Riga Zoo, Urban zoo in Mežaparks district, Riga, Latvia
Riga Zoo occupies about 20 hectares near Ķīšezers lake and houses approximately 4000 animals from about 500 species. The animals live in naturalistic enclosures organized by geographic regions from around the world.
The zoo was founded in 1908 and opened in 1912 with 267 animals as one of Northern Europe's oldest facilities. It survived both World Wars and developed into a leading wildlife protection center for the region.
The zoo works closely with local schools through programs that highlight Latvia's native animals and worldwide conservation efforts. Visitors can see how this educational focus shapes the place and matters to the community.
The zoo is open year-round, with the most visitors arriving during summer months when additional exhibitions and outdoor activities take place. Plan enough time to explore all areas comfortably and visit the various enclosures.
The zoo leads research expeditions to Vietnam that have contributed to discovering about ten new insect species. These findings add to international knowledge about exotic insect diversity.
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