Date opened 5 January 1911 Land area 17 ha (42 acres) No. of species 222 Opened 5 January 1911 Phone +39 06 360 8211 Number of species 222 | No. of animals 1114 Annual visitors 780,057 (2008) Area 17 ha Number of animals 1,114 | |
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Hours Open today · 9:30AM–5PMThursday9:30AM–5PMFriday9:30AM–5PMSaturday9:30AM–5PMSunday9:30AM–5PMMonday9:30AM–5PMTuesday9:30AM–5PMWednesday9:30AM–5PM Similar Villa Borghese gardens, Zoom Torino, Galleria Borghese, Museo Civico di Zoologia, Explora | ||
La tigre di sumatra arriva al bioparco di roma
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.
Contents
- La tigre di sumatra arriva al bioparco di roma
- Una domenica al bioparco di roma con noi
- History
- Early years
- After the Second World War
- From zoo to bioparco
- Notable animals
- References
Una domenica al bioparco di roma con noi
History
The zoo was conceived in 1908 to hold exotic animal species for exhibition. Unlike other zoos at the time which mainly worked for scientific criteria, this zoo was designed for the entertainment and amusement of the people. The zoo covered 12 hectares (30 acres) and was erected in the northern part of the Villa Borghese estate; it was opened on 5 January 1911.
Early years
The zoo was designed by Carl Hagenbeck, who had already opened a zoo in Hamburg Stellingen. The park was built in the style of that in Hamburg: ditches and pits instead of bars, and generous green spaces.
This initial success did not hold. 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 neighboring red deer park. In 1933, the architect Raffaele De Vico began his work in the new areas, which were to hold two main attractions: the large aviary and the reptile house which opened in 1935.
After the Second World War
The zoo began to deteriorate, although many areas were renovated and others fully rebuilt. In 1970, the reptile house had to be closed due to its ailing condition; its improvements took about nine years and it was finally re-opened in 1983.
From zoo to bioparco
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 organization 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%.
Notable animals
Kleinmann's tortoise, which is rapidly nearing extinction in the wild, was successfully bred in 2007. The group in the zoo are animals confiscated from a smuggler's suitcase in 2005.