The Warsaw Zoo has begun work on one of the most important investments of recent years, a new enclosure for polar bears. The space, located near the entrance from Ratuszowa Street, is to become a unique place combining comfort for the animals with modern architectural solutions. The design of the exhibition and breeding complex is expected to be completed within 15 months of signing a contract with the selected contractor.
The new enclosure will replace the existing buildings in this part of the zoo, creating a larger and more functional space. The design takes into account the needs of the bears, providing them with much more freedom and opportunities for exploration. The area will also include a previously unused valley, allowing a harmonious blend of modernity with the surrounding landscape.
The enclosure before the redevelopment. Photo Panek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
One of the most important elements of the project will be the swimming pool, which will allow visitors to observe the animals both on the surface and underwater. The architecture of the complex is intended to be reminiscent of Arctic landscapes, emphasising the uniqueness of the species and their natural habitat. The buildings and elements of the space will be designed to be aesthetically pleasing and functional, with both animals and visitors in mind.
Education is also an important element of the new development. The facility is not only intended to serve as a place to observe bears, but also as a reminder of the challenges the species faces in the face of climate change. The new developments will make the space more accessible and visitor-friendly, while offering conditions in line with the highest animal protection standards.
When designing the enclosure, both modern technology and conservation requirements were taken into account, as the Warsaw Zoo is listed in the register of monuments. This combination of tradition and innovation will create a space that will serve for many years to come, while emphasising the zoo’s commitment to nature conservation.
The planned investment is the next step in the development of the Warsaw zoo, which has been focusing on creating friendly environments for its charges for years. Polar bears, ambassadors of the Arctic, will find a new home here, which is also a place to reflect on man’s responsibility towards nature.
The Antonina and Jan Żabiński Municipal Zoological Garden in Warsaw, located in Warsaw’s Praga-Północ at 1/3 Ratuszowa Street, has a long and rich history, dating back to 1928. Initially it covered an area of 12 hectares and was home to around 500 animals. Today, it is one of the most important facilities of its kind in Poland, valued both for its educational activities and for the protection of endangered species.
For many years Warsaw lagged behind other European cities in having a fully-fledged zoo. At the time of John III Sobieski, there was an animal sanctuary in Wilanów-Morysin, and later private menageries were in operation, but it was not until the 1920s that efforts were made to create a zoo of the real kind. In 1926 Mieczysław Pągowski opened a small zoo on Koszykowa Street. The next step was to move his garden to a larger site on 3 Maja Avenue, but financial problems led to its demise. In response, on 14 June 1927, the magistrate of Warsaw decided to establish a new municipal zoo in Praga.
The newly established zoological garden was opened to the public on 11 March 1928. The first director was Wenanty Burdzinski, previously known for his management of the Kyiv Zoo. Animals from Pągowski’s menagerie and other smaller animals became the first inhabitants of the new zoo. After Burdzinski’s death, Jan Żabiński, a man of great knowledge and passion for nature, became director. Under his leadership, the garden gained worldwide fame, not least thanks to the birth of Tuzinka the elephant in 1937 – the twelfth elephant born in a zoo in the world.
During the Second World War, the zoo became the scene of dramatic events. During the siege of Warsaw in 1939, the staff had to shoot some animals for safety reasons. Many of the zoo’s valuable inhabitants, including the elephant Tuzinka, were taken to Germany by Lutz Heck, the Nazi director of the Berlin Zoo. During the occupation, Jan and Antonina Żabiński sheltered Jews, hiding them on the zoo grounds, including in their villa ‘Pod Zwariowaną Gwiazdą’. Thanks to their courage, many lives were saved, including that of the artist Magdalena Gross.
The decision to rebuild the zoo was taken in 1946, and just two years later the garden reopened its gates, hosting 150 animals, mainly from private donations. In the following years, the zoo gradually developed and modernised. In 1952, an enclosure for bears was created along the W-Z road, and in the 1980s the garden was included in an investment plan, which allowed new facilities to be built.
The zoo has developed significantly in recent decades, gaining modern pavilions and enclosures. A herpetarium was opened in 1997, a year later a bird house and in 2003 a new elephant house. Further investments included a pavilion for great apes (2008), a facility for hippos and sharks (2010) and a new entrance from Jagiellońska Street (2018).
In 2022 it was decided to name the zoo after Antonina and Jan Żabiński. This was a tribute to their extraordinary courage and contribution to the history of the zoo and the help they provided during the war.
Source: Stołeczny Zarząd Rozbudowy Miasta, zoo.waw.pl
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