Date opened | 17 May 1970 |
---|---|
Date closed | 16 April 1998 |
Location | Zwartberg, Belgium |
The Limburg Zoo, also known as Zwartberg Zoo, was a zoo in the Belgian parish of Zwartberg in the municipality of Genk. The zoo was private property of the Wouters family and did not receive any subsidy or sponsorship. The zoo was known for its large number of animals, which resulted from the internal breeding programme and the acquisition of abused and dumped animals from bankrupt zoos and circuses. The large number of animals, the poor state of the animal enclosures, and actions by animal rights organisations drew media attention to the zoo. In 1997 the Wouters family decided to close it; the animals were relocated to other zoos.
In the late 1960s Marcel Wouters, then a director of the "Leen- en Kredietkas" (a financial institution), bought 6 hectares (15 acres) of land that had formerly belonged to the Zwartberg coal mine. The zoo opened on Whit Monday 17 May 1970 with more than 200 animals. [1] In 1973 there were already more than 1000 animals, so another 10 hectares (25 acres) of land were bought. Another 4 hectares (10 acres) were bought some years later.
The zoo had some major accidents:
As the zoo failed to make a profit, the Wouters family started a media campaign in 1985. That year the park had 50 000 extra visitors. [6] [7]
The zoo had troubles with the government and animal rights organisations:
The city of Genk bought the park in 1999. Demolition of what remained of the zoo began in January 2002. [6]
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