Best native animal collection

Vulpes

Vulpes

Well-Known Member
Which is the best European native animal only collection?

And /or best European animal exhibit in a zoo?
 
Can't say about the rest of UK, but in and around London, the British Wildlife Center has most of the famous native species. Red Squirrels, Badgers, Water Voles, Harvest Mice, Rabbits, many species of deer, Otters, Foxes etc etc.

Alvin
 
Can´t speak for the rest of Europe but in Sweden he have Skanes Animal Park that houses Swedish and Scandinavian animals. It is an extremely nice park and I have uploaded some photos in the gallery:

Skanes Animal Park Gallery » ZooChat

Then, also in Sweden, there is Nordens Ark. I have not been to it but only heard good things about it. It houses mainly Swedish/Scandinavian fauna, but also some exotic species that fits our climate - like Amur tiger and Amur leopard, for instance. A briliant concept for a zoo, in my opinion.

It is also featured in the gallery:

Nordens Ark Gallery » ZooChat
 
I am very surprised that this, in my opionion, very interesting thread isn´t gaining any response to speak about!
 
As am I, I personally think that "Parc Animalier des Pyrenees" in France is excellent. they have a fantastic otter exhibit with very active otters that can be viewed underwater. they also have a very nice Bear enclosure and their open topped Red squirrel enclosure is one of the most innovative squirrel exhibits I have ever seen. A very nice park indeed! Pyrenees Animal Park Gallery » ZooChat
 
I would also like to point out Nordens Ark Skånes Djurpark in Sweden. However, Nordens Ark is not strictly native species so I am not sure of it counts?

In Denmark we have the

Scandinavian Wildlife Park

and the

AQUA Freshwater Aquarium

Once again I am not really sure if the Scandinavian Wildlife Park counts since they keep species found in all of Scandinavia and not just Denmark.
AQUA, however, is a faboulous establishment! Very interesting and educational exhibits and exhibitions and only keeping native species (+ invasive species that have settled in Denmark).
 
Zoopark Chomutov(Czech Republic) and Dierenrijk in Mierlo(Netherlands)., also have a nice european animal collection. Both also have some Asian species.
 
Innsbruck, Austria. Not all exhibits are great, but hardly any European zoo has/had a similar extensive collection of native wildlife (including fish, amphibians, reptiles...).
 
Vulpes said:
Any body ever come across a place in Norway called "polar zoo"? seems interesting
Click to expand...

Do you mean Polaria in Tromso? its located in the far north of Norway anyway and is the the only place in the world that keep Bearded Seals (0,3).
 
I join @Sun Wukongs Opinion: Alpenzoo Innsbruck (Austria) has the best "European animals only"-COLLECTION!

And sorry, @Dan, Skansen in Stockholm also houses tropical animals, so it is not only European fauna there....:)

Some very good European Animal Exhibits you can also find in Berne (e.g. Harbour Seals), Goldau and Langenberg (close to Zurich) which are all in Switzerland as well as in Tierpark Berlin (Moose), Munich (Abruzzean Chamois, Moose), Wildpark Lueneburger Heide (Wolves, Deer) in Germany, Rhenen (Wolves with Brown Bears) in Netherlands and Haute Touche (Deer species, Wild Boars) in France.
 
Hi Vulpes,

Great thread! I was wanting some more details on the open topped squirrel enclosure? It sounds very interesting! Are they kept in just by tall non-slip walls? what species?

Thanks:)
 
Yeah if you have a look in the gallery there are a couple of pics, yes they are kept in by sort of aluminum walls. It is a fantastic way of exhibiting squirrels I think, although they did have some problems with predators entering the exhibit. Birds of prey have to be considered also when designing such an enclosure.
 
zoomaniac said:
I join @Sun Wukongs Opinion: Alpenzoo Innsbruck (Austria) has the best "European animals only"-COLLECTION!

And sorry, @Dan, Skansen in Stockholm also houses tropical animals, so it is not only European fauna there....:)
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Alpenzoo is a fantastic zoo. I visited in 2007 and was very excited about it. But Skansen in Stockholm does not house tropical animals. The Skansen Aquarium houses the tropical species. Skansen only houses native wildlife from Sweden.
 
Wasn't Dan talking about Skanes Animal Park (Skånes Djurpark), not Skansen?!

Toddy said:
But Skansen in Stockholm does not house tropical animals. The Skansen Aquarium houses the tropical species. Skansen only houses native wildlife from Sweden.
Click to expand...

Almost correct. :p Most of them are housed by the aquarium as you write. But Skansen still keep a few exotic species, such as colobus monkeys, crowned cranes, and a few african bird species in the monkey house. There is also some foreign domesticated species in the Childrens zoo.

One of the best parks with european fauna only I've visited is Järvzoo in Sweden.
 
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The New Forest Otter, Owl and Wildlife Park near Ashurst in Hampshire has a fairly good collection of European fauna. I know some of the species on the list are actually native to Asia, America or Australia, but they have been introduced to parts of Europe.

Red Deer
Fallow Deer
Sika Deer
Muntjac Deer
Wild Boar
Northern Lynx
Scottish Wildcat
Eurasian Wolf (arriving November)
Red Fox
Eurasian Badger
Eurasian Otter
Pine Marten
Polecat
American Mink
Harvest Mouse
Bennett's Wallaby
European Hedgehog

European Eagle Owl
Great Grey Owl
Ural Owl
Snowy Owl
Tawny Owl
Barn Owl
Little Owl
 
Jodea said:
Almost correct. :p Most of them are housed by the aquarium as you write. But Skansen still keep a few exotic species, such as colobus monkeys, crowned cranes, and a few african bird species in the monkey house.
Click to expand...

Yes, I know. But aren't these species managed by the Skansen Aquarium staff?
 
Marwell Dalek said:
The New Forest Otter, Owl and Wildlife Park near Ashurst in Hampshire has a fairly good collection of European fauna. I know some of the species on the list are actually native to Asia, America or Australia, but they have been introduced to parts of Europe.

Red Deer
Fallow Deer
Sika Deer
Muntjac Deer
Wild Boar
Northern Lynx
Scottish Wildcat
Eurasian Wolf (arriving November)
Red Fox
Eurasian Badger
Eurasian Otter
Pine Marten
Polecat
American Mink
Harvest Mouse
Bennett's Wallaby
European Hedgehog

European Eagle Owl
Great Grey Owl
Ural Owl
Snowy Owl
Tawny Owl
Barn Owl
Little Owl
Click to expand...

Do you know where the wolves are coming from?
 
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