Zodiac Zoos

Last updated
Zodiac Zoos logo Zodiac Zoos logo.png
Zodiac Zoos logo

Zodiac Zoos (officially Zodiac Zoos B.V.) is a Dutch corporation that owns and operates Aqua Zoo Friesland, Zoo Wissel, Zoo Labyrinth Boekelo, Zoo Park Overloon, and Castle Arcen. [1]

Contents

The Zodiac Animals Foundation manages the animal collection of the Zodiac Zoos, which includes agile mangabeys, pygmy hippopotamuses, ruffed lemurs, cheetahs, ring-tailed lemurs, Parma wallaby, Kirk’s dik-dik, binturong, Von der Decken’s hornbill, cotton-top tamarins, white-cheeked gibbons, lion-tailed macaques, and Humboldt penguins. [1]

Zodiac Zoos, together with the Van Hall Institute of the College Zoo in Leeuwarden have created an internship program in which animal management students can intern at one of the Zodiac zoos.

History

Zodiac Zoos owned BestZoo, a small zoo in Best, between 2007 and July 2010, when it was sold to Jos Nooren. [2]

Conservation

Together the zoos participate in more than 25 European Endangered Species Programmes (EEP) and 20 European Studbooks (ESB). European Studbooks maintained by Zodiac Zoos include the black crowned crane (Balearica pavonina) and the black-eared marmoset (Callithrix penicillata). [1]

The zoos

Aqua Zoo Friesland opened in 2003, and is located in Leeuwarden. It specializes in aquatic animals, and is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) [3] and Dutch Zoo Federation (NVD). [4] Animals at the zoo include seals, penguins, wallabies, flamingos, dwarf otters, ocelots, beavers, and pelicans. [5]

Castle Arcen (Kasteeltuinen Arcen) is a historic castle with gardens and a zoo. Animals in the zoo include squirrel monkeys, cockatiels, diamond dove, Japanese quail, helmet guinea fowl, black swans, crested screamer, flamingos, European storks, koi, carp, salmon trout, beluga sturgeon, European eagle owl, green macaw, blue yellow macaw, demoiselle crane, marabou, and Von der Decken's tok. [6]

Zoo Labyrinth Boekelo was opened in 2005, [7] and is located near Enschede in the province of Overijssel, the Netherlands. This facility includes a series of labyrinths and mazes that test the senses and help teach about nature. It also includes a butterfly garden. [8] [9] closed in 2012

Zoo Park Overloon is a 21-acre (8.5 ha) park in Overloon, in the province of North Brabant, Netherlands. The zoo is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) [3] and Dutch Zoo Federation (NVD). [4] Animals at the zoo include cheetahs, tapirs, gibbons, flamingos, giant anteaters, red pandas, reindeer, bears, marten, straw-necked ibis, lemurs, Indian antelope, and kangaroos. [10]

Zoo Wissel is a small Dutch zoo in Wissel, near Epe in the province of Gelderland, Netherlands. It specializes in small animals, and is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) [3] and Dutch Zoo Federation (NVD). [4] Animals at the zoo include marabou, pygmy hippos, flamingos, cranes, dik-diks, white-faced saki, red pandas, squirrel monkeys, bear, marten, and ringtail lemurs. [11] Plans are in place to move the zoo to a new location and rename it "Pangea Parc". [12]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 "Welcome to Zodiac Zoos". zodiaczoos.nl. Zodiac Zoos. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  2. "Acquisition BestZOO Best". bestzoo.nl. BestZOO. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 "EAZA Member Zoos & Aquariums". eaza.net. European Association of Zoos and Aquaria. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 "General". nvdzoos.nl. Dutch Zoo Federation. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  5. "Welcome to Aqua Zoo Friesland". frieslandzoo.nl. Aqua Zoo Friesland. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  6. "Animals". kasteeltuinen.nl. Kasteeltuinen Arcen. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  7. "Zodiac Circle" (PDF). pangeapark.nl. Zodiac Zoos. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  8. "Welcome to Labyrinth Boekelo". labyrinthboekelo.nl. Labyrinth Boekelo. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  9. "Map of Labyrinth Boekelo". labyrinthboekelo.nl. Labyrinth Boekelo. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  10. "Welcome to Zoo Park Overloon". overloonzoo.nl. Zoo Park Overloon. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  11. "Welcome to Dierenpark Wissel". wisselzoo.nl. Dierenpark Wissel. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  12. "Welcomem to Pangea Park". pangeaparc.nl. Pangea Park. Retrieved 21 August 2010.

Related Research Articles

Natura Artis Magistra Zoo in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Natura Artis Magistra, commonly known just as Artis, is a zoo and botanical garden in the centre of Amsterdam. It is the oldest zoo in the Netherlands and one of the oldest zoos of mainland Europe. In addition to the zoo, Artis also contains an aquarium, a planetarium, an arboretum, and a fairly large art and sculpture collection. A part of the art collection is on display in the Aquarium building of the zoo. Artis contains 27 historically significant (listed) buildings, bridges, and ponds most of which are still used as animal enclosures, making it a unique place of 19th-century cultural heritage.

Marwell Zoo Zoo in Hampshire, England

Marwell Zoo is a 140-acre (57 ha) zoo situated in Colden Common near Winchester, in the English county of Hampshire. It is owned and run by the registered charity Marwell Wildlife. The zoo is home to 1,208 animals of 149 species. The charity undertakes a range of educational and conservation activities, with a particular focus on Africa in addition to work from its base.

Apenheul Primate Park Ape and monkey focused zoo in Apeldoorn Netherlands

Apenheul Primate Park is a zoo in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. It specializes in apes and monkeys. It opened in 1971 and was the first zoo in the world where monkeys could walk around freely in the forest and between the visitors. It started with just a few species, now it displays more than 30 different primates, among them bonobo, gorilla and orangutan.

Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park

Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park, formerly Birmingham Nature Centre, and before that Birmingham Zoo, is a small zoo on the edge of Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham, England. It is owned and managed by Birmingham City Council.

Dierenpark Emmen

Dierenpark Emmen was a large zoo located in Emmen in the northern province of Drenthe in the Netherlands. Due to financial difficulties the zoo decided in 2011 to reorganise. It closed at the end of 2015, but reopened early 2016 on another location as Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen.

Diergaarde Blijdorp Zoo in Rotterdam, Netherlands

Diergaarde Blijdorp, officially Rotterdam Zoo, is a zoo located in the northwestern part of Rotterdam. It is one of the oldest zoos in the Netherlands, and has been operated by the Stichting Koninklijke Rotterdamse Diergaarde. Divided into several zoogeographic regions, the 26-hectare (64.25-acre) Blijdorp Zoo boasts well over 180 species. It also has a shop, multiple cafes, and an information centre.

European Association of Zoos and Aquaria

The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), originally the European Community Association of Zoos and Aquaria (ECAZA), is an organisation for the European zoo and aquarium community that links over 340 member organisations in 41 countries. It operates the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP). The organisation is administered and headquarted at Natura Artis Magistra in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

The Dutch Zoo Federation is an association of 15 large zoos in the Netherlands. NVD was founded in 1966. All of its member zoos are members of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).

Woburn Safari Park Safari park in England

Woburn Safari Park is a safari park located in Woburn, Bedfordshire, England. Visitors to the park can drive through exhibits, which contain species such as southern white rhino, elephants, tigers and black bears. It is part of the estates of the Duke of Bedford that also includes Woburn Abbey and its 3,000-acre (1,200 ha) deer park. The Safari Park itself covers 360 acres (150 ha).

Royal Burgers Zoo

Royal Burgers' Zoo is a 45-hectare (110-acre) zoo in Arnhem, Netherlands, and is one of the biggest zoos in the country. Arnhem is a city that lies within the Veluwe, a nature park in the east of the Netherlands. The zoo is popular with both Dutch and German people, and receives about 1.5 million visitors annually. It was founded by Johan Burgers in 1913.

DierenPark Amersfoort Zoo in Amersfoort, Netherlands

DierenPark Amersfoort is a 20-hectare (49-acre) zoo located on the West side of Amersfoort, in the province of Utrecht, on the edge of the Birkhoven forest, in the Netherlands.

Zoo Aquarium de Madrid

The Madrid Zoo Aquarium is a 20-hectare (49-acre) zoo and aquarium located in the Casa de Campo in Madrid, Spain. The zoo is owned by the city, but is managed by the international entertainment operator Parques Reunidos. Opened in 1770, it is one of the largest zoos in Spain and one of the few zoos in the world that houses giant pandas.

Africa Alive!

Africa Alive! Zoological Reserve, formerly known as Africa Alive! and Suffolk Wildlife Park, is a zoo located in Kessingland, Suffolk, UK. It is situated off the A12 at Kessingland 2 miles (3 km) south of Lowestoft.

BestZoo Zoo in Best, Netherlands

BestZOO is a small zoo in Best, North Brabant, Netherlands. It opened in 1930 as Vleut the Zoo, and was owned and operated by the van Laarhoven family until purchased by Zodiac Zoos in 2007. Zodiac Zoos upgraded many of the old exhibits to more naturalistic settings, but sold them to Jos Nooren in 2010 before all upgrades were completed.

Safaripark Beekse Bergen Wildlife zoo in the Netherlands

Safaripark Beekse Bergen is the largest wildlife zoo of the Benelux region and provides a home to approximately 1,250 animals from over 150 species, varying from small mammals to large birds. It is located between the cities of Tilburg and Hilvarenbeek in the south of the Netherlands. The visitors can for instance watch zebras and giraffes on the spacious savannahs. Safaripark Beekse Bergen offers the possibility to explore the park on numerous safaris: walksafari, carsafari, bussafari and boatsafari.

Vogelpark Avifauna is a large bird park in Alphen aan den Rijn, in the western Netherlands. It was the first dedicated bird park in the world. The park has a lot of greenery and ponds, and also a restaurant and a children's playground.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park Wildlife park in South Yorkshire, England

The Yorkshire Wildlife Park is a wildlife conservation and rehabilition centre and tourist attraction located in Branton, south-east of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It opened in 2009 on the site of Brockholes Farm, a former riding school and petting zoo.

Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo Zoo in Pembrokeshire, Wales

The Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo, situated to the north of Saundersfoot and Tenby in Pembrokeshire, is a visitor attraction in Wales with around 500,000 visitors each year. Initially a farm attraction, the park is now also home to an indoor vintage funfair, a zoo with over 200 different species of animal and extensive indoor and outdoor adventure play areas.

References