Košice Zoological garden

The largest zoo by the area in Slovakia and one of the largest not only in Europe but also in the world. The first proposal is a zoo of 1974, the construction began in 1979 and the zoo was opened to the public till after 7 years (1986). (even before that, in 1985, an external vivarium at the House of Pioneers and Youth was opened, it was later gradually moved to the zoo - see Vivárium Zoo Košice). Initial exhibitions of the zoo were only on 7 ha area and with ​​only 23 species of animals (mostly domestic and local species - the first were hucul horses). The zoo was built in Action Z (see below - *1) and to some extent was a megalomaniacal excess of communism - a huge area with possibility of enlargement perhaps up to 400 or even 600 ha, a huge building plans (in the original master plan there was for example also huge hotel, a veterinary hospital, gigantic almost half-hectare administrative building, six public education halls...), it was counted with daily attendance of 16,000 people... Really even more megalomaniacal and gigantic plans then in Bratislava some years ago (see Zoo Bratislava). The construction was divided into 3 stages, the last had be finished in 2005.

The Zoo gained an excellent grounds (the city and almost no buildings are not to see from here to this day - only forest and mountains in the background) and also internal infrastructure (the first were built roads and networks, including street lighting), however the vast majority of original giga-intentions was never realized. Expositions are only on 46 ha only. The original temporary entrance and administration (although partially reconstructed) still stands. However the zoo still struggling especially with another shortcoming of the then excessive communist behaviour... Roughly a third of the zoo was build on once nationalized lands, which had to be restituted later!!! Many current buildings and exhibitions is burdened by the easement, some land disputes are not resolved still, so that a continuous area for a significant construction missing in the main part, reconstruction of many objects are not possible and the zoo have to allow access for many people to their lands through the zoo area (the zoo was created on the then only access road). A very difficult situation, but still the zoo is slowly rising and evolving, especially in last years. In 2002, it enrolled in the Guinness Book of Records with born quintuplets of brown bear.

Lions, tigers, lynxes, servals, bears, wolves, meerkats, macaques, capuchins, guenons, lemurs, tamarins, antelopes, chamois, zebras, kulans, Przewalski horses, deer, camels, llamas, mouflons, Barbary sheep, tahres, takins, bisons, kangaroos, capybaras, ostriches, emus, rheas, cranes, raptors, owls, parrots, hornbills, pheasants, pelicans, flamingos, herons, penguins, waterfowl, reptiles, fish and invertebrates. Previously, for example also pygmy hippos, seals, hyenas etc.

*1 - Action Z (Initiative Z) = unpaid work of ordinary citizens in times of communism in Czechoslovakia - it was officially voluntary work (in fact, often under duress) in spheres where the Socialist government did not manage because of financial reasons or because of bad planning (Z = zvelebování = beautification or improvement).