Limburg Zoo

Limburg Zoo
Date opened 17 May 1970
Date closed 16 April 1997
Location Zwartberg, Belgium

The Limburg Zoo, also known as Zwartberg Zoo, was a zoo in the Belgian parish of Zwartberg in the municipality of Genk. The zoo was private property of the Wouters family and did not receive any subsidy or sponsorship. The zoo was known for its large number of animals, which resulted from the internal breeding programme and the acquisition of abused and dumped animals from bankrupt zoos and circuses. The large number of animals, the poor state of the animal enclosures, and actions by animal rights organisations drew media attention to the zoo. In 1997 the Wouters family decided to close it; the animals were relocated to other zoos.

History

In the late 1960s Marcel Wouters, then a director of the Leen- en Kredietkas (a financial institution), bought 6 hectares (15 acres) of land that had formerly belonged to the Zwartberg coal mine. The zoo opened on Whit Monday 17 May 1970 with more than 200 animals.[1] In 1973 there were already more than 1000 animals, so another 10 hectares (25 acres) of land were bought. Another 4 hectares (10 acres) were bought some years later.

The zoo had some major accidents:

As the zoo failed to make a profit, the Wouters family started a media campaign in 1985. That year the park had 50 000 extra visitors.[6][7]

The zoo had troubles with the government and animal rights organisations:

The city of Genk bought the park in 1999. Demolition of what remained of the zoo began in January 2002.[6]

References

  1. Gonnissen, Louis (26 December 2012). "De geschiedenis van de Limburgse Zoo - deel 1 (1970 - 1975)" [History of the Limburg Zoo - part 1 (1970 - 1975)] (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  2. "Beren verscheuren arbeider in Zoo te Zwartberg" [Bears tear worker at zoo in Zwartberg]. Het Belang van Limburg (in Dutch). 7 October 1976.
  3. "Vijftien roofdieren gestikt in zoo Zwartberg" [Fifteen predators suffocated in Zwartberg Zoo]. Het Belang van Limburg (in Dutch). 16 March 1980.
  4. "Kudde moeflons uit zoo van Zwartberg ontsnapt" [Herd of moufons escape from Zwartberg Zoo]. Het Belang van Limburg (in Dutch). 7 December 1989.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Gonnissen, Louis (12 February 2012). "De geschiedenis van de Limburgse Zoo deel 3 (1990 – 1998)" [The History of the Limburg Zoo Part 3 (1990 - 1998)] (in Dutch). Zoo in Beeld. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 Van Hoyland, Maurice (10 January 2002). "Zoo Zwartberg tegen de grond" [Zwartberg Zoo to be demolished] (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  7. "Vijftien jaar Limburgse Zoo" [Fifteen years Limburg Zoo]. Het Belang van Limburg (in Dutch). 15 June 1985.
  8. Gonnissen, Louis (4 January 2012). "De geschiedenis van de Limburgse Zoo deel 2 (1976 – 1989)" [The History of the Limburg Zoo Part 2 (1976 - 1998)] (in Dutch). Zoo in Beeld. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  9. "Vogelwacht klaagt Zoo Zwartberg aan" [Bird association accuses Zwartberg Zoo]. Het Belang van Limburg (in Dutch). 31 July 1985.
  10. "Naar hongerwinter in zoo van Zwartberg" [Pending winter famine in Limburg Zoo]. Het Belang van Limburg (in Dutch). 23 January 1986.
  11. "Limburgse Zoo uit vleesnood" [Limburg Zoo out of meat shortage]. Het Belang van Limburg (in Dutch). 17 July 1986.
  12. "KMO-zone is het einde van de Zwartbergse Zoo" [Business park is the end of Zwartberg Zoo]. Het Belang van Limburg (in Dutch). 9 November 1991.
  13. "BBC noemt de Limburgse Zoo slechtste ter wereld" [BBC calls Limburg Zoo world's worst]. Het Belang van Limburg (in Dutch). 7 July 1994.
  14. "Fragmenten uit State of the Ark in het vtm-nieuws" [Scenes from State of the Ark in VTM news bulletin] (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  15. "Dierenbescherming heeft lof voor Limburgse Zoo" [Animal Protection praises Limburg Zoo]. Het Belang van Limburg (in Dutch). 26 September 1994.
  16. "Vlaams Parlement: Bulletin van vragen en antwoorden" [Flemish parliament: bulletin of questions and answers] (PDF) (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  17. "20 jaar TV Limburg - 1998 - Zoo van Zwartberg sluit de deuren" [20 years TV Limburg - 1998 - Zwartberg Zoo shuts down] (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  18. "Le Zoo Zwartberg: fermé après des actions de GAIA" [Zwartberg Zoo: closed after actions by GAIA] (in French). 17 June 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  19. "Coup de coeur de Veeweyde pour 84 animaux de Zwartberg Un refuge accueillera tigres, lions, pumas et ours à Coutisse" [Heatwarming Veeweyde for 84 Zwartberg animals, Coutisse will host tigers, lions, pumas and bears] (in French). 9 July 1998. Retrieved 15 October 2014.

Coordinates: 51°00′47″N 5°29′39″E / 51.0130°N 5.4941°E / 51.0130; 5.4941

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