Zoo Sofia

Sofia Zoo quickly gained popularity as a location for pleasure, amusement, and education, thanks to world-renowned experts and the breeding of important and rare species. The zoo was relocated from its tiny position in the capital’s core to its current location at the foot of Vitosha Mountain inside the District of Lozenets in 1984, covering an area of more than 36 acres. The zoo is located 15 minutes from Sofia’s ideal center and is accessible to several regions of the city by easy transportation connections.

It is the Balkan Peninsula’s oldest and biggest zoo. It was founded in 1888 by Prince Ferdinand and originally located near the previous royal palace. It encompasses an area of more than 360 decares. A Cinereous Vulture was the zoo’s first animal (Aegypius monachus). The first two lions were introduced to the zoo in 1892.

With its world-renowned experts and breeding of important and rare animal species, the zoo swiftly grew in popularity and became a location for pleasure, amusement, and education.
The zoo is one of the top 100 National Tourist Attractions in the country.

Herbivores, primates, carnivores, birds, aquariums, and terrariums are among the sections.

The herbivores area has 20 animal species, including the Rhinocerotidae (Rhinocerotidae), two Hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibius), and the Artayda (Elephantidae) — the zoo’s symbol. zebra (Equus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), fallow deer (Dama dama), mouflon (Ovis orientalis sp. ), wild hog (Sus scrofa), peccaries (Tayassuidae), bison (Bison bison), cattle (Bos Taurus), screwhorn antelope (Addax nasomaculatus), a pair of Bact (Ammotrhagus lervia).

The Primate sector is separated into two pavilions, one for smaller species and one for bigger species. Visitors may witness 12 different monkey species, the biggest of which being the Hamadryas baboon group (Papio hamadryas). Gray langurs (Semnopithecus entellus) share the cage with them. The pigtail macaque (Macaca nemestrina) group is the zoo’s most popular attraction for tourists. Other important species include the Ring–tailed lemur (Lemur catta), Yellow baboon (Papio cynocephalus), Geoffroy marmoset (Gallitrix jacchus, G. Geoffroyi), Pigmy marmoset (Callithrix pygmaea), Macaque (Macaca), and others.

The predator region is divided into three sub-sectors: big cats, bears, and small predators. The sectors are represented by the brown bear (Ursus arctos), the lion (Panthera leo), and the tiger (Panthera tigris).

The zoo’s bird sector is home to around 560 birds representing 60 different bird species. Visitors may observe them in their cages at the pheasant farm building, the waterfowl lake, and the enormous aviary for birds of prey. They dwell there and have successfully produced a couple of Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) and Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus), as well as Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus) and Long-legged Buzzards (Neophron percnopterus) (Buteo rufinus). Many pheasant species (Phasianus), domestic chickens (Gallus gallus), Indian pea fowls (Pavo cristatus), Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber roseus), and other attractive birds may be seen in the zoo’s pheasant farm. There are other nocturnal birds of prey such as Eurasian Eagle owls (Bubo bubo), Barn owls (Tyto alba), Earless owls (Strix), and Long-eared owls (Asio otus). The parrots are the most exotic, colorful, and boisterous residents of the pheasant farm (Psittacidae). Some of species, like the Blue-and-yellow Macaw, are uncommon and endangered (Ara ararauna). African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus erithacus), Patagonian conures (Cyanoliseus patagonus), Afro–Asian Ringnecked parakeets (Psittacula), Cockatoo (Cacatua), Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), and Rosella may also be seen in the zoo (Platycercus).

Ostriches, two of the world’s biggest birds, reside in a separate cage (Struthio camelus).

The Great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus), Egyptian gooses (Alopochen aegyptiacus), Mandarin ducks (Aix galericulata), Wood ducks (Aix sponsa), and Swan gooses (Anser Cygnoides), Beijing duck, Crested Duck, Emerald duck, and other waterfowl species may be spotted.

Reptiles, amphibians, and rodents live in the terrarium in Sofia Zoo. It is home to 12 snake species, three frog species, and three dragon lizard and lizard species. The uncommon blue-tongue lizard is very lovely. The royal snakes are popular among collectors. Only one of the snakes is venomous, and that is the western blue-nosed African snake.

One of the most appealing industries is aquariums. It depicts about 80 different fish species. The tropical fishes from Asia, Africa, and South America pique the curiosity of zoo visitors. Visitors may also witness the unusual Dipnoi fish, which is a rare species. The clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) in the marine aquarium, which has a reef with actual live corals, is the most appealing to young visitors.

For the convenience of the visitors, there are board signs that provide fascinating information about the displayed species.

The Sofia Zoo is involved in environmental initiatives by actively engaging in national and international programs for the reproduction of rare and endangered species.

History of Sofia Zoo

Initially, the zoo was housed in the grounds of the old royal palace, with the main attraction being a caged Eurasian black vulture obtained in Bulgaria and displayed in the garden. Later, pheasants and deer were added to the collection, but because the exhibits and facilities at the time were insufficient to accommodate a pair of brown bears, Tsar Ferdinand of Bulgaria ordered that Sofia Zoo be granted land on the grounds of the former botanical garden, which was then on the outskirts of the city.

The display of animals at Sofia Zoo was regularly expanded, with both local and foreign species being added, most notably a couple of lions in 1892, who were placed in a former stable, and a lion cub was born the same year.

Between 1893 and 1895, new cages and buildings were built to house the ever-growing collection of birds and mammals, including a solid three-room stone building in the back of the terrain designed to house bears (1894), a pool where a few pink-backed pelicans lived, a pheasant building, and another for eagles (1895).

In 1982, Sofia Zoo relocated from its old (and smaller) location in the city center to a larger 36-hectare (89-acre) facility approximately 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) south of Sofia.