Antwerp Zoo

Infobox zoo
zoo_name=Antwerp Zoo


image_width=200px
image_caption=Entrance gate of the Antwerp Zoo
date_opened=July 21 1843 (164 years old)
location=Antwerp, Belgium
area=
coordinates=coord|51|12|59|N|4|25|24|E|display=title|region:BE_type:landmark_source:nlwiki
num_animals=5000
num_species=950
members= 38,000
exhibits=
website=http://www.zooantwerpen.be

Antwerp Zoo (Dutch: "Zoo van Antwerpen") is a zoo in the centre of Antwerp, Belgium located right next to the Antwerpen-Centraal railway station. It is the oldest animal park in the country, established on July 21 1843.

History

Since its foundation, the park is controlled by "De Koninklijke Maatschappij voor Dierkunde van Antwerpen", a society originally called "Société 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 encourage zoological and botanical sciences. The first director was renowned zoologist and botanist Jacques Kets (November 10 1785-February 1 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.R.H. King Léopold I of Belgium. The predicate "Royal" was added to the name of the society on that occasion.

Throughout the years it has tried to encourage wildlife preservation through activities and exhibits on a recreational, educational, scientific and cultural level.

In the first period of its existence, the area of the park grew from less than 2 hectares to more than 10 hectares. Notable buildings from that period are the Egyptian temple (1856) and the antelope building (1861) in Oriental style, which now houses the okapis.

The zoo has also a cultural function. Originally, concerts where held in the garden. Later symphonic concerts where organized. The museum building was demolished to build a concert hall. The museum collections were moved to the second floor.

After the second world war, the animal park was turned into a model zoo which conformed to new and modern scientific, educational, cultural and aesthetic standards. The animal compounds were enlarged with more light. Buildings from this period include the primate building (1958), the big jubileum complex, established on the occasion of the 125-year anniversary together with the nocturama (1968), which houses the nocturnal animals. The jubileum complex houses birds of prey and the sea lions. In 1973 a brand-new compound for reptilians was 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 called "zoo classes" in 1969. Around the same time, planetarium exhibits were installed.

On January 1 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 subantarctic penguins and Alaskan sea otters. In spring 1999 the elephant compound was expanded. In 2003 a lot of animals, including hippos, Malayan tapirs and a number of swamp birds received a new home in "Hippotopia".The Antwerp zoo is also one of the leading zoo's in the world in case of science and education.

In 2007 the Antwerp Zoo has won a price as the 'most romantic and best preserved 19th century zoo', because of the beautiful garden and old architecture like the Egyptian temple (1856), Bird house, Aquarium, Reptile house, Hippo house and more.Fact|date=June 2007

Animals

, Antwerp Zoo houses over 5,000 animals of about 950 species. They get nearly 1.5 million visitors each year and have around 38,000 supporting members.Fact|date=September 2007

Most notable species in the park include:
*Penguins: King Penguin, Rockhoppers and Gentoo Penguins
*Sea lions with a special show
*Crocodiles in the old reptilian building, built in 1904 and renovated in 1974 and 2006.

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, 4000 litres of milk, 23,000 eggs and 10,000 loaves of bread.

The zoo used to have a dolphinarium. 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. At the end of the 1990s, the two dolphins were relocated to the Duisburg Zoo in Germany. The old aquariums now hold sea lions, which are much less demanding.

Architecture and garden

The Antwerp Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world, established in 1843. Much buildings are very well preserved. Some of them got a new function throughout the years.

* Entrance of the zoo (1843)
* Egyptian temple (1856)
* Moor temple (1885): it still houses Okapi's. The Antwerp Zoo was the world's first zoo with Okapi's in 1919.
* Bird building (1948)
* Nocturama (1968)
* Reptile building (1973): this buildings looks like a Greek temple
* Winter garden (1897): a tropical greenhouse

In the beginning a day trip to the zoo was only for people of the higher social class. It's a reason why the zoo after all those years still has a beautiful garden. In 2007 the zoo has won a price to be 'the most romantic and best preserved 19th century zoo'.On January 1 1983 the entire park (architecture and garden) were classified as a monument.

Breeding programmes

Antwerp Zoo has played its role in preservation and breeding programmes for several endangered species like the okapi, the Przewalski horse, the Congo Peafowl, the bonobo, the golden-headed lion tamarin, the European otter, and others. They take part in the European Endangered Species Programme.

Center for Research and Conservation (CRC)

The Center for Research and conservation is an important research department of the Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp. 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 the Antwerp Zoo, at the Wild Animal Park Planckendael, in other zoos and associated institutions, and in situ in Cameroon with the Projet Grands Singes, in Brazil with BioBrasil, and in the RZSA's own wetland nature reserve "De Zegge" in Belgium. For all research fields, we combine strictly zoo-related research and fundamental research, and we report 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 center also receives money from the Flemish Government. In 2006 the Center for Research and Conservation of the Antwerp Zoo has won the 'EAZA Research Award'.

Affiliated parks and domains

* In 1952, the society in control of the zoo bought the nature preserve, "De Zegge" in Geel, because nature preservation is an important part of its mission statement. It is an area that spans 96 ha and receives international wildlife protection.
* In 1956 the same society bought the "Domein Planckendael" in Muizen, near Mechelen. It covers an area of 40 ha and has become a full-grown animal park.

External links

* [http://www.zooantwerpen.be Official website] (in Dutch and French)
* [http://www.planckendael.be Website of domain Planckendael (in Dutch and French)]
* [http://webh01.ua.ac.be/crc/ Center for Research and Conservation]