Bratislava Zoo

Infobox zoo
zoo_name=ZOO Bratislava
logo=
logo_width=
logo_caption=

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image_width=250px
image_caption=White lion at ZOO Bratislava
date_opened=9 May 1960
date_closed=
location=Bratislava, Slovakia
area=96 ha
coordinates=coord|48|09|44|N|17|04|28|E|type:landmark_scale:2500
num_animals=1307 (2007)
num_species=152 (2007)
members=
exhibits=
website= [http://www.zoobratislava.sk ZOO Bratislava]

The ZOO Bratislava ( _sk. Zoologická záhrada Bratislava) is a zoo in Bratislava, Slovakia, in the borough of Karlova Ves. It lies in the Little Carpathians forest.

History

A proposal to establish a zoo in Bratislava first appeared in 1948. Two alternatives presented for the zoo's location: "Železná studienka" within the Bratislava Forest Park and Mlynská dolina. The latter was chosen as the place for the new zoo, although it was first planned to be used as a part of a cultural park on the Danube riverfront. [cite web | publisher = Bratislava Zoo | url = http://www.zoobratislava.sk/?historia | title = ZOO Bratislava - História (history) | accessdate = 19 May | accessyear = 2007 | language = Slovak] It was given an area of 9 ha, with a potential for expansion up to 90 ha. Construction began in 1959, and the zoo was officially opened on 9 May 1960. The zoo has undergone two major reductions, the first in 1981-1985, as a result of sewage system and motorway feeder construction, which reduced the area of the zoo to one-third, and the second in 2003, when construction for the D2 motorway access road to the Sitina Tunnel forced a relocation of the entrance gate. As of 2007, the zoo has an area of 96 ha, and is home to 1307 specimens of 152 animal species.

In 2006, the zoo received 203,000 visitors. [cite web | publisher = City of Bratislava | url = http://visit.bratislava.sk/en/vismo/dokumenty2.asp?id_org=700014&id=1040&p1=1810 | title = Visit Bratislava - Facts and Figures (opens a page with link to PDF file) | = Date = 2007 | accessdate = May 5 | accessyear = 2007]

References

External links

* [http://www.zoobratislava.sk/ Official website of ZOO Bratislava] sk icon
* [http://www.bratislavaguide.com/zoo-bratislava About ZOO Bratislava on the Bratislava Guide page]
* [http://www.bratislava.cdfoto.net/bazooen.htm Briefly about ZOO Bratislava with a lot of photographs]