Bioparco di Roma is a 17-hectare (42-acre) zoological garden located on part of the original Villa Borghese estate in Rome, Italy. There are 1,114 animals of 222 species maintained.
The zoo was conceived in 1908 to hold exotic animal species for exhibition. Unlike other zoos at the time, which mainly existed for scientific purposes, this zoo was designed to entertain and amuse people. The zoo covered 12 hectares (30 acres) and was erected in the northern part of the Villa Borghese estate; it opened on 5 January 1911.
Share of the Giardino Zoologico in Roma, issued 18. March 1909
The zoo was designed by Carl Hagenbeck, who had already opened a zoo in Hamburg Stellingen. The park was built in the same style as the zoo in Hamburg: ditches and pits instead of bars, and generous green spaces.[2]
This initial success was very short-lived. Attempts were made to stock the zoo with especially rare and exotic animals. Various park expansions were undertaken, and in 1926, a further expansion was planned into the neighbouring red deer park. In 1933, the architect Raffaele De Vico began his work on the new areas, which were to hold two main attractions: the large aviary and the reptile house which opened in 1935.
The zoo began to deteriorate, although many areas were renovated and others were fully rebuilt. In 1970, the reptile house had to be closed due to its deteriorating condition; renovations took about nine years and it was finally re-opened in 1983.
Aviary of the Bioparco in Rome
The idea to transform the zoo into a biopark was first suggested in 1994. In 1997, a master plan was produced based on the principles of the Gilman Foundation. In April 1998, the organisation Bioparco S.p.A. was established to be financed through the city of Rome with 51%, from Costa Edutainment with 39%, and from Cecchi Gori with 10%.
It is the oldest zoo in Italy[6][7] and hosts approximately 1,200 animals of approximately 150 different species including mammals, reptiles and birds[8] on a total area of approximately 155480m2.[9]
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