The Nyíregyházi Zoo (), also known as Sóstó Zoo, is a 30-hectare zoo located 5km (3.3 miles) north of
Nyíregyháza
Nyíregyháza (, ) is a city with county rights in northeastern Hungary and the county capital of Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg. With a population of 118,001, it is the seventh-largest city in Hungary and the second largest in the Northern Great ...
,
Hungary
Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...
. The zoo is in the Sóstó recreation area, which includes a beach, spa, public swimming pool, open-air museum, and a forested oak tree park and accommodations for visitors.
History
Nyíregyháza Zoo was opened in 1974 as “Nyíregyházi Vadaspark” (Wild Park of Nyíregyháza). It was built 5 kilometers from Nyíregyháza in the Sóstó recreation area of Hungary. Owned and sponsored by the local government, Nyíregyháza Zoo is governed by the city area of Sóstó-Nyíregyháza.
Upon first opening for visitors in 1974, its main purpose was to exhibit native species of Hungary and the
Pannonian Basin
The Pannonian Basin, with the term Carpathian Basin being sometimes preferred in Hungarian literature, is a large sedimentary basin situated in southeastern Central Europe. After the Treaty of Trianon following World War I, the geomorpholog ...
. It has a unique exhibition system in which the giant exhibits are separated from the paths with ditches filled with water. Some European species were replaced with their close relatives; for instance, American bison were exhibited instead of those found in Europe. The greatest spectacles in the zoo's early years were the European
carnivores
A carnivore , or meat-eater (Latin, ''caro'', genitive ''carnis'', meaning meat or "flesh" and ''vorare'' meaning "to devour"), is an animal or plant whose nutrition and energy requirements are met by consumption of animal tissues (mainly mu ...
, such as
bears
Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family Ursidae (). They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout most o ...
and
timber wolves.
In 1996, the new director László Gajdos took up his duties in the park and decided to expand the Zoo in Nyíregyháza. János Szánthó became deputy manager, personally bringing several smaller animals to the zoo.
In 2022, it was renamed "Nyíregyházi Állatpark" (Nyíregyházi Zoo). As of August 2022, the zoo is the richest in mammals (especially primates and pachyderms) of all zoos in Hungary. The once 14-hectare area has expanded to 30 hectares and is home to 500 species and more than 5000 animals.
The zoo is a member of the Hungarian Association of Zoos (MÁSZ), the
European Association of Zoos and Aquaria
The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) is an organisation for the European zoo and aquarium community that links over 340 member organisations in 41 countries. EAZA membership is open to all zoos and aquaria across Europe that compl ...
(EAZA), and the
World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is the "umbrella" organization for the world zoo and aquarium community. Its mission is to provide leadership and support for zoos, aquariums, and partner organizations of the world in animal ...
(WAZA).
Timeline
* 1996: The
lion
The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'', native to Sub-Saharan Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body (biology), body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the ...
exhibit was completed, and the country's biggest exhibit, 'Afrika Panoráma' (Africa Panorama), opened, where
zebras
Zebras (, ) (subgenus ''Hippotigris'') are African equines with distinctive black-and-white striped Animal coat, coats. There are three Extant taxon, living species: Grévy's zebra (''Equus grevyi''), the plains zebra (''E. quagga''), and t ...
,
ostriches
Ostriches are large flightless birds. Two living species are recognised, the common ostrich, native to large parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and the Somali ostrich, native to the Horn of Africa.
They are the heaviest and largest living birds, w ...
,
common elands, and
wildebeests cohabited this exhibit. The aviary, home to the richest parrot and cockatoo collection in Hungary as of August 2022, was also completed.
* 1997: The expansion of the zoo continued. The
llama
The llama (; or ) (''Lama glama'') is a domesticated South American camelid, widely used as a List of meat animals, meat and pack animal by Inca empire, Andean cultures since the pre-Columbian era.
Llamas are social animals and live with ...
and
kangaroo
Kangaroos are marsupials from the family Macropodidae (macropods, meaning "large foot"). In common use, the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, the red kangaroo, as well as the antilopine kangaroo, eastern gre ...
exhibit opened to the public, and the construction of the
giraffe
The giraffe is a large Fauna of Africa, African even-toed ungulate, hoofed mammal belonging to the genus ''Giraffa.'' It is the Largest mammals#Even-toed Ungulates (Artiodactyla), tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant on ...
shelter finished.
* 1998: More species were brought into the zoo. Uniquely in Hungary, the parrots laid eggs throughout the year, and several scarce antelope calves were born (including
waterbucks and
black wildebeests). New species arrived at the zoo, including
skunks
Skunks are mammals in the family Mephitidae. They are known for their ability to spray a liquid with a strong, unpleasant scent from their anal glands. Different species of skunk vary in appearance from black-and-white to brown, cream or gin ...
and
red kangaroos from Budapest.
* 1999: The zoo became the first provincial zoo to feature a
seal
Seal may refer to any of the following:
Common uses
* Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly:
** Earless seal, also called "true seal"
** Fur seal
** Eared seal
* Seal ( ...
exhibit, where visitors could watch the calves swim. Construction of the
rhinoceros
A rhinoceros ( ; ; ; : rhinoceros or rhinoceroses), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant taxon, extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates (perissodactyls) in the family (biology), famil ...
shelter also began that year.
* 2000: Hungary's first saltwater aquarium in the countryside opened. Among many other animals, it included a
requiem shark
Requiem sharks are sharks of the family Carcharhinidae in the order Carcharhiniformes. They are migratory, live-bearing sharks of warm seas (sometimes of brackish or fresh water) and include such species as the bull shark, lemon shark, blac ...
.
* 2001: The exhibit and aviary for European animals were rebuilt and named Magyar Őspark (Hungarian Primeval Park). Additionally, a small open-air museum was constructed. Additions in this year included the long-awaited
European bison
The European bison (: bison) (''Bison bonasus'') or the European wood bison, also known as the wisent ( or ), the zubr (), or sometimes colloquially as the European buffalo, is a European species of bison. It is one of two extant species of bi ...
.
* 2002: The 'Tropical House' opened. Some sharks and monkeys were moved to the newly built house, and the collection was expanded with new species, most notably the critically endangered
Bornean orangutan
The Bornean orangutan (''Pongo pygmaeus'') is an orangutan species endemic to the island of Borneo. It belongs to the only genus of great apes native to Asia and is the largest of the three ''Pongo'' species. It has a coarse, reddish coat and up ...
. The outdoor portion of the house, home to the 'Monkey Forest' and the 'Mediterranean Garden' also opened the same year.
* 2003: Around the former seal exhibit, the 'Polar Panorama' was built. Here,
Penguins
Penguins are a group of aquatic flightless birds from the family Spheniscidae () of the order Sphenisciformes (). They live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere. Only one species, the Galápagos penguin, is equatorial, with a sm ...
and
polar bears
The polar bear (''Ursus maritimus'') is a large bear native to the Arctic and nearby areas. It is closely related to the brown bear, and the two species can interbreed. The polar bear is the largest extant species of bear and land carnivo ...
were exhibited for the first time in provincial Hungary.
* 2004: The educational hall was built but has since been closed. A wax museum presenting human evolution also opened that year. The sensation of the year was the arrival of a
white tiger
The white tiger (ashy tiger) is a leucistic morph of the tiger, typically the Bengal tiger. It is occasionally reported in the Indian wilderness. It has the typical black stripes of a tiger, but its coat is otherwise white or near-white, and ...
.
* 2005: The first pachyderm, a young white male rhinoceros, arrived. The
Siberian tigers and
Kamchatka brown bears received larger exhibits.
* 2006: A new lion exhibit was built, and the
pygmy hippopotamus
The pygmy hippopotamus or pygmy hippo (''Choeropsis liberiensis'') is a small Hippopotamidae, hippopotamid which is native to the forests and swamps of West Africa, primarily in Liberia, with small populations in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Co ...
and
elephant
Elephants are the largest living land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant ('' Loxodonta africana''), the African forest elephant (''L. cyclotis''), and the Asian elephant ('' Elephas maximus ...
houses were finished. Two white rhinoceroses, one pygmy hippopotamus, three African elephants, and two Indian rhinos were brought to the zoo. Hungary's first in-zoo hotel, Hotel Dzsungel (Hotel Jungle), also finished construction.
* 2007: An exhibit was built for the zoo's
California sea lions. The birth of the first Hungarian-born African elephant calf, named Jumanee, occurred this year.
* 2008: The Dél-Amerika Ház (South America House) opened to the public, including a
tapir
Tapirs ( ) are large, herbivorous mammals belonging to the family Tapiridae. They are similar in shape to a Suidae, pig, with a short, prehensile nose trunk (proboscis). Tapirs inhabit jungle and forest regions of South America, South and Centr ...
. Additionally,
dromedaries,
moose
The moose (: 'moose'; used in North America) or elk (: 'elk' or 'elks'; used in Eurasia) (''Alces alces'') is the world's tallest, largest and heaviest extant species of deer and the only species in the genus ''Alces''. It is also the tal ...
, and
Grévy's zebras were introduced to other parts of the zoo.
* 2009: New
spectacled bears,
sun bears
The sun bear (''Helarctos malayanus'') is a bear species in the family Ursidae found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. It is the only species in the genus ''Helarctos'' and the smallest bear species, standing nearly at the shoulder ...
, three Indian elephants and a
white lion
White Lion is an American glam metal band that was formed in New York City in 1983 by Danish vocalist Mike Tramp and American guitarist Vito Bratta. Mainly active in the 1980s and early 1990s, they released their debut album ''Fight to Survive ...
were brought to the zoo. A large expansion project began, The Zöld Piramis (Green Pyramid), containing several Asian species, 'Tarzan's Path' (consisting of African species), the 'Indonesian Oceanarium' and the 'Rainforest House' all began construction.
* 2010: The project from 2009 opened to the public.
Komodo dragons,
pufferfish
Tetraodontidae is a family of marine and freshwater fish in the order Tetraodontiformes. The family includes many familiar species variously called pufferfish, puffers, balloonfish, blowfish, blowers, blowies, bubblefish, globefish, swellfis ...
,
triggerfish
Triggerfish are about 40 species of often brightly colored marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Balistidae. Often marked by lines and spots, they inhabit tropical and subtropical oceans throughout the world, with the greatest speci ...
, several species of sharks (including
reef sharks and grey
nurse sharks, also known as sand tiger sharks), a six-member
orangutan
Orangutans are great apes native to the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia. They are now found only in parts of Borneo and Sumatra, but during the Pleistocene they ranged throughout Southeast Asia and South China. Classified in the genus ...
family, and a
siamang
The siamang (, ; ''Symphalangus syndactylus'') is an endangered arboreal, black-furred gibbon native to the forests of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. The largest of the gibbons, the siamang can be twice the size of other gibbons, reaching i ...
arrived.
Marmosets
The marmosets (), also known as zaris or sagoin, are twenty-two New World monkey species of the genera '' Callithrix'', ''Cebuella'', '' Callibella'', and ''Mico''. All four genera are part of the biological family Callitrichidae. The term " ...
(now numbering 18), the first
West African dwarf goat kids, a dromedary, and several
tortoises
Tortoises ( ) are reptiles of the family Testudinidae of the order Testudines (Latin for "tortoise"). Like other turtles, tortoises have a turtle shell, shell to protect from predation and other threats. The shell in tortoises is generally hard ...
were born during this year.
References
External links
*
Sóstó Zoo*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nyiregyhaza Zoo
Zoos in Hungary
Buildings and structures in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County
Tourist attractions in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County
Zoos established in 1974
Nyíregyháza