In beautiful nature accessible by public transport, app 200 metres from the town centre in a part called Kavecany there has been a modern ZOO since 1979. It is mainly specialised on European and Asian fauna. The area of 292 hectares makes this ZOO one of three biggest ZOOs in Europe. Oak forest grows 228 hectares out of the whole area.
About 100 hectares of ZOO are accessible to visitors. The rest of the area is used for breeding 'Hucul' horses, maintenance area, back-up area for quarantine buildings, hospital, and first aid rooms as well as the space for breeding rare and protected races of Carpathian fauna.
Constant intention of ZOO takers is to create optimally large natural conditions for bred animals and to improve the ZOO animal departments. Since 1982 the ZOO has been called Town Building of Youth. Pupils and students from Kosice schools as well as working youth helped very much in construction of individual breeding departments and engineering networks. Ceremonial opening of breeding departments took place on the 2nd July 1986 and the first visitors could enjoy 23 new kinds of animals on breeding area of 7 hectares. Nowadays this area is built on 40 hectares and offers possibility to see 132 kinds of animals and altogether 845 individuals.
Visitors enjoy fivelets of brown bear born in ZOO Kosice on the 6th January 2002. They will be listed in Guinness Book of Records. Great interest is in unique breed of rocky chamois, black wolves, different races of antelopes, monkeys and working animals, birds and small predators.
The first animal bred in the ZOO was 'Hucul' mere. It is the most successful breeding achievements in this ZOO. Altogether there were more than 80 foals bred in here, which helped to save this rare kind of horse. Since 1996 the breed has been listed in Geofond of the Slovak Republic. There has been very successful breeding of other protected representatives of Carpathian fauna as well as animals from Asia, Africa, Australia and American continent.
Apart from animals children can also enjoy playgrounds. The biggest one was donated by Opavia Company and it is located near refreshment kiosks and hippodrome where young visitors can take a ride on hucul and pony horses. The guide is available for group visitors. ZOO school is being prepared. The area of ZOO is also used for organising exhibitions of children's drawings and pictures. Open-air theatre is used for organising regular culture events. Especially children can present their talent and skills in front of numerous audience that can have their visit to ZOO Kosice more interesting.
Open:
March from 1st to 31st - 10:00 - 17:00
Summer: from 1st April till 30th September - 9:00 - 19:00
October from 1st to 31st - 10:00 - 17:00
Winter: from 1st November till 28th February - 10:00 - 15:00
