Italian zoos

Mr T

Mr T

Well-Known Member
I was logging onto the site today and noticed a picture from Napoli zoo. I have never really heard anyone discuss the zoos in Italy and looking at the number of posts about them, there are significantly less that the other major European countries such as Spain, France, The Netherlands, Germany etc.

Have any of the zoochatters here visited an Italian zoo? Which one was it and how would you rate the zoo? Does anyone know the general attitude to zoos in Italy?

I look forward to your answers.
 
I've visited Rome Zoo (Bioparco) twice - photos of the last visit should be in the gallery unless they were affected by The Purge.

It's not going to be troubling the very best zoos in Europe any time soon but it's perfectly pleasant for the most part and (crucially) was markedly improved in 2009 compared to 2003.

The chimp, wolf and bear enclosures are good, as are the reptile house and the BiodiversItalia building. The lion enclosure is pleasant but not especially large (although due to its shape it's hard to judge). Most of the rest would fall under 'standard/adequate but unremarkable' - the one exception that sticks in my mind was the small, all-indoor orang enclosure (but I believe wheels are in motion to build a new home for these).
 
Maguari said:
the one exception that sticks in my mind was the small, all-indoor orang enclosure (but I believe wheels are in motion to build a new home for these).
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When I went here some years back, the Orangutans did have a small outdoor enclosure, though it was roofed and devoid of any equipment, but it was in daylight. The interior of the house was horribly dark.

I also remember Brown bears in terrible/tiny cages they could hardly turn round in, presumably they are no longer kept like that?
 
Pertinax said:
When I went here some years back, the Orangutans did have a small outdoor enclosure, though it was roofed and devoid of any equipment, but it was in daylight. The interior of the house was horribly dark.
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In 2009 they were in a house behind the much flashier (Jane Goodall-opened) chimp exhibit - this had no outdoor area that I remember seeing but it could be there was an off-show outdoor cage. I don't recall seeing orangs at all in 2003, but apes don't always stick in my memory too well!


Pertinax said:
I also remember Brown bears in terrible/tiny cages they could hardly turn round in, presumably they are no longer kept like that?
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No, they have a good-sized, landscaped exhibit now: http://www.zoochat.com/882/bioparco-roma-bear-underwater-viewing-126767/
http://www.zoochat.com/882/bioparco-roma-bear-enclosure-126768/

(my own photos of the exhibit do indeed seem to have succumbed to The Purge!)

I wonder if these are the cages you remember (now a giraffe viewing area): http://www.zoochat.com/882/converted-carnivore-cages-bioparco-rome-15-a-116645/
 
I meant to reply earlier but forgot what thread this was in...:rolleyes:

When I went the Ape House was just inside the main gate, to the left. The Orangutan's outside cage faced the zoo boundary and outside. (The pair of non-breeding gorillas Bongo and Romina lived in here for many years too-before coming to the UK) The three orangutans are all hybrids, they'd almost be better giving up with them but I doubt they could rehome them.

Bears- looks a lot better than what I saw. No, the pic you have put up wasn't what I saw, there were raised tiny grilled cages at one 'end' of the zoo that bears were living in- from memory, the smallest I have ever seen.
 
I have been to three zoos in Italy - Verona, Milan and Brescia in 1983. From memory, they were all rather old-fashioned with small, almost bare enclosures. The most interesting animal was a Cape fox in Milan Zoo. This zoo was near the Natural History Museum, which is the only museum where I've seen a life-sized model of Tanystropheus.
 
I belive the Orangs at Zoo Roma rotate the outdoor exhibit with the chimps... and a new enclosure will be built similar to the chimps one on the other side of the building.... this may even have been completed by now, it was definately advertised to be started last year. maybe someone who gets there more regularly can confirm?
As for the zoo's in Italy, I think the standard ranges from good/average to very poor. I belive the attitude towards zoos is generally pretty negative, however, if there was some investment to improve the conditions i don't see why it wouldn't become more popular especially with the current trend for biological (organic?) natural products and past times being so fashionable here.
 
Dassie rat said:
I have been to three zoos in Italy - Verona, Milan and Brescia in 1983. From memory, they were all rather old-fashioned with small, almost bare enclosures. The most interesting animal was a Cape fox in Milan Zoo. This zoo was near the Natural History Museum, which is the only museum where I've seen a life-sized model of Tanystropheus.
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Have you any photos of these now closed zoos?
 
Bradipo said:
I belive the Orangs at Zoo Roma rotate the outdoor exhibit with the chimps...

Unfortunately this was not the case


and a new enclosure will be built similar to the chimps one on the other side of the building.... this may even have been completed by now, it was definately advertised to be started last year. maybe someone who gets there more regularly can confirm?

At the moment works on a outdoor cages has been stopped, because it not meet the protection criteria for the historic Park of Villa Borghese
As for the zoo's in Italy, I think the standard ranges from good/average to very poor. I belive the attitude towards zoos is generally pretty negative, however, if there was some investment to improve the conditions i don't see why it wouldn't become more popular especially with the current trend for biological (organic?) natural products and past times being so fashionable here.
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I agree. Regrettably most zoos are now found in the countryside so wild animals are an exception for most urban children. The anti-zoo mevement is really strong in Italy and they regularly do lessons in primary public schools!
There is little science in zoo management and mostly is limited to veterinarians. I add that foreign enterprises, such as Zoomarine near Rome, are not adding much prestige to the zoo world in Italy
 
colobus said:
Have you any photos of these now closed zoos?
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Hallo Colobus. I can check in my photo albums, but I don't remember taking any photos, unless there is one of the fox. Generally speaking, the collections weren't that interesting. If I find any photos, I'll try and scan them.
 
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