Zürich Zoologischer Garten

Zürich Zoologischer Garten, widely known as Zoo Zurich, is a significant zoological park located in Zurich, Switzerland. Established in 1929, it holds the distinction of being the third oldest zoo in the country. The zoo has evolved considerably since its inception, with a notable masterplan introduced in 1992 that aimed to double its area by 2020 and shift the focus from displaying individual animals to showcasing entire ecosystems. This plan involved redesigning enclosures and dividing the zoo into distinct geographical zones representing Eurasia, South America, and Africa/Madagascar, allowing animals more space and opportunities to retreat from public view.

By its seventy-fifth anniversary, Zoo Zurich had amassed a substantial collection, housing approximately 2,200 specimens across 300 different species. Among its most celebrated attractions are the Asian elephant exhibit and the expansive Masoala Hall, both housed within a distinctive large dome. The zoo has also garnered international recognition for its successful conservation efforts. It is particularly renowned as the first and only European institution to have successfully bred Galápagos tortoises, subsequently sending young tortoises to over two dozen other zoos. Furthermore, Zoo Zurich played a role in scientific discovery when, in 2005, it identified a new species of lemur, the Goodman mouse lemur, from a group previously thought to be mouse lemurs.

Despite its successes, the zoo experienced international headlines in July 2020 due to a tragic incident where a Siberian tiger mauled a zookeeper to death. The zoo is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), underscoring its commitment to global zoological standards and cooperation. The current director of Zoo Zurich is Severin Dressen, who succeeded Heini Hediger, a prominent zoologist who directed the zoo from 1954 to 1973.