How did it come that four mayor zoos in the netherlands closed their petting zoos?

L

LARTIS

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
The title is pretty much self explanatory, now Arhems Burgers, Amsterdams Artis, Rotterdams Blijdorp and Appeldorns Apenheul have closed their petting zoos, while many german speaking countries like vienna austria schönbrunnen,swittzerlands zurich and basel, germanys munich, stuttgart, frankfurt, and cologne, which are among the most renowned bigger zoos either, (re)built or maintained their domestic animal collections, specificaly highlighting that even these culturaly created breeds can be endangered.

Eventhough kinderboerderijen (public petting zoos) are very common, I allways felt like the official institutions of zoos could offer an attention that was slightly more aware of the educational aspect of the visit along the obvious recreation. Speaking of relaxation, me being a member of a group often presented in relation to toddlers and children, due to the developmental disorder, that is said to prevent the transition from premature cognitive structure towards the adult brain, I personaly this relation could possibly mean an ability to phrase certain emotional states children would feel but not neccesarily able to voice in a manner that adults would grasp, would like say I think its very important to have haven where human can interact with animals hands on or at least closer than wild animals would allow.

Does anyone know if these four parks have any plan to bring such areas back?
 
I have read recently, in an polish article about closure of mini petting zoo managed by Chorzow zoo, that EAZA has decided for members to phase out all domestic animals. It was just a small remark at side, I dont have any details. I have dismissed it as some misunderstanding because of how popular petting exhibits usually are.

In Czechia, among all private zoos/zooparks, the most visited is Farmapark Sobehrdy. Over 20 hectares of a petting zoo with domestic animals mixed with children playground. No other private zoo here, even if they have big cats or hippo or chimpansee, can beat them in attendance.
 
Belgian's Planckendael zoo also has closed its petting area, due to the behaviour of many visitors.

In itself, I don't find that a problem. There are plenty of places to show domesticated animals and encourage contact (petting zoos or children's farms , wildlife parks, smaller zoos). I prefer the big zoos to concentrate on (endangered) wild species.
 
Simply put, Dutch zoos don't have a lot of space for expansions. The Netherlands is small and every single bit of land is owned. Most zoos can't expand because they're surrounded by protected nature reserves (Burgers' zoo, Apenheul), in the middle of a city (Blijdorp, Artis) or surrounded by farmland that's expensive to buy out.

When it comes to new projects, petting zoos are simply lowest on the priority list
 
Jana said:
I have read recently, in an polish article about closure of mini petting zoo managed by Chorzow zoo, that EAZA has decided for members to phase out all domestic animals. It was just a small remark at side, I dont have any details. I have dismissed it as some misunderstanding because of how popular petting exhibits usually are.

In Czechia, among all private zoos/zooparks, the most visited is Farmapark Sobehrdy. Over 20 hectares of a petting zoo with domestic animals mixed with children playground. No other private zoo here, even if they have big cats or hippo or chimpansee, can beat them in attendance.
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The mini zoo in Chorzow needed investments. They decided not to "waste" money for mini zoo and focus on "value spieces". I think its a good direction. They did mentioned the EAZA but I wouldn't say that EAZA made them do it. It was more like additional note so the people wouldn't be mad about it.
 
Mr Gharial said:
Simply put, Dutch zoos don't have a lot of space for expansions. The Netherlands is small and every single bit of land is owned. Most zoos can't expand because they're surrounded by protected nature reserves (Burgers' zoo, Apenheul), in the middle of a city (Blijdorp, Artis) or surrounded by farmland that's expensive to buy out.

When it comes to new projects, petting zoos are simply lowest on the priority list
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In addition, I also do not think that petting zoo's help spread the conservation message that those zoo's want to sent.
 
LARTIS said:
The title is pretty much self explanatory, now Arhems Burgers, Amsterdams Artis, Rotterdams Blijdorp and Appeldorns Apenheul have closed their petting zoos, while many german speaking countries like vienna austria schönbrunnen,swittzerlands zurich and basel, germanys munich, stuttgart, frankfurt, and cologne, which are among the most renowned bigger zoos either, (re)built or maintained their domestic animal collections, specificaly highlighting that even these culturaly created breeds can be endangered.

Eventhough kinderboerderijen (public petting zoos) are very common, I allways felt like the official institutions of zoos could offer an attention that was slightly more aware of the educational aspect of the visit along the obvious recreation. Speaking of relaxation, me being a member of a group often presented in relation to toddlers and children, due to the developmental disorder, that is said to prevent the transition from premature cognitive structure towards the adult brain, I personaly this relation could possibly mean an ability to phrase certain emotional states children would feel but not neccesarily able to voice in a manner that adults would grasp, would like say I think its very important to have haven where human can interact with animals hands on or at least closer than wild animals would allow.

Does anyone know if these four parks have any plan to bring such areas back?
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I don't think Burgers' Zoo has ever had one...

Apenheul is focusing more heavily on primates, so phasing out a petting zoo is not a strange move. Plenty of petting zoos remain throughout the country, more so than in Germanic countries, which tend to have less of those and more of them in zoo.
 
So far I agree with everything there has been said.

Space issues in the Netherlands is definitely a large issue, last time I visited Apenheul I was glad the petting zoo closed, because there were already so many children in the play area / former petting zoo, that there really wasn't any space for goats. ;P

Visitor behaviour is a large one too, I guess, because petting animals in one part in the zoo will lead to petting in other places in the zoo which are not so suitable. o_O I am also glad for the petting zoo-animals wellfare. I'd be stressed the heck out if I had a dozen kids chasing me all day. :p

I am not sure how this is in Germany, but almost every Dutch village has one or more petting zoos managed by a private party, volunteers or the municipality. So, the larger zoos need not forfill this role in the Netherlands (correct me if I am wrong, but isn't there technically a petting zoo right next to Apenheul? There are definitely European Fallow Deer in park Berg en Bos)

Also, - this is me just speculating - there may be a role for the spread of zoönosis. Blijdorp is actually considering phasing out all walkthrough enclosures (source). All aviary walkthroughs in the Netherlands have been closed for well over a year now, with no real prognosis for reopening... There have been cases of diseases spreading under ungulate animals in the Netherlands (some years ago), and if something like that would pop again these petting zoo areas would be in great trouble.
 
Yunha said:
correct me if I am wrong, but isn't there technically a petting zoo right next to Apenheul?
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Not sure about next to the Apenheul, but there's a pretty big one in Matenpark, on the other side of Apeldoorn. So there's certainly one in town
 
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