Warsaw Zoo will undergo a major modernisation, with a number of investments planned to improve living conditions for the animals and make the site more attractive to visitors. Work on the projects is expected to begin this year, with construction of the new facilities starting in 2025.
One of the highlights of the upgrades will be the expansion of the cheetah enclosure, which will allow these animals more freedom of movement and better living conditions. In addition, the construction of a new monkey house is planned to become a unique facility on a European scale. Monkeys from Asia, South America and Africa will live together, providing them with more stimulation and bringing their living conditions closer to the natural ones. The monkey house will also house other smaller animals, including the capybaras loved by children, as well as endangered species.
Klarqa, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Many buildings in the Warsaw zoo, built back in the 1950s, do not meet modern standards. Therefore, the modernisation will include not only new buildings, but also the renovation of existing facilities, such as the penguin enclosure. Thanks to these changes, the animals will have better living conditions and visitors will be able to enjoy modern and more attractive exhibitions. At the end of 2023, the Warsaw zoo has undergone organisational changes, including the appointment of a second deputy director responsible for technical matters and investments. The new structure is expected to streamline management and the implementation of planned modernisations.
The zoo’s director, Andrzej Kruszewicz, stresses that modernisation is necessary as many of the current facilities are outdated and unsuitable for modern requirements. In turn, the mayor of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, indicated that design work for facilities for polar bears and enclosures for lions and tigers is already underway, and the contract for the design of the new monkey house has been signed.
The Municipal Zoological Garden in Warsaw has a rich and fascinating history. The facility was officially opened on 11 March 1928. The originator and first director was Jan Żabiński, a well-known biologist and zoologist. At the time of its opening, the garden covered an area of 12 hectares and had around 500 animals. Among the first inhabitants were lions, bears, bison and exotic birds.
In the interwar period, the zoo developed dynamically, becoming one of Warsaw’s most important attractions. During World War II, especially during the Warsaw Uprising, the place suffered huge losses. Most of the animals died or were transported to other zoos. Jan Żabiński and his wife Antonina Żabińska became famous as heroes who hid Jews escaping from the Warsaw Ghetto in their house on the zoo grounds. After the war, despite the difficulties, the garden was rebuilt. Thanks to the commitment of the Żabiński family and their successors, in the 1950s and 1960s the facility gradually regained its former glory. New enclosures and pavilions were built, attracting more and more visitors.
Today’s Warsaw Zoo occupies around 40 hectares and is home to around 12,000 animals representing 500 species. The garden is constantly evolving, introducing new attractions and modernising old facilities. Today, it is one of the most important zoological gardens in Poland, enjoying great popularity among the capital’s residents and tourists.
Source: zoo.waw.pl, muratorplus.pl
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