Riga Zoo, Urban zoo in Mežaparks district, Riga, Latvia
Riga Zoo is a zoo in the Mežaparks district, situated near the shore of Lake Ķīšezers. The animals are housed in enclosures organized by geographic regions of the world.
The zoo was founded in 1908 and opened its gates in 1912 with an initial collection of animals. It survived both World Wars and is now considered one of the oldest zoos in Northern Europe.
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 all year, but summer brings the widest range of outdoor activities and temporary exhibitions. Allow plenty of time for your visit, as the grounds are large and best explored on foot at a relaxed pace.
The zoo's research team has led expeditions to Vietnam and discovered around ten insect species previously unknown to science. It is unusual for a zoo in Northern Europe to be directly involved in field discovery of new species in Southeast Asia.
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