DierenPark Amersfoort


DierenPark Amersfoort is a zoo located on the West side of Amersfoort, in the province of Utrecht, on the edge of the Birkhoven forest, in the Netherlands.
WWW dierenparkamersfoort.nl𝕏 dpamersfoort

History

The zoo was founded on 22 May 1948 by Mr. Tertoolen and Mr. Knoester. Initially it was a very small zoo with a monkey, a bear, a camel and some farm animals. In the years afterwards the first carnivore arrived, and in 1956 the elephants Indra and Rani arrived.
In 1960, Mr. and Mrs. Vis-Tertoolen, one of the zoo founder's daughters and her husband, took over the management of the zoo, and the first of the chimpanzees arrived.
In 1979, 2 white southern white lions were born, but while growing up they became normally colored. In 1982 seven Sudan cheetahs were born. In 1988, the park got a savanna area and "De Ark van Amersfoort" was opened. The zoo currently has an area of about. It is home to more than 100 animal species and hosts about 800,000 visitors annually. Its ridable miniature railway, has a worldwide unique gauge of.
On September 4, 2019, the zoo's last white tiger, Maxie, died of lung cancer. She was 16 years old.

Themed areas

The park contains the following themed areas:
;* The Savanna
;* Japanese garden
;* De Stad der Oudheid
;* The Night
;* Het Rijk der Reuzen
;* De Grote Wildernis
;* Het Woud

Animal collection

Below is an overview of the animal collection from DierenPark Amersfoort. The fishes and invertebrates lists are incomplete.

Mammals

Predators
Proboscidean
Odd-toed ungulates
Even-toed ungulates
Bats
Xenarthra
Marsupials
Rodents
Primates

Birds

Birds of prey and owls
Flightless birds
Aquatic birds
Storks
Poultry birds
Parrots
Songbirds
Cranes
Doves
  • ''Otidiphaps nobilis aruensis''

Reptiles

Lizards
Crocodiles
Snakes
Tortoises

Amphibians

Fishes

Astyanax jordani

Invertebrates

Idea leuconoeAchatina fulicaExtatosoma tiaratumBrachypelma smithi

Incidents

On November 3, 2020, two male chimpanzees, Mike en Karibuna, escaped their enclosures due to human error. To prevent further escalation, the two male chimpanzees were shot. No visitors or employees were injured.