Warsaw Zoo
The Warsaw Zoological Garden, known simply as the Warsaw Zoo (Polish: Miejski Ogród Zoologiczny w Warszawie), is a scientific zoo located alongside the Vistula River in Warsaw, Poland. Opened in 1928, the zoo covers about 40 hectares (99 acres) in central Warsaw, and sees over 700,000 visitors annually, making it one of the most popular zoos in Poland. It is home to over 11,000 animals representing more than 500 species.
| Warsaw Zoo | |
|---|---|
Ogród Zoologiczny w Warszawie | |
Left to right: Aviary • Hippopotamus enclosure • Elephant house • Bear enclosure | |
| 52°15′28″N 21°01′20″E | |
| Date opened | 1928–1939, 1948 |
| Location | Warsaw, Poland |
| Land area | 40 hectares (99 acres) |
| No. of animals | 11,764 (4 November 2019) |
| No. of species | 534 (4 November 2019) |
| Annual visitors | 700,000 (2016) |
| Memberships | EAZA, WAZA |
| Director | Andrzej Kruszewicz |
| Website | www |
The zoo is an accredited member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).
The Warsaw Zoo served as a hiding place for Jews and escapees from the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II. Zookeepers Jan and Antonina Żabiński, responsible for saving hundreds of Jews within the zoo premises, were eventually granted the title of Righteous Among the Nations for their contribution, effort and good will. These events were documented in the novel The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman and in the 2017 war drama film starring Jessica Chastain.