Taipei Zoo

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Taipei Zoo
臺北市立動物園
Taipei Zoo Entrance.jpg
Entrance of the zoo
Taipei Zoo
24°59′42″N121°35′3″E / 24.99500°N 121.58417°E / 24.99500; 121.58417
Date opened1914
Location Wenshan, Taipei, Taiwan
Land area165 hectares
No. of animals2407
No. of species354
Memberships WAZA
  • EAZA
  • SEAZA
    • TAZA (Taiwan Aquarium and Zoological Park Association)
Major exhibitsGiant Panda House, Pangolin dome
Owner Department of Education, Taipei City Government
Management South East Asian Zoos Association
Public transit access Metro
Taipei Zoo station
Gondola
Taipei Zoo station
Taipei Zoo South station
Website https://english.zoo.gov.taipei/

In 2008, the zoo received two pandas from the People's Republic of China (PRC), named Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan (meaning "reunion"), as a gesture of unity. The gift of the endangered pandas had been rejected by President Chen Shui-bian in 2005 who viewed it as a propaganda tool against Taiwan's independence, but the next president, Ma Ying-jeou, of the Kuomintang, had forged stronger economic and diplomatic relations with the PRC under his presidency, and was willing to accept them. [11] The offering of pandas as a gift from the PRC is often known as "panda diplomacy", and the zoo expected to draw around 30,000 visitors a day as a result of their arrival. The move was criticized by supporters of Taiwan's independence and the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, who said that "Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan means a union, which perfectly matches Beijing's goal of bringing Taiwan into its fold." [11] [12]

The offspring of Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, Yuan Zai, was born on July 6, 2013. She is the first panda cub to be born in Taiwan. [13] Yuan Zai's public debut was on January 6, 2014.

Desert Animal Area

This sub-section of the zoo contains addaxes, African wild asses and Bactrian camels. [14]

Australian Animal Area

A pair of koalas arrived from the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in 1999 and koalas have been prominently kept on display ever since. Additionally, eastern grey kangaroos, emus and southern cassowaries are also displayed here.

African Animal Zone

The exhibit simulates the East African savanna and covers 6 hectares of land for several large animals. These include African bush elephants, Chapman's zebras, gemsboks, wildebeests, common elands, giraffes, bongos, hippos, lions, spotted hyenas, olive baboons, lemurs, pygmy hippos, western lowland gorillas and white rhinos.

Bird World

More than 130 species of bird are on display, including black-faced spoonbills, cockatoos, eagles, flamingos, parrots, pelicans, pheasants, pigeons, red-crowned cranes, scarlet ibises and other waterfowl.

Amphibian and Reptile House

The Amphibian and Reptile House has a wavy ceiling, meant to resemble the movement of snakes. Over 90 species of reptiles and amphibians are housed in here, including Aldabra giant tortoises, ball pythons, eastern blue-tongued skinks, green tree pythons, Indian star tortoises, Taipei tree frogs and many more. [15]

Temperate Zone Animal Area

Multiple temperate species are on display here, these include American bisons, brown bears, gray wolves, Przewalski's horses, pumas, red pandas and tomistoma. The zoo's penguin house is also located nearby, including two species of penguins, the African penguin and king penguin.

Transportation

Metro
Taipei Zoo station

Gondola
Taipei Zoo station
Taipei Zoo South station

The zoo is accessible from Taipei Zoo Station of the Taipei Metro.

References

  1. 動物園網站管理員 (2017-06-10). "新聞稿". www.zoo.gov.taipei (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  2. "Zoo History". english.zoo.gov.taipei. Taipei Zoo. 26 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  3. "Alishan Railway to resume its normal operations Wednesday - the China Post". Archived from the original on 2015-10-03. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  4. Foreign Minister’s Commendations for FY 2020 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
  5. Foreign Minister’s Commendations for FY 2020 (Groups) | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
  6. "Formosan Animal Area".
  7. "Children's Zoo".
  8. "Tropical Rainforest Area".
  9. Tzu-ti, Huang (12 July 2019). "New landmark opens at Taipei Zoo – the Pangolin Dome". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  10. "Taipei Zoo welcomes rare aye-aye".
  11. 1 2 "Chinese pandas arrive in Taiwan". BBC News. 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
  12. "In pictures: Pandas sent to Taiwan". BBC News. 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
  13. "Newborn Giant Panda". zoo.taipei.gov.tw. Retrieved 5 Dec 2013.
  14. "Desert Animal Area".
  15. "Amphibian and Reptile House".

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Taipei Zoo
Traditional Chinese 臺北市立動物園
Simplified Chinese 台北市立动物园
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin Táiběi Shìlì Dòngwùyuán
Bopomofo ㄊㄞ´ ㄅㄟˇ ㄕ` ㄌㄧ` ㄉㄨㄥ` ㄨ` ㄩㄢ´
Wade–Giles T'ai pei shih li tung wu yüan
Yale Romanization TaiBeiShr Li DungWuYwan
other Mandarin
Xiao'erjing ﺗَﻰْ ﺑُﻮِٔ شِ لِ دْﻮ ءُ ﻳُﻮًا
Hakka
Romanization Thòi-pet-sṳ li̍p thûng vu̍t yèn
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping toi4 bak1 si5 lap6 dung6 mat6 jyun4
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ Tâi-pak-chhī li̍p tōng bu̍t hn̂g