A zoo (short for zoological garden ; also called an animal park or menagerie ) is a facility in which animals are kept within enclosures for public exhibition and often bred for conservation purposes.
123-563: Bus: Attica Park , officially Attica Zoological Park ( AZP ), is a private zoo located in the suburb of Spata , approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of Athens , Greece . It is the only zoo in Greece. The zoo is home to more than 1,500 animals representing 220 species, in an area of 20-hectares (49 acres). It is open 365 days a year. The zoo is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and
246-664: A menagerie or "zoological forest". The abbreviation "zoo" first appeared in print in the United Kingdom around 1847, when it was used for the Clifton Zoo , but it was not until some 20 years later that the shortened form became popular in the rhyming song " Walking in the Zoo " by music-hall artist Alfred Vance . The term "zoological park" was used for more expansive facilities in Halifax, Nova Scotia , Washington, D.C. , and
369-751: A 1,500-acre (6.1 km ) zoo called Ling-Yu, or the Garden of Intelligence. Other well-known collectors of animals included King Solomon of the Kingdom of Israel and Judah , Queen Semiramis and King Ashurbanipal of Assyria , and King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia . By the 4th century BCE, zoos existed in most of the Greek city states; Alexander the Great is known to have sent animals that he found on his military expeditions back to Greece. The Roman emperors kept private collections of animals for study or for use in
492-400: A Congolese pygmy , displayed in a cage with the chimpanzees, then with an orangutan named Dohong, and a parrot. The exhibit was intended as an example of the "missing link" between the orangutan and white man. It triggered protests from the city's clergymen, but the public reportedly flocked to see Benga. Humans were also displayed at various events, especially colonial expositions such as
615-508: A brand new area called "Thalassa" (sea in Greek), after closing the dolphin show area. "Thalassa" will house a new enclosure for the parks bottlenose dolphins, African penguins and harbor seals and it will also open a new enclosure for sea lions in 2023. In June of 2022 the zoo announced the arrival of a pair of Linnaeus's two-toed sloths , with the male coming from Munich Zoo and the female coming from Parque de las Ciencias which also houses
738-504: A breeding pair in a specially designed enclosure. In May 2001, the Attica Zoological Park became a member of EAZA. The AZP is actively involved in 37 EEPs (European Endangered species Programs), and 31 species in the park are monitored by ESBs (European Studbooks), as well as other advanced methods such as Species360 (International Species Information System). In 2011, PELARGOS, an independent non-profit civil company,
861-482: A consequence, various management tools are used to preserve the space for the genetically most important individuals and to reduce the risk of inbreeding . Management of animal populations is typically through international organizations such as AZA and EAZA . Zoos have several different ways of managing the animal populations, such as moves between zoos, contraception , sale of excess animals and euthanization (culling). Contraception can be an effective way to limit
984-610: A difference in wildlife conservation and education. Humans were occasionally displayed in cages at zoos along with non-human animals, to illustrate the differences between people of European and non-European origin. In September 1906, William Hornaday , director of the Bronx Zoo in New York—;with the agreement of Madison Grant , head of the New York Zoological Society —had Ota Benga ,
1107-592: A fountain, a wood-ornamented greenhouse, a forest area, and enclosures and buildings. The first zoological garden in Australia was Melbourne Zoo in 1860. In German states leading roles came Berlin (1841), Frankfurt (1856), and Hamburg (1863). In 1907, the entrepreneur Carl Hagenbeck founded the Tierpark Hagenbeck in Stellingen, now a quarter of Hamburg . His zoo was a radical departure from
1230-676: A gas station. The animals may be trained to perform tricks, and visitors are able to get closer to them than in larger zoos. Since they are sometimes less regulated, roadside zoos are often subject to accusations of neglect and cruelty . In June 2014 the Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against the Iowa-based roadside Cricket Hollow Zoo for violating the Endangered Species Act by failing to provide proper care for its animals. Since filing
1353-405: A hole in the broken glass while the park was still open. The park's staff immediately stepped in, and followed the zoo's protocol in this situations. The staff, with the help of the park's vet, shot the two animals and killed them. The zoo's owner stated that they could not sedate the animals, because anaesthesia in big cats, such as tigers and lions, takes 5 to 6 minutes to kick in and that would put
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#17327658128301476-509: A lack of natural wild habitat in which to reintroduce animals. This highlights the importance of in situ conservation, or preservation of natural spaces, in addition to the utility of zoo captive breeding and reintroduction programs. In situ conservation and reintroduction programs are key elements to obtaining certification by reputable organisations such as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Efforts to clone endangered species in
1599-538: A large part of this time feeding. Basically sedentary, they rest in flat areas and reed beds , especially during the hotter part of the day. They seldom leave their swamp habitat during the daytime. Though sitatunga commonly form pairs or remain solitary, larger groups have also been observed. A study in Kenya recorded a herd of as many as nine individuals, comprising an adult male, four females and four juveniles. Loose groups may be formed but interaction among individuals
1722-517: A male that was sent to Zurich Zoo and the last one being a female named Matima, that died a month and a half later due to a sudden pulmonary edema. World of Reptiles opened in April 2001 and it was the first addition to the zoo after its opening. Among the species in World of Reptiles are the cane toad , Madagascar day gecko , green tree python , yellow anaconda , tokay gecko , western ratsnake and
1845-461: A matter of public interest in the 1970s, a few zoos began to consider making conservation their central role, with Gerald Durrell of the Jersey Zoo , George Rabb of Brookfield Zoo , and William Conway of the Bronx Zoo ( Wildlife Conservation Society ) leading the discussion. From then on, zoo professionals became increasingly aware of the need to engage themselves in conservation programs, and
1968-448: A model of cooperation for conservation. Loaned animals usually remain the property of the original park, and any offspring yielded by loaned animals are usually divided between the lending and holding institutions. For decades the capture of wild animals or purchasing of animals has been broadly considered unethical and has not been practiced by reputable zoos. Especially in large animals, a limited number of spaces are available in zoos. As
2091-415: A new exhibit with a fishing cat can be seen nearby. Birds of Africa consists of a walk-through aviary, home to 10 bird species, the smallest mixed species aviary out of the three walk-though aviaries of the zoo, and its home to species such as the village weaver , glossy ibis , blue-winged goose , African spoonbill , superb starling , blacksmith lapwing and the hamerkop . Birds of Asia consists of
2214-418: A new strategy that sets out the aims and mission of zoological gardens of the 21st century. When studying behaviour of captive animals, several things should however be taken into account before drawing conclusions about wild populations. Including that captive populations are often smaller than wild ones and that the space available to each animal is often less than in the wild. Conservation programs all over
2337-434: A place of refuge . Today, many zoos are improving enclosures by including tactile and sensory features in the habitat that allow animals to encourage natural behaviors. These additions can prove to be effective in improving the lives of animals in captivity. The tactile and sensory features will vary depending on the species of animal. There are animals that are injured in the wild and are unable to survive on their own, but in
2460-481: A population's breeding. However it may also have health repercussions and can be difficult or even impossible to reverse in some animals. Additionally, some species may lose their reproductive capability entirely if prevented from breeding for a period (whether through contraceptives or isolation), but further study is needed on the subject. Sale of surplus animals from zoos was once common and in some cases animals have ended up in substandard facilities. In recent decades
2583-573: A provisional order was issued by the Athens Court temporarily prohibiting the operation of the dolphinarium. BBC sent a correspondent to cover the story and the controversy was presented in an article by Lauren St John in The Sunday Times . In August 2011, the Greek court issued a decision declaring itself not competent to pass judgement on the case. Although the zoo claimed that the case in question has been decided permanently and that
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#17327658128302706-551: A request by the EEP representative. The breeding of this species is highly important due to the fact that the birth rate of male hippos has fallen in contrast to the female one. Moreover, death rates amount to 30% within the first 60 days of their birth. His parents came from Edinburgh Zoo and from Aalborg Zoo . The zoo received the pair in November 2004, and since then three calves have been born to this pairing. The first one being also
2829-403: A rough and scraggy mane, usually brown in colour, and a white dorsal stripe. There is a chevron between the eyes of the males. The body and legs of this antelope are specially adapted to its swampy habitat. The hooves of the male are elongated and widely splayed. The rubbery, shaggy, water-repellent coat is minimally affected by slimy and muddy vegetation. The wedge-like shape and lowering of
2952-629: A small number of zoos. To solve this organizations like EAZA and AZA have begun to develop husbandry manuals. Many modern zoos attempt to improve animal welfare by providing more space and behavioural enrichments . This often involves housing the animals in naturalistic enclosures that allow the animals to express more of their natural behaviours, such as roaming and foraging. Whilst many zoos have been working hard on this change, in some zoos, some enclosures still remain barren concrete enclosures or other minimally enriched cages. Sitatunga The sitatunga ( Tragelaphus spekii ) or marshbuck
3075-547: A suitable alternative. Off-site conservation relies on zoos, national parks, or other care facilities to support the rehabilitation of the animals and their populations. Zoos benefit conservation by providing suitable habitats and care to endangered animals. When properly regulated, they present a safe, clean environment for the animals to increase populations sizes. A study on amphibian conservation and zoos addressed these problems by writing, Whilst addressing in situ threats, particularly habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation,
3198-553: A suitable environment for wild native animals such as herons to live in or visit. A colony of black-crowned night herons has regularly summered at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. for more than a century. Some zoos may provide information to visitors on wild animals visiting or living in the zoo, or encourage them by directing them to specific feeding or breeding platforms. In modern, well-regulated zoos, breeding
3321-500: A view of the whole zoo. The pond is home to a variety of waterfowl and other aquatic birds. Water World residents include Egyptian geese , black swans , red-breasted geese , barnacle geese , ruddy shelducks , white storks and Canada geese . Parrots consists of a row of cages that are home to the zoos many parrot species. The exhibit is home to monk parakeets , keas , palm cockatoos , yellow-collared lovebirds , hooded parrots and African grey parrots . Lory Land consists of
3444-510: A walk-through aviary, home to 12 bird species, the largest mix of species out of the three continental themed aviaries, and its home to species from Asia and Australasia , such as the demoiselle crane , the crested pigeon , the red-whiskered bulbul , the maned duck and the Torresian imperial-pigeon . Next to the aviary its the zoo's main plaza and Educational Center. Other zoo residents, that do not belong to any particular attraction are
3567-431: A walk-through exhibit, that is home to rainbow lorikeets , chattering lories , purple-naped lories and yellow-bibbed lories . Animals of S. America consists of four enclosures, one of which is a walk-through aviary, for species native to South America. This area is home to a family of greater rheas (two of which are leucistic ), capybaras , Patagonian maras , llamas and giant anteaters . The walk-through aviary,
3690-589: A year and have special programs for schools. They are organized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums . Japan's first modern zoo, Tokyo's Ueno Imperial Zoological Gardens , opened in 1882 based on European models. In World War II it was used to teach the Japanese people about the lands recently conquered by the Army. In 1943, fearing American bombing attacks, the government ordered the zoo to euthanize dangerous animals that might escape. When ecology emerged as
3813-936: Is "the advancement of Zoology and Animal Physiology and the introduction of new and curious subjects of the Animal Kingdom." It maintains two research institutes, the Nuffield Institute of Comparative Medicine and the Wellcome Institute of Comparative Physiology. In the United States, the Penrose Research Laboratory of the Philadelphia Zoo focuses on the study of comparative pathology . The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums produced its first conservation strategy in 1993, and in November 2004, it adopted
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3936-422: Is 14–37 cm (5.5–14.6 in) long. The saucer-shaped ears are 11–17 cm (4.3–6.7 in) long. Only the males possess horns; these are spiral in shape, have one or two twists and are 45–92 cm (18–36 in) long. The sitatunga is almost indistinguishable from the nyala , except in pelage and spoor . Speke pointed out that, though "closely allied" to the waterbuck, the sitatunga lacks stripes and
4059-834: Is a swamp -dwelling medium-sized antelope found throughout central Africa , centering on the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Republic of the Congo , Cameroon , parts of Southern Sudan , Equatorial Guinea , Burundi , Ghana , Botswana , Rwanda , Zambia , Gabon , the Central African Republic , Tanzania , Uganda and Kenya . The sitatunga is mostly confined to swampy and marshy habitats. Here they occur in tall and dense vegetation as well as seasonal swamps, marshy clearings in forests, riparian thickets and mangrove swamps. The scientific name of
4182-498: Is a long row of cages home to a large variety of ground bird species, particularly pheasants. Exhibited species include blue eared pheasant , Edwards's pheasant , Elliot's pheasant , African green pigeon , yellow cardinal , California quail , Reeves's pheasant and the golden pheasant . Across from the exhibit is the zoo's animal hospital and the ZooCafe. Birds of Prey is a row of cages for multiple raptor species. The exhibit
4305-477: Is a medium-sized antelope. It is sexually dimorphic , with males considerably larger than females. The head-and-body length is typically between 136–177 cm (54–70 in) in males and 104–146 cm (41–57 in) in females. Males reach approximately 81–116 cm (32–46 in) at the shoulder, while females reach 72–90 cm (28–35 in). Males typically weigh 76–119 kg (168–262 lb), while females weigh 24–57 kg (53–126 lb). The tail
4428-578: Is an Africa-themed area that was opened in February 2003 and it is the largest exhibit in the zoo. Animals on display in this area include the reticulated giraffe , Rothschild's giraffe , Grant's zebra , Kafue lechwe and the South African ostrich . Sometimes Arabian and Scimitar oryxes can be viewed in this exhibit. Also in their own exhibits the area features sitatungas , pygmy hippos , Southern white rhinos and South African cheetahs . In
4551-425: Is born. Parturition occurs throughout the year, though a peak may occur in the dry season. Calves are hidden adroitly, and brought out of cover only in the presence of many other sitatunga. The mother gazes and nods at the calf to summon it for nursing. A calf follows its mother about even after she has given birth to another calf. The mother suckles and licks her calf for about six months. The calf takes time to master
4674-414: Is controlled to maintain a self-sustaining, global captive population. This is not the case in some less well-regulated zoos, often based in poorer regions. Overall "stock turnover" of animals during a year in a select group of poor zoos was reported as 20%-25% with 75% of wild caught apes dying in captivity within the first 20 months. The authors of the report stated that before successful breeding programs,
4797-569: Is extinct in Niger , where it formerly occurred in the Lake Chad region, and is feared to be extinct in Togo , where its habitat has been taken over by dense human settlements. While it is localised and sporadic in western Africa, the sitatunga is still common in the forests of central Africa and certain swampy regions in central, eastern and southern Africa. Habitat loss is the most severe threat to
4920-502: Is home to bald eagles , white-backed vultures , white-headed vultures , Egyptian vultures , king vultures , griffon vultures , bateleurs and palm-nut vultures . Nearby is the zoo's farm and petting zoo where visitors can see and pet Cameroon sheep , Nigerian Dwarf goats , zebus , Falabella ponies , and an endangered breed of pony, the Skyrian pony and more. Water World consists of two big pond and an elevated kiosk that offers
5043-462: Is of primary importance; for many amphibian species in situ conservation alone will not be enough, especially in light of current un-mitigatable threats that can impact populations very rapidly such as chytridiomycosis [an infectious fungal disease]. Ex situ programmes can complement in situ activities in a number of ways including maintaining genetically and demographically viable populations while threats are either better understood or mitigated in
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5166-671: Is placed under the genus Tragelaphus and in the family Bovidae . In 2005, Sandi Willows-Munro of the University of KwaZulu-Natal ( Durban ) carried out a mitochondrial analysis of the nine Tragelaphus species. mtDNA and nDNA data were compared. The results showed that sitatunga plus bongo ( T. eurycerus ) form a monophyletic clade with the mountain nyala ( T. buxtoni ) and bushbuck ( T. scriptus ). The greater kudu ( T. strepsiceros ) split from this clade approximately 8.6 million years ago. Within Tragelaphus ,
5289-455: Is spotted instead. The coat colour varies geographically, but, in general, is a rufous red in juveniles and chestnut in females. There are white facial markings, as well as several stripes and spots all over, though they are only faintly visible. White patches can be seen on the throat, near the head and the chest. A pair of inguinal scent glands are present. The coats of males darken with age, becoming gray to dark brown. Males develop
5412-532: Is the breeding of this species in a controlled environment and the gradual reintroduction of their offspring in the Northern Caucasus , where today there are less than 10 individuals left in the wild, risking complete extinction of the species. The Attica Zoological Park, with the help of Parc des Félins in France, acts as a key center for the safe and successful breeding of Persian leopards, by hosting
5535-580: Is the oldest zoo in Poland, opened in 1865 when the city was part of Prussia , and was home to about 10,500 animals representing about 1,132 species (in terms of the number of animal species, it is the third largest in the world ). In 2014 the Wrocław Zoo opened the Africarium , the only themed oceanarium devoted solely to exhibiting the fauna of Africa , comprehensively presenting selected ecosystems from
5658-486: Is very low. Individuals generally associate only with their own sex. The sitatunga is not territorial . Males may engage in locking horns with other males and attacking vegetation using their horns. They may perform feinting by raising their forelegs with the hindlegs rooted in the ground as a threat display . Sitatunga interact with each other by first touching their noses, which may be followed by licking each other and nibbling. Alarmed animals may stand motionless, with
5781-790: The Abuko Nature Reserve . On the other hand, though the animal is hunted by locals primarily for food, Botswana still supports a large portion of the total population. The species is of great economic significance for northern Botswana, that produces some of the world's biggest sitatunga trophies . Its status is unclear in Chad, Ghana, Guinea, Burundi and Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Significant populations still exist in countries such as Cameroon, Central African Republic, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Tanzania and Zambia. The inaccessibility of its habitat has rendered population estimates very difficult. In 1999, Rod East of
5904-541: The American Zoo Association soon said that conservation was its highest priority. In order to stress conservation issues, many large zoos stopped the practice of having animals perform tricks for visitors. The Detroit Zoo , for example, stopped its elephant show in 1969, and its chimpanzee show in 1983, acknowledging that the trainers had probably abused the animals to get them to perform. Mass destruction of wildlife habitat has yet to cease all over
6027-820: The BioDome which is where the Granada's zoo is located. Attica Zoological Park actively participates in major programs of global importance. One of this programs was developed by WWF Russia and the Russian Academy of Sciences in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources in Russia, the European Endangered Species Program of EAZA ( EEP ) of this species, Sochi Natural Park and other key partners. The aim of this program
6150-511: The Bronx in New York, which opened in 1846, 1891 and 1899 respectively. Relatively new terms for zoos in the late 20th century are " conservation park" or "bio park". Adopting a new name is a strategy used by some zoo professionals to distance their institutions from the stereotypical and nowadays criticized zoo concept of the 19th century. The term "bio park" was first coined and developed by
6273-555: The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature , that acknowledge the person who first described the species, simply declaring Sclater as the authority in a footnote is insufficient to recognise him as the author. Hence, Speke was recognised as the correct authority and T. spekii (where spekii is the genitive of the Latinised "Spekius") was considered the correct name for the species. The sitatunga
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#17327658128306396-674: The Lasithi Range in Crete , where six vultures were successfully released. Three from AZP and another three from ANIMA's Rehabilitation Center. In June 2010 the dolphinarium started working with shows by sea lions and dolphins . There were initially four dolphins bought from the Lithuanian Marine Institute, then seven more were added from the same source. The Greek Green Party took Attica Zoological Park to court claiming animal welfare issues in 2011. In April 2011,
6519-625: The Least Concern category by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN ), and under Appendix III (Ghana) of the Washington Convention (CITES). In Senegal, intensive hunting for meat and habitat degradation have made the sitatunga very rare. Formerly it was common throughout Gambia, but now it is confined to a few inaccessible swamps; a population has been introduced in
6642-679: The Mediterranean monk seal was built in the zoo's premises in collaboration with MOm (Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal). The station was built and was fully equipped with the full financial support of PELARGOS. The station mostly helps young seals that lost their mothers due to weather conditions, until they can be reintroduction in the National Marine Park of Alonnisos Northern Sporades . Since 2015
6765-547: The National Zoo in Washington D.C. in the late 1980s. In 1993, the New York Zoological Society changed its name to the Wildlife Conservation Society and re branded the zoos under its jurisdiction as "wildlife conservation parks". The predecessor of the zoological garden is the menagerie , which has a long history from the ancient world to modern times. The oldest known zoological collection
6888-618: The Nile lechwe in the Sudd swamps and with the southern lechwe in Angola , Botswana and Zambia . The sitatunga is native to Angola, Benin , Botswana, Burundi , Cameroon , Central African Republic , Chad , The Democratic Republic of the Congo , Equatorial Guinea , Gabon , Gambia , Ghana , Guinea , Guinea-Bissau , Kenya , Mozambique , Namibia , Nigeria , Rwanda , Senegal , South Sudan , Tanzania , Uganda , Zambia and Zimbabwe . It
7011-488: The United Kingdom , was focused on providing scientific study and later educational exhibits to the public for entertainment and inspiration. A growing fascination for natural history and zoology , coupled with the tremendous expansion in the urbanization of London, led to a heightened demand for a greater variety of public forms of entertainment to be made available. The need for public entertainment, as well as
7134-1025: The Zoological Society of London in 1931 which today (2014) covers 600 acres (2.4 km ). Since the early 1970s, an 1,800 acre (7 km ) park in the San Pasqual Valley near San Diego has featured the San Diego Zoo Safari Park , run by the Zoological Society of San Diego. One of two state-supported zoo parks in North Carolina is the 2,000-acre (8.1 km ) North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro. The 500-acre (2.0 km ) Werribee Open Range Zoo in Melbourne, Australia, displays animals living in an artificial savannah . The first public aquarium
7257-466: The carpet python . The Greek Forest exhibit opened the following year in the summer of 2002 and includes species rarely seen in Greece . This exhibit features Eurasian Lynxes , wild boars , Eurasian grey wolves , Eurasian brown bears , fallow deer , Griffon Vultures and the endangered Cretan wild goat also known as the kri-kri. In the past it also featured Eurasian Otters . The African Savannah
7380-618: The greater flamingoes , the Indian crested porcupine , the European bee-eater , the serval and more. The zoo's big cats include Southern African lions , Sumatran tigers , Persian leopards , pumas and as of 2020 a pair of clouded leopards that recently had cubs. The zoo has several walk-through enclosures, including a "Lemur Forest" the Birds of Africa, Asia and America the Lory Land and
7503-452: The waterbuck ). The word "sitatunga" itself comes from an ancient Bantu language. The scientific name has often been misstated as T. spekei , and either Speke or Sclater is referred to as the binomial authority . Speke had stated in a footnote in his book that the species had been named Tragelaphus spekii by English zoologist Philip Sclater . However, according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (Article 50.1.1) and
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#17327658128307626-406: The 1931 Paris Colonial Exposition , with the practice continuing in Belgium at least to as late as 1958 in a "Congolese village" display at Expo '58 in Brussels. These displays, while sometimes called "human zoos", usually did not take place in zoos or use cages. Zoo animals live in enclosures that often attempt to replicate their natural habitats or behavioral patterns, for the benefit of both
7749-414: The 19th century, usually using London and Paris as models. The transition was made from princely menageries designed to entertain high society with strange novelties into public zoological gardens. The new goal was to educate the entire population with information along modern scientific lines. Zoos were supported by local commercial or scientific societies. The modern zoo that emerged in the 19th century in
7872-414: The Aztec revolt against the Spanish rule, and during the subsequent battle for the city, Cortés reluctantly ordered the zoo to be destroyed. The oldest zoo in the world still in existence is the Tiergarten Schönbrunn in Vienna , Austria. It was constructed by Adrian van Stekhoven in 1752 at the order of Emperor Francis I , to serve as an imperial menagerie as part of Schönbrunn Palace . The menagerie
7995-431: The Bat forest. In December 2015, two male Asian elephants , named Leso and Myo, arrived at the park from Emmen Zoo in the Netherlands . In 2018 the zoo welcomed a cauldron of Rodrigues flying foxes . In 2021, the zoo began constructions for an Asian enclosure that will house red pandas , Chinese muntjacs and Asian small-clawed otters , and will expect them in the following months. The zoo also began construction for
8118-410: The European Association of Aquatic Mammals (EAAM). The zoo, opened its doors to the public in May 2000, initially as a bird park, hosting the third-largest bird collection in the world featuring 1100 birds of 300 species, farm animals for the younger visitors and three very impressive walk-in aviaries – miniatures of three continents (Africa, Asia and the Americas) in which visitors can walk and admire
8241-845: The IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group estimated a total population of 170,000, but this is likely to be an overestimate. Its numbers are decreasing in areas of heavy human settlement, but are stable elsewhere. Around 40 percent of the populations (based on the overestimate of 170,000) occurs in protected areas, mainly in Okavango Delta and Linyanti and Chobe swamps (Botswana); Dja Faunal Reserve and Lobéké National Park (Cameroon); Bangassou (Central African Republic); Odzala National Park , Lake Télé Community Reserve , Likouala and Salonga National Park (The Democratic Republic of Congo); Monte Alén National Park (Equatorial Guinea); Saiwa Swamp National Park (Kenya); Akagera National Park (Rwanda); Moyowosi and Kigosi Game Reserves (Tanzania); Bangweulu and Busanga Swamps (Zambia). However, only
8364-419: The Nova Scotia public in 1847. It was originally intended to be used as a collection for scientific study. By the early 1860s, the zoo grounds covered 40 hectares with many fine flowers and ornamental trees, picnic areas, statues, walking paths, The Glass House (which contained a greenhouse with an aviary, aquarium, and museum of stuffed animals and birds), a pond, a bridge over a waterfall, an artificial lake with
8487-431: The U.S. and Canada by Species Survival Plans; in Australasia, by the Australasian Species Management Program; in Europe, by the European Endangered Species Program; and in Japan, South Asia, and South East Asia, by the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the South Asian Zoo Association for Regional Cooperation , and the South East Asian Zoo Association. Besides conservation of captive species, large zoos may form
8610-491: The United States, Europe, and Asia are frequently embedded in zoos and zoological parks. The position of most modern zoos in Australasia , Asia , Europe , and North America , particularly those with scientific societies, is that they display wild animals primarily for the conservation of endangered species , as well as for research purposes and education, and secondarily for the entertainment of visitors. The Zoological Society of London states in its charter that its aim
8733-737: The animals and visitors. Nocturnal animals are often housed in buildings with a reversed light-dark cycle, i.e. only dim white or red lights are on during the day so the animals are active during visitor hours, and brighter lights on at night when the animals sleep. Special climate conditions may be created for animals living in extreme environments, such as penguins. Special enclosures for birds , mammals , insects , reptiles , fish , and other aquatic life forms have also been developed. Some zoos have walk-through exhibits where visitors enter enclosures of non-aggressive species, such as lemurs , marmosets , birds, lizards , and turtles . Visitors are asked to keep to paths and avoid showing or eating foods that
8856-493: The animals might snatch. Some zoos keep animals in larger, outdoor enclosures, confining them with moats and fences, rather than in cages. Safari parks , also known as zoo parks and lion farms, allow visitors to drive through them and come in close proximity to the animals. Sometimes, visitors are able to feed animals through the car windows. The first safari park was Whipsnade Park in Bedfordshire, England, opened by
8979-434: The animals' needs, but constraints such as size and expense can complicate this. The type of enclosure and the husbandry are of great importance in determining the welfare of animals. Substandard enclosures can lead to decreased lifespans, caused by factors as human diseases, unsafe materials in the cages and possible escape attempts (Bendow 382). However, when zoos take time to think about the animal's welfare, zoos can become
9102-452: The arena, the latter faring notoriously poorly. The 19th-century historian W. E. H. Lecky wrote of the Roman games , first held in 366 BCE: At one time, a bear and a bull , chained together, rolled in fierce combat across the sand ... Four hundred bears were killed in a single day under Caligula ... Under Nero , four hundred tigers fought with bulls and elephants. In a single day, at
9225-727: The basis of physical characteristics such as hair texture, coat colour and the coat stripes, up to ten subspecies of the sitatunga have been described. However, these factors may not be reliable since hair texture could vary with the climate, while pelage colour and markings vary greatly among individuals. Moreover, the coat might darken and the stripes and spots on it might fade with age, especially in males. The species might even be monotypic , however, based on different drainage systems , three distinct subspecies are currently recognised: Giant eland Common eland Greater kudu Balbok Bongo Sitatunga Cape bushbuck Harnessed bushbuck Nyala Lesser kudu The sitatunga
9348-491: The bushbuck, bongo, sitatunga and nyala ( T. angasii ) are particularly close relatives. The bushbuck and sitatunga are genetically similar enough to hybridise . Hybrids between bongo and sitatunga have proved to be fertile. The sitatunga is more variable in its general characters than any other member of the tribe Strepsicerotini , that consists of the genera Taurotragus (elands) and Tragelaphus , probably because of their confinement to swampy and marshy habitats. On
9471-645: The charter of EAZA. More recently PELARGOS has also gone ahead with initiatives financed by third parties such as, the Niarchos Foundation and the Green Fund of the Ministry of Environment . Apart from the financial support it offers, Attica Park also provides substantial help through its scientific knowledge, its international relations with recognized scientists, and mostly through the work and dedicated support of its staff. A first aid station for
9594-654: The classical zoo, such as stage shows, roller coasters, and mythical creatures. Some examples are Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida , both Disney's Animal Kingdom and Gatorland in Orlando, Florida , Flamingo Land in North Yorkshire, England , and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California . By 2000 most animals being displayed in zoos were the offspring of other zoo animals. This trend, however
9717-451: The coat provides an excellent camouflage. Hearing is acute, and the ears are so structured that the animal can accurately determine the direction from where a sound has originated. This adaptation is of profound use in habitats where long sight is of very little value due to the density and darkness of the environment. Sitatunga are active mainly during the early hours after dawn, the last one or two hours before dusk, and at night, and spend
9840-434: The company has been vindicated, this decision only addressed the ability of this particular court to decide the issue. In December 2018, two jaguars , escaped their controlled area, triggering the security protocol. The two big cats, named Jenny and Spotty, escaped their enclosure, after a gazelle, that was ready to be transferred to another facility, escaped and crashed on the enclosure's glass fence. The animals escaped from
9963-546: The conservation and observation of animals was expressed in connection with the political construction of republican citizenship. The Kazan Zoo , the first zoo in Russia was founded in 1806 by the Professor of Kazan State University Karl Fuchs . Until the early 19th century, the function of the zoo was often to symbolize royal power, like King Louis XIV 's menagerie at Versailles . Major cities in Europe set up zoos in
10086-717: The construction, renovation, and expansion of zoos when the Great Depression severely reduced local budgets. It was "a new deal for animals." The Atlanta Zoo , founded in 1886, suffered neglect. By 1984 it was ranked among the ten worst zoos in the United States. Systematic reform by 2000 put it on the list of the ten best. By 2020, the United States featured 230 accredited zoos and aquariums across 45 states, accommodating 800,000 animals, and 6,000 species out of which about 1,000 are endangered. The zoos provide 208,000 jobs, and with an annual budget of $ 230 million for wildlife conservation . They attract over 200 million visits
10209-756: The continent of Africa . Housing over 10 thousand animals, the facility's breadth extends from housing insects such cockroaches to large mammals like elephants on an area of over 33 hectares . In the United States, the Philadelphia Zoo , opened on July 1, 1874, earning its motto "America's First Zoo." The Lincoln Park Zoological Gardens in Chicago and the Cincinnati Zoo opened in 1875. In the 1930s, federal relief programs provided financial aid to most local zoos. The Works Progress Administration and similar New Deal government agencies helped greatly in
10332-525: The culling proceeded. Although zoos in some countries have been open about culling, the controversy of the subject and pressure from the public has resulted in others being closed. This stands in contrast to most zoos publicly announcing animal births. Furthermore, while many zoos are willing to cull smaller and/or low-profile animals, fewer are willing to do it with larger high-profile species. Many animals breed readily in captivity. Zoos frequently are forced to intentionally limit captive breeding because of
10455-710: The dedication of the Colosseum by Titus , five thousand animals perished. Under Trajan ... lions , tigers, elephants, rhinoceroses , hippopotami, giraffes, bulls, stags, even crocodiles and serpents were employed to give novelty to the spectacle. Charlemagne had an elephant named Abul-Abbas that was given to him by the Abbasid caliph. King Henry I of England kept a collection of animals at his palace in Woodstock which reportedly included lions, leopards, and camels. The most prominent collection in medieval England
10578-458: The food is supplied by the zoo, either from vending machines or a kiosk nearby. An animal theme park is a combination of an amusement park and a zoo, mainly for entertaining and commercial purposes. Marine mammal parks such as Sea World and Marineland are more elaborate dolphinariums keeping whales , and containing additional entertainment attractions. Another kind of animal theme park contains more entertainment and amusement elements than
10701-841: The head held high and one leg raised. Sitatunga may occasionally emit a series of coughs or barks, usually at night, which may cause other animals to join in, and these sounds can be heard across the swamp. This barking may be used by females to warn off other females. Males often utter a low bellow on coming across a female or a herd of females in the mating season. A low-pitched squeak may be uttered while feeding. Mothers communicate with their calves by bleats. Sitatunga can feed or rest close to southern lechwe herds, but do not interact with them. They often attract yellow-billed oxpeckers , African jacanas and great egrets . Sitatunga are good swimmers, but limit themselves to water with profuse vegetation in order to escape crocodiles . In some cases, for instance when troubled by flies or pursued by predators,
10824-412: The head, coupled with the backward bend of the horns (in males) provides for easy navigation through dense vegetation. The pasterns are flexible, and the hooves, banana-like in shape, can reach a length of up to 16 cm (6.3 in) in the hindlegs and 18 cm (7.1 in) in the forelegs. The pointed toes allow it to walk slowly and almost noiselessly through the water. Moreover, the colour of
10947-410: The high mortality rate was the reason for the "massive scale of importations." One 2-year study indicated that of 19,361 mammals that left accredited zoos in the U.S. between 1992 and 1998, 7,420 (38%) went to dealers, auctions, hunting ranches, unaccredited zoos and individuals, and game farms. The welfare of zoo animals varies widely. Many zoos work to improve their animal enclosures and make it fit
11070-424: The importance of animal conservation, often through letting visitors witness the animals firsthand. Some critics, and the majority of animal rights activists, say that zoos, no matter their intentions, or how noble these intentions, are immoral and serve as nothing but to fulfill human leisure at the expense of the animals (an opinion that has spread over the years). However, zoo advocates argue that their efforts make
11193-520: The lawsuit, ALDF has obtained records from investigations conducted by the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services; these records show that the zoo is also violating the Animal Welfare Act. A petting zoo, also called petting farms or children's zoos, features a combination of domestic animals and wild species that are docile enough to touch and feed. To ensure the animals' health,
11316-404: The layout of the zoo that had been established in 1828. It was the first zoo to use open enclosures surrounded by moats, rather than barred cages, to better approximate animals' natural environments. He also set up mixed-species exhibits and based the layout on the different organizing principle of geography, as opposed to taxonomy. The Wrocław Zoo ( Polish : Ogród Zoologiczny we Wrocławiu )
11439-401: The male will begin attempts at mounting. At the time of mounting the female lowers her head, while the male first bends and then straightens his forelegs and rests his head and neck on her back. The two remain together for one or two days, during which time the male ensures that no other male can approach the female. Gestation lasts for nearly eight months, after which generally a single calf
11562-472: The park's visitors and staff in danger. The park's owner was incredibly saddened with the incident, because he bottle-fed and raised one of the jaguars since it was a baby. Zoo The term zoological garden refers to zoology , the study of animals. The term is derived from the Ancient Greek ζῷον , zōion , 'animal', and the suffix -λογία , -logia , 'study of'. The abbreviation zoo
11685-534: The past there was also an exhibit with African Wild Dogs . In 2020 a giraffe feeding station was added in the African Savannah. Indonesia was added in 2013. It features an Indonesian -themed aviary and a Komodo dragon exhibit. Birds in this area include the Bali myna , Victorian crowned pigeon , Nicobar pigeon , white-naped pheasant-pigeon , crested partridge and Luzon bleeding-heart . Ground Birds
11808-496: The practice of selling animals from certified zoos has declined. A large number of animals are culled each year in zoos, but this is controversial. A highly publicized culling as part of population management was that of a healthy giraffe at Copenhagen Zoo in 2014. The zoo argued that his genes already were well-represented in captivity, making the giraffe unsuitable for future breeding. There were offers to adopt him and an online petition to save him had many thousand signatories, but
11931-509: The price of admission was three half-pence, or the supply of a cat or dog for feeding to the lions. The animals were moved to the London Zoo when it opened. Aztec emperor Moctezuma had in his capital city of Tenochtitlan a "house of animals" with a large collection of birds, mammals and reptiles in a garden tended by more than 600 employees. The garden was described by several Spanish conquerors, including Hernán Cortés in 1520. After
12054-569: The relevant bird fauna and flora. World of Reptiles was added in April 2001, followed by Greek Forest in 2002, the African Savannah exhibit in 2003, a big cat exhibit and expansion of the African Savannah in 2004, a monkey exhibit in 2005, Land of the Cheetah, a chimpanzee (two of which came from ZooParc de Beauval ) a siamang gibbons exhibit, and a desert exhibit (with Bactrian camels and Somali wild asses ) in 2008. In 2010,
12177-607: The requirements of scholarly research, came together in the founding of the first modern zoos. Whipsnade Park Zoo in Bedfordshire , England, opened in 1931. It allowed visitors to drive through the enclosures and come into close proximity with the animals. The Zoological Society of London was founded in 1826 by Stamford Raffles and established the London Zoo in Regent's Park two years later in 1828. At its founding, it
12300-410: The seasonal movement and diet of the species. These floods force the animals out of the reed beds onto the flooded grasslands when the water levels are high. At low water levels the cattle take over the flooded plains and send the sitatunga back to their original place. Females are sexually mature by one year of age, while males take one-and-a-half-year before they mature. Breeding occurs throughout
12423-691: The sitatunga is Tragelaphus spekii . The species was first described by the English explorer John Hanning Speke in 1863. Speke first observed the sitatunga at a lake named "Little Windermere" (now Lake Lwelo, located in Kagera , Tanzania ). In his book Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile , Speke called the animal "nzoé" ( Kiswahili name for the animal) or "water-boc" (due to its resemblance to
12546-1184: The sitatunga might fully submerge themselves in the water except for the nose and the eyes, which they keep slightly above the water surface. Due to its close association with water, the sitatunga are often described as " aquatic antelopes", like the waterbuck . They often dry themselves under the sun after feeding in water. Predators of the sitatunga include lions , wild dogs , crocodiles and leopards . Sitatunga are selective and mixed feeders. They feed mainly on new foliage, fresh grasses, sedges and browse. Preferred plants include: bullrushes ( Typha ), sedges ( Cyperus ), aquatic grasses ( Vossia , Echinochloa , Pennisetum , Leersia , Acroceras and Panicum . Species in Umbelliferae and Acanthaceae are preferred in Saiwa Swamp National Park (Kenya), and Fabaceae species are preferred in Bangweulu and Busanga (in Kafue National Park ). They feed mostly in
12669-988: The specialised gait of the sitatunga, and thus often loses its balance and falls in water. Males, and even some females, have been observed to leave their herds even before reaching sexual maturity due to intrasexual competition. Lifespan recorded in captivity averages 22 to 23 years. The sitatunga is an amphibious antelope (meaning it can live on both land and water) confined to swampy and marshy habitats. They occur in tall and dense vegetation of perennial as well as seasonal swamps, marshy clearings in forests, riparian thickets and mangrove swamps. Sitatunga move along clearly marked tracks in their swampy habitat, often leading to reed beds. These tracks, up to 7 m (23 ft) wide, can lead to feeding grounds and nearby riverine forests. The sitatunga hold small home ranges near water bodies In savannas, they are typically found in stands of papyrus and reeds ( Phragmites species and Echinochloa pyramidalis ). They share their habitat with
12792-409: The survival of the sitatunga. Other threats include the increasing loss of wetlands, that has isolated populations; and long-term changes in the water level, that affects the nearby vegetation and thus bears upon their diet. Vast areas of Bangweulu and Busanga are burnt every year, placing animals like the sitatunga at grave risk given the inflammability of swamps. The sitatunga has been classified under
12915-522: The wetland fringes. Diet preferences may vary seasonally in swamps where water levels change notably. Like the gerenuk , the sitatunga may stand on its hindlegs to reach higher branches of trees, or even use its horns to pull down the branches. A study recorded forty major species eaten by the animal, the majority of which were herbs. Sweet potato was the most preferred crop. The study predicted an increase in preference for crops due to seasonal food variations. Another study showed that annual floods affect
13038-513: The wild The breeding of endangered species is coordinated by cooperative breeding programmes containing international studbooks and coordinators, who evaluate the roles of individual animals and institutions from a global or regional perspective, and there are regional programmes all over the world for the conservation of endangered species . In Africa, conservation is handled by the African Preservation Program (APP); in
13161-403: The world and many species such as elephants , big cats, penguins , tropical birds, primates, rhinos , exotic reptiles, and many others are in danger of dying out. Many of today's zoos hope to stop or slow the decline of many endangered species and see their primary purpose as breeding endangered species in captivity and reintroducing them into the wild. Modern zoos also aim to help teach visitors
13284-516: The world fight to protect species from going extinct , but many conservation programs are underfunded and under-represented. Conservation programs can struggle to fight bigger issues like habitat loss and illness. It often takes significant funding and long time periods to rebuild degraded habitats, both of which are scarce in conservation efforts. The current state of conservation programs cannot rely solely in situ (on-site conservation) plans alone, ex situ (off-site conservation) may therefore provide
13407-440: The year. When females gather, the males compete among each other for the right to mate, showing polygyny in males. The rutting male approaches the female in a lower bending posture, sniffing her vulva . The female may move slowly or react nervously. Even if the female flees, the male continues pursuing her steadily, without showing any sign of hurry. A receptive female will raise her head with her mouth wide open, following which
13530-546: The zoo has nursed and released six monk seals with the last two being released in 2019. In 2014 and after five weeks of rehabilitation in the zoo, a golden jackal was released in the protected area of the Moustos wetland . In January 2016 the zoo released a great white pelican at Lake Kerkini , and on November of the same year the zoo released multiple wader species in Missolonghi–Aitoliko lagoon . In June 2015
13653-537: The zoo opened a dolphinarium and added two male southern white rhinos , that came from Whipsnade Zoo in England . In 2005, the zoo began to run daily shows featuring birds of prey. In 2010 the zoo began shows with its newly installed dolphinarium showing sea-lions and dolphins. In February 2010, Atu, a zoo-born pygmy hippopotamus , that was born in February 2009, was transferred to Duisburg Zoo in Germany , after
13776-491: The zoo received three griffon vultures from ANIMA's rehabilitation facility, where they had arrived exhausted or poisoned. During their stay in the zoo, they were able to regain strength and reinforce their social behaviour, so as to be reintroduced successfully in the wild. on 19 November 2015, a team from Attica Zoological Park, in collaboration with ANIMA and the Natural History Museum of Crete , travelled to
13899-432: The zoos they can live out the rest of their lives healthy and happy (McGaffin). In recent years, some zoos have chosen to move out some larger animals because they do not have the space available to provide an adequate enclosure for them (Lemonic, McDowell, and Bjerklie 50). An issue with animal welfare in zoos is that best animal husbandry practices are often not completely known, especially for species that are only kept in
14022-571: Was and still is somewhat species-specific. When animals are transferred between zoos, they usually spend time in quarantine, and are given time to acclimatize to their new enclosures which are often designed to mimic their natural environment. For example, some species of penguins may require refrigerated enclosures. Guidelines on necessary care for such animals is published in the International Zoo Yearbook . Animal exchanges between facilities are usually made voluntarily, based on
14145-449: Was designed to cater for the large London population. The London zoo was widely copied as the archetype of the public city zoo. In 1853, the Zoo opened the world's first public aquarium . Dublin Zoo was opened in 1831 by members of the medical profession interested in studying animals while they were alive and more particularly getting hold of them when they were dead. Downs' Zoological Gardens created by Andrew Downs and opened to
14268-595: Was first used of the London Zoological Gardens , which was opened for scientific study in 1828, and to the public in 1847. The first modern zoo was the Tierpark Hagenbeck by Carl Hagenbeck in Germany . In the United States alone, zoos are visited by over 181 million people annually. The London Zoo , which was opened in 1828, was initially known as the "Gardens and Menagerie of the Zoological Society of London", and it described itself as
14391-431: Was founded by the zoo's owner and the park's co-owner at the time, Rudy Rallis. This organisation fights for the protection and conservation of Greek wildlife . Since its creation, PELARGOS has carried out a number of important projects in collaboration with some of the most respected and recognizable conservation organizations in Greece. Until recently PELARGOS was financed only by Attica Park's contributions, as dictated by
14514-622: Was in the Tower of London , created as early as 1204 by King John I . Henry III received a wedding gift in 1235 of three leopards from Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor , and in 1264, the animals were moved to the Bulwark, renamed the Lion Tower, near the main western entrance of the Tower. It was opened to the public during the reign of Elizabeth I in the 16th century. During the 18th century,
14637-566: Was initially reserved for the viewing pleasure of the imperial family and the court, but was made accessible to the public in 1765. In 1775, a zoo was founded in Madrid, and in 1795, the zoo inside the Jardin des Plantes in Paris was founded by Jacques-Henri Bernardin , with animals from the royal menagerie at Versailles, primarily for scientific research and education. The planning about a space for
14760-609: Was opened at the London Zoo in 1853. This was followed by the opening of public aquaria in continental Europe (e.g. Paris in 1859, Hamburg in 1864, Berlin in 1869, and Brighton in 1872) and the United States (e.g. Boston in 1859, Washington in 1873, San Francisco Woodward's Garden in 1873, and the New York Aquarium at Battery Park in 1896). Roadside zoos are found throughout North America , particularly in remote locations. They are often small, for-profit zoos, often intended to attract visitors to some other facility, such as
14883-580: Was revealed during excavations at Hierakonpolis , Egypt in 2009, of a c. 3500 BCE menagerie. The exotic animals included hippopotami , hartebeest , elephants , baboons and wildcats . King Ashur-bel-kala of the Middle Assyrian Empire created zoological and botanical gardens in the 11th century BCE. In the 2nd century BCE, the Chinese Empress Tanki had a "house of deer" built, and King Wen of Zhou kept
15006-496: Was the first exhibit in this area, from when the zoo was just a bird park. The aviary is home to 11 birds native to the Americas as a whole, but it mostly features birds from South America, such as scarlet ibises , Chiloé wigeons , southern screamers , wood ducks and guira cuckoos . There can be found also a big cage with mamy species of Macaws such as: Red-and-green macaw , Military macaw and Blue and gold macaw and also
15129-477: Was the world's first scientific zoo. Originally intended to be used as a collection for scientific study , it was opened to the public in 1847. The Zoo was located in Regent's Park —then undergoing development at the hands of the architect John Nash . What set the London zoo apart from its predecessors was its focus on society at large. The zoo was established in the middle of a city for the public, and its layout
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