Zürich Zoo, Zoo and science museum in Zürich, Switzerland
Zürich Zoo sits above the city on the Zürichberg in the Fluntern quarter, not at its foot, at 600 m above sea level. Its enclosures are grouped by ecosystem, with plants assigned to each habitat. The park lies on a slope, crossed by wide asphalt paths; only the nature trails are impassable for wheelchairs and strollers. The Asian elephant enclosure has a sandy floor, bare tree trunks and a walled pool, under a roof of curved white beams and triangular glass panels.
This institution opened in 1929 as a traditional animal park with compact enclosures. Between 1954 and 1973 zoologist Heini Hediger introduced reforms that shifted focus toward naturalistic habitats and improved living conditions for residents.
The zoo's first restaurant was named "Säntisblick" after the view of the Säntis, and the 1952 renaming of the tram terminus from Allmend Fluntern to Zoo was pushed through by the zoo itself. Since 1954, information boards known as Hediger boards, introduced under director Heini Hediger, give short facts on each species; many other zoos adopted the practice.
The grounds open at 9 in the morning every day, closing at 18:00 from March to October and at 17:00 from November through February. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes because the terrain includes slopes and extended walking paths throughout the site.
The Masoala Rainforest hall brings a Madagascar ecosystem indoors, allowing guests to experience tropical plants and animals year-round. Temperatures and humidity are controlled so lemurs and chameleons thrive among dense vegetation.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,645 contributors worldwide.
