Warsaw Zoo: past and present

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Warsaw Zoo is one of the oldest zoological gardens in Europe. During its history, it has gone through many difficult periods. However, even today this menagerie is one of the most popular places for tourists and locals to visit.

The history of the foundation of the zoo

The history of the Warsaw Zoo begins back in 1871 with a traveling animal exhibition. The zoo became stationary only fifty-eight years later, in 1929. The development of the zoological garden fell on the shoulders of the family of Jan and Antonina Zhabinsky. Jan was the first director of the zoo. Love for animals, caring for them soon made the zoo prosperous.

The Zhabinsky family not only successfully bred exotic animals, but also treated and nursed sick animals. They did it in their own house. A feature of the zoo was the regular presence of creative people there. Jan and Antonina were art connoisseurs and welcomed the concerts and exhibitions held within the walls of the zoo.

Occupation period

The idyll that reigned in the Warsaw Zoo was broken by World War II. The Zhabinskys faced severe trials. They themselves had to kill all the predators thatcould pose a threat to the safety of residents in the event of an escape during the bombing. The German invaders organized hunting in the zoo, killing those animals that were not considered valuable species. And valuable animals were transported to Germany. The few animals from the collection that remained intact soon became food for the starving inhabitants of Warsaw.

During the war, the zoo ceased to be a shelter for animals, but became a shelter for people. The Zhabinsky family helped partisans and Jews who escaped from the ghetto and sheltered them within the walls of the zoo and in their own house. During the years of the war, they managed to save more than three hundred human lives.

Zhabinsky became a symbol of selflessness and heroism far beyond Warsaw. Antonina described all the events experienced during the war years in her diaries and stories. Based on these diaries, the American writer D. Ackerman wrote the book "The Zookeeper's Wife". And in 2017, based on this book, a film called "The Zookeeper's Wife" was released.

Description of the zoo

Warsaw Zoo is located in a picturesque corner of the Polish capital on the right bank of the Vistula River. The area of the zoological garden is approximately forty hectares, which includes pavilions and open enclosures for animals. The zoo has preserved to this day the "House under the Roof", built in the years of foundation, where various exhibitions and conferences are held.

Warsaw Zoo today is not only a habitat for animals, but also a huge veterinary clinic. Zoo staff takesick animals unable to exist in their natural habitat. An interesting practice is to give animals under guardianship. Everyone can choose a pet and take care of it for a certain time.

The menagerie has taken all possible measures to make your visit as comfortable as possible. For example, visitors with children have the opportunity to take a special trolley in which you can carry a child. There is a restaurant and kiosks on site where you can buy sweets, pastries and soft drinks. You can relax in the zoo right on the lawn. Zoo employees are engaged in scientific activities, hold various conferences and lectures. The zoo also hosts children's holidays and contests, which are not only great entertainment for young visitors, but also help them get to know the animal world better, treat it with care and respect.

Zoo residents

In the days of its founding, five hundred species of animals were kept in the Warsaw Zoo. Currently, this collection has increased a thousand times. The unique object of the menagerie is the Free Flight Hall, where the feathered inhabitants of the zoo roam freely in an impromptu rainforest.

The Fairy Zoo exposition is a favorite place for children. Here are animals - popular characters of fairy tales. Under the supervision of zoo workers, young visitors have the opportunity to play and feed the animals. Parents also love this "fairytale corner", as they have time to relax on the lawn and enjoyscenery.

Serpentarium contains within its walls more than fifty species of various snakes, lizards, turtles. In addition, crocodiles and monitor lizards live there.

Visitor information

Address of the Warsaw Zoo: Warsaw, st. Town Hall (Ratuszowej), 1/3. You can get there both by bus and by private transport. The opening hours of the zoo depend on the time of year and weather conditions. Ticket prices are different for adults and children. In addition, once a month, pensioners are given the opportunity to enter for free.

The zoo is easy to navigate. For the convenience of visitors, information stands are placed around the entire perimeter of the garden. The inscriptions on the stands are in Polish. But the language barrier is not difficult, as all the information is accompanied by drawings of animals, helping to understand where this or that species is located.