GaiaZOO

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GaiaZOO
Date opening 1 June 2005[1]
Location Kerkrade
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Land area 25 hectares (62 acres)
Number of species approx. 100 [2]
Website www.gaiazoo.nl

GaiaZOO is a Dutch zoo located in Kerkrade. It opened in 2005 as GaiaPark[3] with approximately 80 different species.[1] As of 2014 the zoo hosts approximately 100 different species.[2]

Naming

GaiaZOO is named after Gaia, the Greek goddess of the Earth. It also refers to the Gaia hypothesis which proposes the Earth is one big living organism. This organism includes all Earths' fauna, flora, water, sky and surface.[4]

Species

GaiaZOO hosts approximately 100 different species.[5] Besides traditional zoo animals such as gorillas, rhinoceroses, lions, zebras ... GaiaZOO has some species which cannot be found in other Dutch zoos such as Amazon bush dogs, wolverines, muskoxes and bat-eared foxes.[5]

EAZA and breeding programmes

GaiaZOO is member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and participates in breeding programs.

In 2014 three lion cubs were born and were named after the daughters of the Dutch king Willem-Alexander. Unfortunately, on Koningsdag the adult lions killed and ate the cubs.[6][7]

DinoDome

As from season 2009 GaiaZOO has Europe's biggest indoor dinosaur-themed playground named DinoDome with an area of 2,500 square metres (27,000 sq ft).[8][9]

References

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External links