Home»All Photographs»Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem

Eco-displays are the latest developments in zoos as far as showing animals in their natural habitat. Burgers' Bush (1988) was the first example of this. But a long history preceded it. Johan Burgers, the founder of Burgers' Zoo (1913) was the first to build predator accommodations without bars in the Netherlands, immense rock parties and valleys to show his animals to the visitors in a more spacious and natural-looking environment. Later giant aviaries appeared where, for instance, you can come eye to eye with the White Ibis or with vultures. In 1968 Burgers' Zoo opened the first Safari Park on the European continent. Later, in the seventies, the zoo became well-known for its chimpanzee colony, the wolf forest and later also the gorilla island. Each time space and freedom for the animal were of the essence.