, to all the slippery creatures in the Amazon Rainforest House. You can even walk beneath a simulation of the Amazon during a flood, for a perspective you couldn’t even get visiting the real thing. Among the museum’s newest additions is the 2004 polarium, which features animals of the Arctic.
Berlin Zoological Garden, Berlin, Germany
From oldest to biggest, the Berlin Zoo boasts 17,000 animals from 1,500 different species, making it the most comprehensive collection of species in the world. Open since 1844, the zoo covers 34 hectares of central Berlin’s Tiergarten, close to the world-famous Kurfürstendamm shopping district. Wildly popular among tourists, the zoo and its aquarium welcomed almost three million guests in 2010, making it the most popular zoo in Europe as well. The zoo is known for its entertaining animal feeding sessions and its celebrity animals like Knut, the polar bear, and Bao Bao, the Giant Panda. The zoo is also active in conservation, specializing in breeding for animals like black and Indian rhinoceroses and gaurs, as well as rare deer and pigs. The 1913 aquarium also features 9,000 animals spread among three floors, including a shark tank and an impressive 25,000 litre coral reef display.
Dublin Zoo, Dublin, Ireland
The largest zoo in Ireland is spread out over 24 hectares in Phoenix Park and dates back to 1831. Known also by its Gaelic name, Zú Bhaile Átha Cliath, the Dublin Zoo specializes in the conservation of endangered species, with its stated mission being to “work in partnership with zoos worldwide to make a significant contribution to the conservation of the endangered species on Earth”. The zoo is divided into sections such as World of Cats, World of Primates, Fringes of the Arctic, African Plains, Birds, Reptiles, Plants, City Farm and Endangered Species. The Kaziranga Forest Trail is worth special attention for its Asian elephants and its red pandas, and the City Farm is great for the kids, with its less exotic but cuter donkeys, guinea pigs and rabbits. Of special historical note, in 1919 the zoo celebrated the birth of a lion named Slats who grew up to roar at the beginning of hundreds of MGM movies as studio mascot Leo.
Zoo de La Palmyre, La Rochelle, France
A much newer zoo, the Zoo de La Palmyre opened in 1966 when the keeper of a traveling zoo decided to lay down roots in La Rochelle. Starting out with 80 animals, the zoo now features over 1,600 in a beautiful seaside location spread out over four square kilometres. The animals are divided into 130 species, and the most unique features is the immense polar bear basin, where you can see the bears above the water or below the water, with the help of the five centimeter thick window. The zoo is active in breeding in order to save endangered species and offers the unique opportunity to view many endangered species. Some, like the Scimitar Oryx from the Sahara Desert, are near extinction. Other endangered animals on display include the Orangutan of Borneo, whose population lost 30-50% in the last ten years, the Golden Lion Tamarin, the White Rhinoceros and the Indian Elephant.
Blackpool Zoo, Blackpool, United Kingdom
Providing a home to over 1,500 animals from around the globe, Blackpool Zoo has only been open since 1972. Also dedicated to animal conservation, the zoo has undergone a £10m refurbishment since 2003. This is a zoo that really caters to kids. In addition to the popular giraffes and sea lions, the zoo has opened the Dinosaur Safari, where you can follow a trail that passes 32 life-size dinosaurs. The penguins are also quite popular, and for a little bit of fun, you can take the Blackpool Zoo Miniature Railway. In 2006, the zoo opened an exhibit called Amazonia, which is a walk-through enclosure of South American animals and birds including 5 species of monkeys.
Vienna hotels near the Tiergarten Schönbrunn
