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History of
Zoological
Gardens (Yangon)
History
Yangon Zoological Gardens was established in 1901 with the
public donation of 240000 Kyats. The construction started at
the present site after clearing 61 acres of virgin soil, but
the first collection of wild animals initiated since 1882 in
connection with the Phayre's Museum which was then situated at
the present site of the Yangon General Hospital. The collected
animals were moved gradually to their new enclosures.
The newly established zoological gardens, by the side of the
Royal Lakes, was named Victoria Memorial Park which was
formally opened on January 1906.
A Natural History Museum which was also a part of the zoo, was
opened on the 1st of May, 1966. Furthermore, an amusement park
was opened on the 7th of October, 1997.
The Zoo
The Zoo today is one of the centers of attraction in the city
of Yangon for both local and international tourists. Covering
an area of 58.16 acres, in downtown Yangon and lying close to
the Great Shwe Dagon Pagoda, the zoo with it's collection of
nearly 200 species of animals and
big shady trees, draws nearly 1.5 million visitors
annual'y. The animals comprise of over 60 species of mammals,
70 species of birds and 20 species of reptiles. |
