Spend a day at Zurich Zoo

Zurich Zoo, one of the largest in Europe (covering 27 hectares), was founded in 1929. It really took off in the mid-20th century, under the direction of Heini Hediger (who invented information panels and the mixing of species in enclosures), when the park was recognised for its scientific approach to species preservation. Its management and enrichment programmes now serve as examples for many other parks.

Zurich Zoo is committed to an ethical approach aimed at respecting wildlife. It adheres to the principles of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) World Conservation Strategy for Zoos and Aquariums. The establishment also supports programmes in Switzerland and abroad aimed at conserving species and preserving habitats. Finally, in the scientific field, Zurich Zoo cooperates closely with an international network of universities, in particular with the University of Zurich and zoos.

To illustrate this important preservation work, we could cite the case of a female snow leopard, who was rescued in 2002 from a black market in Kyrgyzstan by an anti-poaching organisation. Zurich Zoo took her in and succeeded in getting her to mate with a male. In 2014, two leopard cubs were born, "Okara" and "Orya", and a year later they left the Zoo to take part in European and American conservation programmes for this endangered species. The zoo can congratulate itself on this success in preserving the species, as there are currently around 5,000 snow leopards still living in the wild.

More than 4,000 animals are present in the zoo, in different ecosystems designed to be as close as possible to their various natural habitats. The oldest resident is Nigrita, a giant tortoise from the Galapagos Islands. She is over 70 years old and has lived at Zurich Zoo since 1946.

Visitors to Zurich Zoo can discover a wide range of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish in 7 different sections. There are also picnic areas, play areas, kiosks and three restaurants along the way. For your information, a small train shuttles visitors between the main entrance, the Maosala jungle and the elephant park.

The first four areas of the zoo will resemble those found in other establishments of the same kind:

• The Aquarium: This features 700 fish in eight large basins, each with its own living area. The penguin enclosure is also close to the aquarium. Depending on the season, you may be lucky enough to see their famous parade!

• Mongolian steppe: Camels, yaks and Kashmir goats live here.

• Pantanal: In this area, which reproduces the South American climate, you'll find a whole host of animals with exotic names: capybaras, sapajous, anteaters, etc.

• Zoolino: This area has been specially designed for the very young. Hold on tight: they'll be able to touch and cuddle farm animals. Dwarf goats, pigs... enough to keep them on their toes for a while!

The other three parts of the zoo, which are much larger and more ambitious, will take longer to visit than the others. These are the rainforest, the elephant park and the African savannah, the park's latest addition.

Covering an area the size of two football pitches, you'll find a huge recreation of the Madagascan jungle on the Masoala peninsula! You're sure to be impressed by this space, which plunges you right into the middle of a tropical atmosphere: trees galore, humidity and heat are the order of the day! The path through the trees leads to an observatory offering a bird's eye view of the rainforest. From the pedestal, you'll have the chance to spot geckos, turtles, snakes, parrots, toucans, giant tortoises, bats and many other rainforest inhabitants.

In the spring of 2014, Zurich Zoo inaugurated the Kaeng Krachan Park, a grandiose installation that gives the zoo's six Asian elephants the opportunity to live a free existence, close to their everyday lives in the wild. The six pachyderms are free to move, come and go in search of food, swim and play. The zoo has even created an underwater viewing facility. So when the elephants 'dip' into the pools, you can watch their gigantic bodies move. A sort of elephant aquarium, in short. It's a truly breathtaking sight to see!

However, even though our six friends love the water (they often swim to regulate their temperature), you have to be there at the right time to see them take a 'plunge'. For this reason, the keepers come at certain times to encourage them with treats. We recommend that you consult the zoo's schedule of events.

When the zoo reopened following the Coronavirus pandemic in June 2020, it was able to officially inaugurate its new area: the Lewa savannah. This is a unique facility in Switzerland. At 5.6 hectares, the savannah is the largest area in the zoo. It is home to 18 species from Africa, including giraffes, rhinoceroses and zebras, all frolicking in a gigantic open space dotted with baobab trees. Numerous signposts line the route, informing visitors about the Lewa nature conservation project in Kenya.