Overview:

Schönbrunn Zoo is one of the oldest and most famous zoos in Europe and the world. Located in the hills of Vienna, Austria, the zoo covers an area of 17.5 hectares (43 acres) and is home to more than 700 species, including a giant panda. Schönbrunn zoo prides itself on its conservation and research efforts, as well as its commitment to animals in its care. Visitors can take part in educational activities, such as guided walks and talks, as well as see sea lion shows, feeding time events and interactive displays. The zoo is open all year round and offers a range of activities for both children and adults. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Austria
Prominent Features:

1. The world's oldest zoo: The world-famous Schönbrunn Zoo is the oldest existing zoo in Europe, having been founded in 1752 by Empress Maria Theresa. It houses over 7,000 animals, representing around 700 species, making it one of the most eclectic and rare collections of animals in the world. 2. The Giant Panda: One of Schönbrunn Zoo’s most fascinating animals is its pair of Giant Pandas, Ying Ying and Le Le, who were gifted to the zoo in 2007 by the Chinese Government. 3.The African Cape Buffalo Paddock: The African cape buffalo paddock is the world's largest and most accessible exhibit for these animals, featuring dozens of them that can be observed from the path surrounding the paddock. 4. Adventure World: Adventure World is a unique playground built for children and adults alike. It has an outdoor playground with climbing apparatus, secret tunnels, slides, a cable car ride, and much more. 5. Penguin Island: Penguin Island is the world’s first and only island for penguins, boasting an impressive penguin colony from the South Atlantic and Antarctic regions. 6. Elephants: The Schönbrunn Zoo has been the home to many elephants over the years, the first elephant arriving in 1752, as a gift from Kandy, Sri Lanka. The zoo houses both Asian and African elephants, which visitors can observe in their six-acre paddock. 7. Night Zoo: Once a year, the Schönbrunn Zoo organizes a special Nachtzoo (Night Zoo) event, open every Thursday in the months of July and August. Visitors can observe the nocturnal animals while enjoying a magical atmosphere, with live music, performances, lights, and more. 8. Aquarium: The Schönbrunn Zoo is also home to an impressive aquarium, showcasing almost 300 species of fish and aquatic organisms from all over the world. It houses an array of sharks, colourful fish, tortoises, and much more. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Austria.

History:

Schönbrunn Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world, located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded in 1752 by Emperor Francis I and Empress Maria Theresa as an imperial menagerie. The zoo originally featured exotic animals from around the world, including the first North American bison, brought to Vienna from Hungary in 1817. In 1828, the zoo was enlarged to include an aviary, which featured species like the Thai red junglefowl (Gallus gallus) and the crowned crane (Balearica regulorum). The zoo's collection expanded to include marsupials, okapis, African antelopes, and even an elephant in 1872. In 1890, Schönbrunn Zoo underwent its first major expansion, which saw the zoo increase in size and add new animal habitats. Part of the new zoo included a large elephant enclosure, which is still present today. Schönbrunn Zoo underwent another large expansion in the early 20th century. It grew to nearly 35 hectares in size and included new habitats for exotic species of animals, such as polar bears, red pandas, and snow leopards. Throughout the 20th century, Schönbrunn Zoo underwent several major renovations and restoration projects in an effort to keep the zoo up-to-date and in good condition. In 2020, the zoo completed its latest renovation, which included a new aquarium and aviary as well as several animal habitats. Today, Schönbrunn Zoo is one of the most popular attractions in Vienna, welcoming over two million visitors each year. It is home to over 6,000 animals from 700 different species, including some of the rarest and most endangered species in the world. Schönbrunn Zoo is dedicated to the conservation of animal life and participates in international breeding programs to help protect species like the Sumatran tiger and snow leopard. Visit one of the famous monuments of Austria with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. Schönbrunn Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world, having been founded in 1752. 2. It was founded by Emperor Franz I and is still owned by the government of Austria. 3. Schönbrunn Zoo is one of the few zoos in the world who have giant pandas living in captivity. The giant pandas at Schönbrunn Zoo, named Fu Long and Fu Hu, were presented to the people of Vienna by the Chinese government in 2003. 4. Schönbrunn Zoo houses an impressive array of animals, including over 500 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. 5. In its history, the zoo has welcomed over a million visitors a year and is ranked as the most popular place to visit in Vienna. 6. Schönbrunn Zoo prides itself on contributing to the conservation of threatened and endangered species around the world. 7. The zoo is home to some of the most rare and fascinating species on the planet, such as the endangered Amur leopard and the critically endangered Sumatran rhinoceros. 8. The zoo also features even more exotic animals such as koalas, flamingos, giraffes, and giant tortoises. 9. It is host to the largest available penguin colony in the world, with over 200 different species of penguins from 2 regions. 10. The baby elephant born at the zoo in April 2016 is the first in the last 140 years, making it a highly special event for the zoo and a cause for celebration. One of the historical monuments of Austria, it tells the story of a bygone era