Ramat Gan Safari
 |
|
| Date opened | 1974 |
|---|---|
| Location | Ramat Gan, Israel |
| Land area | 100 ha (250 acres) |
| No. of animals | ~1,550 |
| No. of species | ~200 |
| Memberships | EAZA,WAZA,IZA |
| Website | safari |
The Zoological Center Tel Aviv-Ramat Gan (commonly known as the Safari Ramat Gan) is the largest collection of wildlife in human care in the Middle East. The 250-acre site consists of both a drive-through African safari area and a modern outdoor zoo.
It is the home of 83 species of mammals, 92 species of birds and 23 species of reptiles. More than 700,000 visitors annually from all social and ethnic groups of Israel as well as tourists from abroad. The animals are seen in open air enclosures amid subtropical gardens.
The African animal park opened to the general public in 1974. In 1981, a zoo was established in the middle of the park to replace the former Tel Aviv Zoo, which had closed down.
Among other outstanding groups of animals, Ramat Gan Safari has white rhinos, hippos, lions, African and Asian elephants, gorillas, orangutans, and a Komodo dragon.
The Ramat Gan Safari has sent animals to the Qalqilya Zoo and maintains close ties with the veterinarians in the Palestinian Authority.
The Safari began as a small children's zoo in the National Park of Ramat Gan in 1958. In the late 1960s, the founding director Mr. Zvi Kirmeyer, was inspired by the novel concept of Safari Parks which were developing around the world during 1966-1974. He convinced the first mayor of Ramat Gan, Avraham Krinitzi, that a drive-through Safari Park in Israel was a viable idea. Following the tragic death of Mayor Krinitzi in an auto accident in 1969, the project continued with the active involvement of the next mayor of Ramat Gan, Dr. Yisrael Peled. Half of the existing National Park in Ramat Gan was dedicated to the new entity called The Zoological Corporation of Ramat Gan (250-acres). The Israeli landscape architect firm Miller-Blum-Lederer designed the park. The animals were supplied by Carr-Hartley from Tanzania, in 1968 and 1972 and included seven African elephants, eight white rhinos, Grant's zebras, Thomson's gazelles, defassa waterbuck, eland, ostriches, Masai giraffe, Grant's gazelles, beisa oryx, dik-diks, Grévy's zebra and De Brazza's monkeys. The drive-through African park opened to the public in 1974 although no formal opening was held due to the Yom Kippur war. To this day the drive-through African Safari section, with its large and dynamic mixed herds of 13 species of mammals and birds, is the signature area for the visitor experience.
...
Wikipedia