Antwerp Zoo

A place that will be interesting to people of any age is the zoo, the zoological garden in Antwerp, not only a place of residence of various species, but also a monument of culture, architecture and history of the city. It is located in the immediate vicinity of the local train station, which also deserves special attention.

History

Antwerp Zoo is one of the oldest in Europe, ranked eighth. It was opened in 1843, when it occupied 10 times less space than it does now, and among its inhabitants were mostly goats and horses. The first director agreed to work on the condition that his collection of stuffed animals be placed on the territory. Over time, the territory expanded, birds, snakes and other inhabitants appeared in the zoo. Rich residents of the city donated funds and supported here, brought exotic animals. This is how tigers, hippos, numerous primates, snakes and other animals settled here.

At first, there were all kinds of troubles at the zoo. One day, a rhinoceros attacked and killed a guard, and another time, a pavilion burned down, in which more than 70 different monkeys were trapped. The tiger that escaped from the cage had to be shot so that no one was injured by the predator's paws. But all this did not prevent the zoo from continuing its existence.

Since its opening, the park has been open only to the nobility. The price for the ticket was very high, it was equal to the monthly salary of an ordinary worker. In addition, the distinguished guests did not want to walk along the same paths with ordinary people. Later, tickets were sold several times a week for a lower price, then there were more guests, at the same time, visits for school groups were introduced. In 1918, the Antwerp Zoo was opened to everyone.

The Second World War greatly affected both the city and the zoo, many animals died of starvation, others froze to death. The starving population slaughtered artiodactyls for food. With the end of the war, the Antwerp Zoo slowly but surely stopped and began to adhere to environmental principles. Great emphasis has been placed and is now being placed on the conservation and maintenance of rare species of animals and birds.

Attractions

The main pride of the park is its numerous inhabitants. Here they are presented in a very diverse way, besides, excellent conditions have been created for them.:

• A territory with hippos, tapirs and pelicans;
• The "Moorish temple" inhabited by rare Okapi;
• "Egyptian temple" with elephants and giraffes;
• "The Land of Frost: dedicated to fans of subzero temperatures, especially penguins;
• The "Primate House" comfortably accommodates a wide variety of species of monkeys;
• Sea lions live in the Aquaforum, and there are shows with their participation.

In addition to animals and birds, the Antwerp Zoo is known for its architecture. Many pavilions were built at the end of the 19th century and are still preserved in excellent condition. The oldest building is the entrance gate, which has been here since 1843.

You can walk along the paths and pavilions all day long. For those who are tired and want to refresh themselves, there are several themed cafes and restaurants. For those who want to admire the views, an observation deck with a height of 6 meters has been placed on the territory, from which a good view of the entire park opens.