Zürich Zoo, Zoo and science museum in Zürich, Switzerland
This institution covers 27 hectares on the lower slopes of Zürichberg, housing 380 animal species in enclosures shaped to resemble their native environments. Exhibits range from open savannah landscapes to dense forest sections where inhabitants move freely within spacious zones.
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 name honors the city where this institution has become part of local identity over decades of operation. Visitors walk through settings designed to mirror distant ecosystems, bringing wildlife from other continents into close view for Swiss families and travelers.
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.
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