Bioparco (Rome)
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Bioparco SpA (Giardino Zoologico di Roma) is the zoological garden of Rome. Currently, there are 1114 animals of 222 species maintained.
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[edit] History
The zoo has a long history. It was conceived in 1908 by an organization, whose mission was to create a corporation which was to establish a place which should generally hold exotic species of animal species for exhibition. In contrast to other zoos at the time which mainly worked for scientific criteria, the goal here was purely for the entertainment and amusement of the people. The zoo had a surface area of 12 hectares and was erected in the northern part of the Villa Borghese estate; it was opened with grand fanfare on 5 January 1911.
[edit] Early years
The zoo was completely designed by Carl Hagenbeck, a well-reputed animal trainer who had already opened a zoo in Hamburg Stellingen. The park was built in the style of that in Hamburg: ditches and pits instead of bars and generous green spaces. It was then met with great interest from the public.
This initial success did not hold in the long run. Attempts were made to stock the zoo with especially rare and exotic animals. Various park expansions were untaken and in 1926 a further expansion was planned into the neighboring red deer park. In 1933, the architect Raffaele De Vico began his work in the new areas, which were to hold two main attractions: the large aviary and the reptile house which opened in 1935.
[edit] After the Second World War
Also during the war, the situation was very precarious for the zoo direction and its gradually deteriorating condition became ever more obvious, although many areas were renovated and others fully rebuilt. In 1970, the reptile house had to be closed due to its ailing condition. Its improvements lasted about nine years, and it was finally reopened in 1983.
[edit] From zoo to bioparco
The idea for transforming the zoo into a biopark (bioparco) was first presented in 1994. In 1997 a master plan was worked out of how the zoo should be run in the future; it was based on the principles of the Gilman Foundation and contains the guilelines for the future bioparco. In April 1998, the organization Bioparco S.p.A. was formally established to be financed through the city of Rome with 51%, from Costa Edutaiment with 39% and from Cecchi Gori with 10%: A new chance for the rebirth of the outdated zoo.
