Skopje Zoo
Encyclopedia
The Skopje Zoo is a 12 hectares (29.7 acre) zoo in Gradski Park, Skopje
, Macedonia
. It is home to about 300 animals representing 56 species.
Over the years the zoo received much criticism for the living conditions of its animals. The only elephant ever held by the zoo died at age 23 less than a year after being transferred from the Belgrade Zoo
, and the chronically depressed lone Chimpanzee Koko was transferred to the AAP Primate Sanctuary in 2009.
However, in 2008 the City allocated Denar 42 million in funds to improve the zoo, and the zoo started working with the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria
(EAZA) to improve conditions and bring the zoo up to modern standards. By 2010, 18 new enclosures had been built, 85% of the older exhibits at the zoo had been renovated, and the zoo was a candidate member of the EAZA.
s and giraffe
s (financed by the city), as well as build a new chimpanzee enclosure so that Koko can return home.
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
, Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
. It is home to about 300 animals representing 56 species.
History
The zoo was founded in 1926 by a three member commission led by Stanko Karaman. When it opened, the zoo covered only 4 hectares (9.9 acre), and exhibited only a few animals which it had received as gifts. With a decision by the Skopje city council in 1965, and the new town zoning in 1966, the zoo was expanded to its current size.Over the years the zoo received much criticism for the living conditions of its animals. The only elephant ever held by the zoo died at age 23 less than a year after being transferred from the Belgrade Zoo
Belgrade Zoo
Belgrade Good Hope Garden is the zoo in Belgrade situated at the very center of the city, in the Kalemegdan park. It was founded in 1936.It covers an area of , and has 2,000 animals of 270 species, and beside wild animals it abounds in domestic animals too....
, and the chronically depressed lone Chimpanzee Koko was transferred to the AAP Primate Sanctuary in 2009.
However, in 2008 the City allocated Denar 42 million in funds to improve the zoo, and the zoo started working with the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria
European Association of Zoos and Aquaria
-External links:*...
(EAZA) to improve conditions and bring the zoo up to modern standards. By 2010, 18 new enclosures had been built, 85% of the older exhibits at the zoo had been renovated, and the zoo was a candidate member of the EAZA.
The future
The zoo plans to build new enclosures for elephantElephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
s and giraffe
Giraffe
The giraffe is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest of all extant land-living animal species, and the largest ruminant...
s (financed by the city), as well as build a new chimpanzee enclosure so that Koko can return home.