İzmir Wildlife Park
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| İzmir Wildlife Park | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Interactive map of İzmir Wildlife Park | |
| 38°29′28″N 26°57′49″E / 38.49111°N 26.96361°E | |
| Date opened | 30 November 2008 |
| Location | Çiğli, İzmir, Turkey |
| Land area | 425,000 m2 |
| No. of animals | ~1,800 (2023) |
| No. of species | 132 (2023) |
| Annual visitors | 877,117 (2022) |
| Memberships | EAZA |
| Owner | İzmir Metropolitan Municipality |
| Website | www |
İzmir Wildlife Park (Turkish: İzmir Doğal Yaşam Parkı) is a non-profit zoo in İzmir, Turkey.[1] It was opened on 30 November 2008 following the closure of the İzmir Zoo. The park, which has nearly 1,800 animals from 132 species, was established on an area of 425,000 m2 in the district of Çiğli. It is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria. Animals brought from the closed İzmir Zoo and from abroad are exhibited in their natural environments. Around 900 thousand people visit the park annually.[2]
The construction of İzmir Wildlife Park started in 2006, after it was decided to close the İzmir Zoo, which was opened in 1937 as Turkey's first zoo and located within Kültürpark, and to move its animals to the new area in Çiğli.[3][4] İzmir Wildlife Park, which was built on an area of 425,000 m2 with a construction cost of 21 million lira, was opened by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality on 30 November 2008.[5] It has been a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria since 3 April 2011.[6] In 2013, it was deemed worthy of an award in the "municipal services, landscape and environment" category by the Organization of Islamic Capitals and Cities, which was established within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.[7] Infrastructure renovation work was carried out in the park in December 2023.[8]
