Košice Zoo

Košice Zoo ^[1] (other names: Zoo in Kosice, Zoological Park in Košice, Slovak. ZOO Košice , Slovak. Košická zoologická záhrada ^[2] ) - a zoological park located on an area of ​​288 hectares in the natural environment of the Kavečany region of the Eastern Slovenian Košice ( Slovakia ). In terms of territory and exhibition space, the Košice Zoo is the largest zoo in Slovakia.

The construction of the Košice zoo began in 1979, but the zoo was opened for visitors only in 1986, its area was then 7 hectares, in the zoo you could see 23 species of representatives of the most part of the Carpathian fauna. Currently, more than 230 species of animals live in the zoo, here is the largest enclosure in Slovakia and the largest brown bear habitat among the zoos of Central Europe . In 2002, he successfully passed a unique experience of breeding in captivity: five bear cubs were born at once, which were recorded in the Guinness Book of Records . Two of these cubs live in the Kosice zoo to this day.

Košice Zoo is the only one in Slovakia where there is a Botanical Science Trail (2011), which was eventually added to the Bird Trail (2012), Beekeeping Trail (2013) and Geological Trail (2015), which aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the Carpathian Mountains with the Altai Mountains Central Asia . The only route in Slovakia is the range of Siberian mountain goats and interactive elements with a geological and paleontological theme. In 1996, the Hutsul horse livestock park was included into the gene pool of the Slovak Republic . Hutsul horses are used not only as exhibits, they also work on the racetrack. Initially, the zoo was created as part of the urban youth construction. Initially, the zoo was focused mainly on the Eurasian fauna , now the project is being implemented to make it a universal zoo of a wider orientation, in which the fauna of all continents will be represented. Breeding of 2 stupid crocodiles , 1 European marsh turtle and 18 Cuban boas are among the successes in the selection field.