GaiaZOO
50°52′10″N 6°2′58″E / 50.86944°N 6.04944°E / 50.86944; 6.04944
Date opening1 June 2005[1]
LocationKerkrade
Land area25 hectares (62 acres)
No. of speciesapprox. 100 [2]
Websitewww.gaiazoo.nl

GaiaZOO is a Dutch zoo located in Kerkrade. It opened in 2005 as GaiaPark[3] with approximately 80 different species.[1] In 2014, the zoo had approximately 100 different species.[2]

Naming

GaiaZOO is named after Gaia, the Greek goddess of the Earth. It also refers to the Gaia hypothesis which proposes the Earth is one big living organism. This organism includes all of Earth's fauna, flora, water, sky and surface.[4]

Species

GaiaZOO has approximately 100 different species.[5] Besides traditional zoo animals such as gorillas, rhinoceroses, lions and zebras, GaiaZOO has some species which cannot be found in other Dutch zoos such as Amazon bush dogs, wolverines and bat-eared foxes.[5]

EAZA and breeding programmes

GaiaZOO is member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and participates in breeding programs.

In 2014, three lion cubs were born and were named after the daughters of the Dutch king Willem-Alexander. Unfortunately, on Koningsdag the adult lions killed and ate the cubs.[6]

DinoDome

In May 2009, GaiaZOO opened Europe's biggest indoor dinosaur-themed playground named DinoDome with a surface size of 2,500 square metres (27,000 sq ft).

References

  1. 1 2 "Opening GaiaPark" [Opening GaiaPark] (in Dutch). GaiaZOO. 1 June 2005. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Collectie Management" [Management Collection] (in Dutch). GaiaZOO. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  3. ↑ "GaiaPark wordt GaiaZOO" [GaiaPark becomes GaiaZOO] (in Dutch). GaiaZOO. 19 October 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  4. ↑ "GaiaTheorie" [GaiaTheory] (in Dutch). GaiaZOO. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Van Aap tot Zebra" [From Ape to Zebra] (in Dutch). GaiaZOO. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  6. ↑ "Drie welpjes GaiaZOO Kerkrade opgegeten" [Three cubs in GaiaZOO Kerkrade eaten]. de Volkskrant (in Dutch). 26 April 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
    - Kupi, Krisztina (27 April 2014). "Three baby lions eaten at Dutch zoo". Green Fudge. Archived from the original on 22 September 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.


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