I spent a very nice day in the Budapest Zoo. I have been there several times since my childhood but I am always impressed when I walk there. It was so this time too because I found some new things which were installed nowadays. Although it was a hot day, we enjoyed walking under the big trees, in the Japanese Garden and also through some vapour gates which are now installed due to the hot summer days.
The Budapest Zoo is more than 150 years old, it was founded in 1866 by János Xantus, Zoologist who was first director of the zoo.
Interesting fact the first giraffe was donated by Franz Joseph in 1868. There was a big improvent, new animals arrived and in 1876 opened the Lion House. Inspite of this the company went bankrupt in 1896. It was taken over by the capital city, Budapest in 1907 and it was closed until 1912 due to renovation works. After reopening it became one of the most beautiful and modern zoos in Europe.
Development stopped because of the First World War and the Zoo was totally destroyed during the Second World War. There were only 15 surviving animal species remained.
Construction works started in 1945, everything was renewed step by step in the following years. Time of modernization and development followed in the 1950s and 1960s.
The territory was enlarged and made to look more natural. In the meantime the Amusement Park closed and its territory was attached to the Zoo.
Nowadays there is significant expansion project called Liget Budapest Project.
According to original plans, Pannon Park will give back the flora and fauna that once existed in the Carpathian Basin.
Millions of years ago the climate in the territory was much warmer than today and, therefore, the animals and plants were completely different.
The central construction will be the biodom. You can see that consruction works are being done nowadays. A modern aquarium will be built here also. I really wonder how it will be and when it will open.
The Palm House offers a real tropical feeling with exotic animals and plants but you can also enjoy a tropical rain.
Most of the houses inside the Zoo are designed by Károly Kós but the main entrance and elephant house were planned by Kornél Neuschloss.
This building is really amazing! The roof is covered by Zsolnay ceramics.
It was really interesting that we could see how the snake ate more rabbits and one worker of the Zoo made a short introduction into the world of the snakes. Another show what we could reach was feeding of the wolverines.
We arrived in the morning and we left the Zoo at closing time! It was really a wonderful day!