Nyíregyháza Zoo
Encyclopedia
The Nyíregyháza Zoo is located 5 km (approx 3.3 miles) north of Nyíregyháza
, Hungary
in the Sóstó recreation area which also includes the beach, the spa, the pool, the open air museum and the wood parks.
The zoo lies in a natural, almost untouched birch forest. In the 30 hectare area of the zoo the visitors find themselves in continents, so that one that enters can walk along them to observe how the animals live in certain parts of the world. The visitors can have some rest in Hotel Dzsungel (Hotel Jungle).
At the time of its opening, its main purpose was to exhibit the species of Hungary and the Pannonian Basin
. It has a unique exhibition system in which the giant exhibits are separated from the paths with ditches filled with water. Some European species were replaced with their close relatives, such as there are American bisons exhibited instead of those found in Europe. The greatest spectacles of that time were the European carnivores, the bears and the timber wolves substituting their European relatives. But as usual, the number of visitors decreased due to the lack of exotic animals.
The year 1996 brought a breakthrough to the zoo. This year, the new director László Gajdos took up his duties in the park and decided to create a real zoo in Nyíregyháza. János Szánthó received the rank of deputy manager. As life was not easy those days, Szánthó personally brought up a number of smaller animals.
In this year the redenomination of the zoo has occurred. It received a new name “Nyíregyházi Állatpark” (however some may still call it by its older name, Vadaspark, incorrectly). László Gajdos and his team has since come up with new ideas every year. The Állatpark is the reachest zoo in mammals (especially primates and pachyderms) in Hungary. The once 14 hectare area is now 32 hectares large and instead of the former couple of dozens of animals today the specimens of approximately 320 species can be seen by the visitors. It has grown out to be the biggest animal collection in the country. The zoo is member of the Hungarian Association of Zoos (MÁSZ), the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria
(EAZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(WAZA).
A short summary what have happened since 1996:
Nyíregyháza
- Tourist sights :Nyíregyháza also has several museums and exhibitions, showing the city's rich cultural heritage.* Collection of the International Medallion Art and Small Sculpture Creative Community of Nyíregyháza-Sóstó – periodic exhibitions of works of contemporary artists-Twin towns — Sister...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
in the Sóstó recreation area which also includes the beach, the spa, the pool, the open air museum and the wood parks.
The zoo lies in a natural, almost untouched birch forest. In the 30 hectare area of the zoo the visitors find themselves in continents, so that one that enters can walk along them to observe how the animals live in certain parts of the world. The visitors can have some rest in Hotel Dzsungel (Hotel Jungle).
History
Nyíregyháza Zoo was opened in 1974 under the name “Nyíregyházi Vadaspark” (Wild Park of Nyíregyháza). It was given place 5 km from Nyíregyháza in the Sóstó recreation area in a 14 hectare birch forest. It is owned and sponsored by the local government of Sóstó-Nyíregyháza, therefore the park's other name “Sóstó Zoo” is still in use.At the time of its opening, its main purpose was to exhibit the species of Hungary and the Pannonian Basin
Pannonian Basin
The Pannonian Basin or Carpathian Basin is a large basin in East-Central Europe.The geomorphological term Pannonian Plain is more widely used for roughly the same region though with a somewhat different sense - meaning only the lowlands, the plain that remained when the Pliocene Pannonian Sea dried...
. It has a unique exhibition system in which the giant exhibits are separated from the paths with ditches filled with water. Some European species were replaced with their close relatives, such as there are American bisons exhibited instead of those found in Europe. The greatest spectacles of that time were the European carnivores, the bears and the timber wolves substituting their European relatives. But as usual, the number of visitors decreased due to the lack of exotic animals.
The year 1996 brought a breakthrough to the zoo. This year, the new director László Gajdos took up his duties in the park and decided to create a real zoo in Nyíregyháza. János Szánthó received the rank of deputy manager. As life was not easy those days, Szánthó personally brought up a number of smaller animals.
In this year the redenomination of the zoo has occurred. It received a new name “Nyíregyházi Állatpark” (however some may still call it by its older name, Vadaspark, incorrectly). László Gajdos and his team has since come up with new ideas every year. The Állatpark is the reachest zoo in mammals (especially primates and pachyderms) in Hungary. The once 14 hectare area is now 32 hectares large and instead of the former couple of dozens of animals today the specimens of approximately 320 species can be seen by the visitors. It has grown out to be the biggest animal collection in the country. The zoo is member of the Hungarian Association of Zoos (MÁSZ), the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria
European Association of Zoos and Aquaria
-External links:*...
(EAZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums is the "umbrella" organisation for the world zoo and aquarium community. Its mission is to provide leadership and support for zoos, aquariums, and partner organizations of the world in animal care and welfare, conservation of biodiversity, environmental...
(WAZA).
A short summary what have happened since 1996:
- 1996: 1996 was the year of African species. The exhibit of lions was finished and the biggest exhibit of the country was opened with the name Afrika Panoráma (Africa Panorama), where zebras, ostriches, common elands and wildebeests are cohabited. The aviary was also completed this year, which gives places to the richest parrot and cockatoo collection in Hungary. The exhibit for the tiger also opened this year.
- 1997: The expansion of the zoo was continued. The llama and the kangaroo exhibit opened for the public and the constructions on the giraffe shelter finished. The giraffe couple coming from the zoo of Emmen of the Netherlands gave birth to a baby in the same year.
- 1998: More and more species are given place in the zoo, some of them are real curiosity. Uniquely in Hungary, the parrots lay eggs throughout the year, and a number a scarce antelope calves are given birth (including waterbuckWaterbuckThe Waterbuck is a large antelope found widely in Sub-Saharan Africa.Waterbuck stand at the shoulder. Males weigh and females . Their coats are reddish brown in colour and become progressively darker with age; they have a white 'bib' under their throats and white on their rumps...
s and black wildebeestBlack WildebeestThe Black Wildebeest or White-tailed Gnu is one of two wildebeest species. The natural populations of this species, endemic to the southern part of Africa, have been almost completely exterminated, but the species has been reintroduced widely, both in private areas and nature reserves throughout...
s). New species arrived to the zoo, the most interesting of which include skunkSkunkSkunks are mammals best known for their ability to secrete a liquid with a strong, foul odor. General appearance varies from species to species, from black-and-white to brown or cream colored. Skunks belong to the family Mephitidae and to the order Carnivora...
s and red kangarooRed KangarooThe Red Kangaroo is the largest of all kangaroos, the largest mammal native to Australia, and the largest surviving marsupial. It is found across mainland Australia, avoiding only the more fertile areas in the south, the east coast, and the northern rainforests.-Description:This species is a very...
s coming from Budapest. - 1999: The zoo became the first provincial zoo to provide a sealPinnipedPinnipeds or fin-footed mammals are a widely distributed and diverse group of semiaquatic marine mammals comprising the families Odobenidae , Otariidae , and Phocidae .-Overview: Pinnipeds are typically sleek-bodied and barrel-shaped...
exhibit, where the visitors can inspect the swim of calves as well. The constructions of the rhinocerosRhinocerosRhinoceros , also known as rhino, is a group of five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of these species are native to Africa and three to southern Asia....
shelter started this year too. - 2000: The first saltwater aquarium in the countryside opened in 2000 in Hungary. Its most important animal among many others is a requiem shark.
- 2001: The exhibit and aviary for European animals was rebuilt and was denominated as Magyar Őspark (Hungarian Primeval Park). Besides the animals a little open air museum was given place. The most interesting novelty is the long-desired European bison.
- 2002: The opening of the Tropical House occurred. A portion of sharks and monkeys were moved to the newly-built house, of course the collection was completed with new species. The most precious inhabitants of the building are the Bornean OrangutanBornean OrangutanThe Bornean orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus, is a species of orangutan native to the island of Borneo. Together with the slightly smaller Sumatran orangutan, it belongs to the only genus of great apes native to Asia....
s. The open air portion of the house was also opened in the same year which gives place to the Monkey Forest and the Mediterranean Garden. - 2003: Around the former seal exhibit Polar panorama was built. Penguins and polar bears are exhibited for the first time in provincial Hungary.
- 2004: The educational hall is built, which has since been closed. The wax museum presenting the evolution of humankind also opened that year. The sensation of the year is the arrival of the white tigerWhite tigerThe white tiger is a recessive mutant of the Bengal tiger, which was reported in the wild from time to time in Assam, Bengal, Bihar and especially from the former State of Rewa.-Color comparison:...
. - 2005: Finally the first pachyderm, a young male white rhinocerosWhite RhinocerosThe White Rhinoceros or Square-lipped rhinoceros is one of the five species of rhinoceros that still exist. It has a wide mouth used for grazing and is the most social of all rhino species...
arrived. The Siberian tigers and the Kamchatka brown bears got a larger exhibit. - 2006: The year of pachyderms. The new lion exhibit was built and the pygmy hippopotamus and elephant houses were finished. Two white rhinoceros and one pygmy hippo cows arrived along with three African elephants and two Indian rhinos. The constructions of Hungary's first in-zoo hotel's, Hotel Dzsungel (Hotel Jungle) also finished in the same year.
- 2007: An exhibit was built for the zoo's California sea lions. The birth of the first Hungarian-born African elephant calf, named Jumanee, occurred this year.
- 2008: The South America House (Dél-Amerika Ház) opened for the public. Its most precious inhabitant is Pedro, the tapir. Moreover dromedaries, moose and Grévy's zebras were introduced.
- 2009: New spectacled and sun bears arrived together with three Indian elephants and the white lion. The construction of a great project started in 2009. The Green Pyramid (Zöld Piramis) which now introduces visitors into the mysterious world of Asia. As another part of the same project Tarzan's path was opened which provides its visitors an African adventure. The constructions of the Indonesian Ocenarium and Rainforest House began in 2009 too.
- 2010: The whole project of year 2009 opened for the public in 2010. Komodo dragons, pufferfish, triggerfish, a number of sharks (reef sharks, grey nurse sharks also known as sand tiger sharks), a 6 party orangutan family and a siamang arrived. Marmosets (now there are 18), the first Cameroon goat kids, a dromedary and tortoises were given birth during the year.