Jerusalem Biblical Zoo
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The Tish family zoological gardens in Jerusalem, also known as the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, is an Israeli zoo located in the Manahat neighbourhood which is famous for its collection of wildlife featured in the Hebrew Bible, many of which are no longer naturally present in the Holy Land.
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[edit] History
The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo was originally established in 1928 as a tiny children's zoo on Harav Kook Street in central Jerusalem. The zoo was founded and established by the late Prof. Aharon Shulov, one of the pioneers in the field of zoology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In 1941, a somewhat larger zoo was established several blocks away on Shmuel Hanavi Street. This one covered an area of 4.5 dunams (0.45 hectares, or just over one acre). In 1947 the zoo was moved to Mt. Scopus, where the Hebrew University had a plot of land set aside for it. As a result of the evident suffering of the animals during and after Israel's War of Independence in 1948, a decision was made to transfer the zoo once again, this time to a new and larger area of 60 dunams (6 hectares, or just under 15 acres) in Givat Komuna, adjacent to the neighbourhood of Romema. The zoo remained there for 41 years, from 1950 to 1991. During this time it gradually developed into a well-known and beloved attraction. The old zoo closed in 1991, and the process of moving to the new location was begun.
The zoo reopened in its current location near the southwestern Jerusalem neighbourhood of Manahat in 1993, known as the Tisch Family Zoological Gardens in Jerusalem - The Biblical Zoo.
[edit] Biblical Zoo today
Since its reopening, the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo has been operated by a company that was specifically established for the purpose. The zoo is run as a corporation while at the same time being recognized as a Non-profit organization both in Israel and abroad. The zoo is the product of the combined efforts and investments of the Municipality of Jerusalem, the Jerusalem Foundation, the Jerusalem Development Authority, and the Israeli Ministry of Tourism.
The ownership of the zoo is shared and divided evenly among the Municipality of Jerusalem, the Jerusalem Foundation, and the Jerusalem Development Authority. The zoo's Board of Directors consists of 18 members.
The establishment of the zoo in its present form was made possible thanks to donations from the Tisch family of New York, under the auspices of the Jerusalem Foundation. The dedication ceremony took place in the presence of members of the Tisch family and the President of the State of Israel at the time, the late Chaim Herzog, in November 1992.
On February 28, 1993, the zoo opened its doors to the public for a preview period. The official opening ceremony took place on September 9, 1993.
The zoo was designed by Miller-Blum & Associates Landscape Architects, and was constructed by the Moriah - Jerusalem Development Corporation. Since its opening, the zoo has added many new exhibits and features, often paid for by donations organised by the Jerusalem Foundation.
Today, the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, as it is still unofficially known, stretches across an area of 250 dunams (25 hectares or 62 acres) in a valley surrounded by green hills and new neighbourhoods. The zoo encircles a small artificial lake situated near the main gate. The lake is fed by a series of pools and waterfalls which rely on recycled water. The zoo is built on two main levels that house most of the exhibits. One circular route extends the length of both levels and connects most of the sites on the zoo grounds, which is serviced by a small tram. Additional side paths also connect the two levels, and exhibits are situated along these paths as well.
[edit] Themes and focus
The zoological collection centers on two main themes:
The first emphasis is placed on animals mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. The majority of these animals became locally extinct in the Land of Israel, mostly in the twentieth century. The factors primarily responsible for these extinctions were hunting, habitat destruction, and a feverish pace of construction and development. This group of animals includes bears, lions, Persian Fallow Deer, Arabian Oryx, the cheetah and the Nile crocodile, and many other species.
The second emphasis in the zoological collection involves endangered species from around the world. This group includes, among other species, the Golden Lion Tamarin, the rarer of the macaws and cockatoos, the ibises, and the Asian Elephant.
Most of the animals in the zoo reside in large enclosures that were designed to resemble their natural habitats. As in any modern zoo, the staff of the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo devotes a great deal of effort to providing its animals with a maximal amount of living space in a rich, diversified, and stimulating environment.
A few animals were confiscated from smugglers, but the vast majority were born in captivity. As a matter of policy, none of the animals in the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo were collected directly from the wild, which the zoo believes "is unusually cruel" in addition to being illegal.
The biblical zoo is a fully active member of several international bodies, including the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA), the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), and the International Species Inventory System (ISIS).
Many members of the staff belong to organizations such as the American Association of Zookeepers, the Zoo Registrars Association, the American Zoological Association, and both the European and American Associations of Zoological Veterinarians.
The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo is responsible for coordinating a number of projects that involve preserving rare species whose origins are in the Land of Israel and, where possible, returning them to the wild. The ultimate goal is to restore populations of species which have become endangered or locally extinct. The zoo is also conducting a number of research projects aimed at collecting empirical data and anecdotal information on various animals, particularly those that are threatened with extinction. Here again, the main purpose of this knowledge is to provide scientific support for the preservation and breeding programs that involve these species.
Finally, the zoo attaches great importance to its educational and promotional activities. Through these efforts they champion the causes of nature conservation and environmental protection, and enhance public awareness of environmental issues.
[edit] Transport
The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo has a small, part time, railway station adjacent to it.
| Previous station | Israel Railways | Next station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| To: Kfar Saba Mercaz Bet Shemesh |
Kfar Saba - Tel Aviv - Jerusalem/HaRishonim | To: Jerusalem Malha Jerusalem Malha |
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[edit] External link
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Conservation biology | List of zoos | List of zoo associations | Zoological Garden | Menagerie | Tourist attraction | Wildlife Conservation | Endangered species |
