Antwerp Zoo

Antwerp Zoo
Entrance gate of the Antwerp Zoo
51°12′59″N4°25′24″E
Date opened	21 July 1843 (181 years old)
Location	Antwerp,Belgium
No.of animals	5000
No.of species	950
Annual visitors	1,100,100
Memberships	38,000
Website	http:// zooantwerpen.be

Antwerp Zoo(Dutch:ZOO Antwerpen) is azooin the centre ofAntwerp,Belgium,located next to theAntwerpen-Centraal railway station.It is the oldest animal park in the country, and one of the oldest in the world, established on 21 July 1843.

History

Founder's share of the Antwerp Zoo, issued 23 July 1843

Since its foundation, the park has been controlled byDe Koninklijke Maatschappij voor Dierkunde van Antwerpen,a society originally calledSociété Royale de Zoologie d'Anvers(The Antwerp Royal Society for Zoology). This also became the popular nickname for the zoo, "De Zoologie". The initial objective was to encouragezoologicalandbotanicalsciences. Its first director was renowned zoologist and botanist Jacques Kets (10 November 1785 – 1 February 1865). He accepted this position on one condition: a museum had to be built to house his nature-historical collections. This building was inaugurated in 1844 by H.M. KingLeopold I.The predicateRoyalwas added to the name of the society on that occasion.

Throughout the years, it has encouragedwildlife preservationthrough activities and exhibits on a recreational, educational, scientific, and cultural level.

In its early years, the size of the park grew from less than 1.59 hectares (3.9 acres) to more than 10.5 hectares (26 acres). Notable buildings from that period are the Egyptian temple (1856) and the antelope building (1861) in Oriental style, which now houses theokapis.

The zoo has also a cultural function. Originally, concerts were held in the garden of the zoo. The museum building was demolished to build a concert hall. The hall then became the residence of theAntwerp Symphony Orchestra,the symphonic orchestra of Flanders. The museum collections were moved to the second floor.

For the1920 Summer Olympics,a specially built stadium at the Zoo's zoology hall hosted thebo xingandwrestlingevents.

AfterWorld War II,the animal park was turned into a model zoo which conformed to new and modern scientific, educational, cultural andaestheticstandards. The animal compounds were enlarged and admitted more light. Buildings from this period include theprimatebuilding (1958) and the big jubileum complex, established on the occasion of the 125-year anniversary together with the nocturama (1968), which houses thenocturnalanimals. The jubileum complex housesbirds of preyand thesea lions.In 1973 a new compound forreptilianswas built, and in 1978 a new building for smaller species of monkeys. The older primate building was renovated in 1989. To support its educational mission, the zoo started with group tours and special educational programmes calledzoo classesin 1969. Around the same time,planetariumexhibits were installed.

On 1 January 1983, the animal park was classified as a monument. Ten years later, its 150th anniversary was celebrated. In 1997, Vriesland (Freezeland) was opened. It houses subantarcticpenguinsand in the past also Alaskan sea otters. In spring 1999, theelephantcompound was expanded. In 2003, many animals, includinghippos,Malayan tapirs,and a number of swamp birds received a new home in Hippotopia.

Giant pangolin in Antwerp Zoo, 1940, Touring Club Italiano

Animals and exhibits

Siberian tiger at Antwerp Zoo

Theking penguinsare housed in a refrigerated compartment.

Flamingo enclosure in the Antwerp zoo

Together with its sister park Planckendael, Antwerp Zoo houses over 7,000 animals of about 950 species. Over 1.6 million people visit the zoo and Planckendael each year, and the zoo has around 200,000 supporting members.

Some exhibits and species in the park include:

• Vriesland withking penguins,macaroni penguins,andgentoo penguins.A couple ofsea ottershas also lived here, but they were replaced by seals after the last one died.
• Aquaforum withCalifornia sea lions,used to house bottlenose dolphins up to 1999.
• Reptile house, renovated in 2005 with many species ofsnakes,lizards,turtles,andfrogs,as well ascaimans
• The over a century old renovated aquarium, with renovations completed in 2015, housing many species of saltwater and freshwater fish
• Savannah aviary withAfrican buffalosand several bird species includingguineafowl,ibisesandAbdim's storks
• Egyptian temple withAsian elephants,Hartmann's mountain zebrasandgiraffes,
• Aviaries and bird house with many birds species includingmilitary macaws,turacos,toucans,peafowls,pheasantsand a large collection ofSongbirds.
• Hippotopia withhippopotamus,malayan tapirs,dalmatian pelicans,Coypuand a couple of bird species
• Bearcanyon withspectacled bears,andcoatis
• Cat enclosures withAmur leopard,lionandjaguar
• Flemish garden
• Kangaroo house withkoalasand atree-kangaroo
• Moorish temple withokapis
• Monkey house withguereza,owl-faced monkey,javan lutung,emperor tamarin,black-headed spider monkey,golden-headed lion tamarin,pygmy marmoset,mandrill,Ring-tailed lemurandBlack Lemur
• Ape house withchimpanzees,western lowland gorillasand the world's onlyeastern lowland gorillain captivity outside of Africa.
• Birds of prey includingsnowy owl,spectacled owl,crested caracara,Keaand severalvultures
• Other enclosures featuringharbour seal,bongo,meerkat,red panda,North American porcupine,American flamingoandAfrican penguin

All the animals in the zoo and Planckendael combined consume about 41 tons of fish, 52 tons of meat, 37 tons of apples, 36 tons of carrots, 128 tons of hay, 4,000 litres of milk, 23,000 eggs, and 10,000 loaves of bread [in what period?].

The zoo used to have adolphinariumcalled the Aquaforum. At the time of its building, one of the most modern of its kind. Over the years, however, the infrastructure was considered far too small and dated. The zoo's urban location prevented any expansion and meant the society could not build a new one. In 1999 the twodolphinswere relocated to theDuisburg ZooinGermanybecause of the new national standards for exhibits, with the exhibit too shallow to keep housing dolphins. The Aquaforum now holdsea lions,which are much less demanding.

Architecture and garden

Enclosure for mandrils

Antwerp Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world, established in 1843. Many buildings are very well preserved. Some of them have received new functions throughout the years.

• Entrance of the zoo (1843)
• Egyptian temple (1856)
• Moor temple (1885): it still housesokapis.Antwerp Zoo became the world's first zoo with okapis in 1918.
• Bird building (1948)
• Nocturama (1968)
• Reptile building (1901): this building looks like a Greek temple.
• Aquarium (1910): designed by Emile Thielens.
• Winter garden (1897): a tropical greenhouse.

On 1 January 1983 the entire park (architecture and garden) was listed as a monument.

Breeding programmes

Antwerp Zoo has played its role in preservation andbreeding programmesfor severalendangered species,including the okapi, thePrzewalski horse,theCongo peafowl,thebonobo,thegolden-headed lion tamarin,theEuropean otter,and theKnysna seahorse.They take part in theEuropean Endangered Species Programme.

Centre for Research and Conservation

The Centre for Research and Conservation (CRC) is an important research department of the Royal Zoological Society ofAntwerp.The CRC is not a separate research institute, but is very much embedded in the structure and functioning of the society. Research takes place at Antwerp Zoo, at the Wild Animal Park Planckendael, in other zoos and associated institutions, in situ inCameroonwith the Projet Grands Singes, inBrazilwith BioBrasil, and in the RZSA's own wetland nature reserve "De Zegge" in Belgium. For all research fields, the CRC combines strictly zoo-related research and fundamental research, and reports to scientists in peer reviewed journals as well as to the general public. The conservation of wildlife and their natural habitat is very important for the CRC. The centre also receives money from the Flemish Government. In 2006 the Centre for Research and Conservation of Antwerp Zoo has won theEAZAResearch Award.

Affiliated parks and domains

• In 1952, the society in control of the zoo bought thenature preserveDe Zegge inGeel,because nature preservation is an important part of its mission statement. It is an area that spans 96 hectares (240 acres) and receives international wildlife protection.
• In 1956, the same society bought the DomeinPlanckendaelin Muizen, nearMechelen.It covers an area of 40 hectares (99 acres) and has become a full-grown animal park.

External links

• Official website(in Dutch and French)
• Website of domain Planckendael (in Dutch and French)
• Center for Research and Conservation
• List of animals of Zoo Antwerp