Jerusalem Biblical Zoo facts for kids
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A black-handed spider monkey swings on a rope over the artificial lake at the zoo.
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| Date opened | 1940 |
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| Location | Malha, Jerusalem, Israel |
| Land area | 62-acre (25 ha) |
| Coordinates | 31°44′58″N 35°10′37″E / 31.74944°N 35.17694°E |
| No. of animals | 2,200 (as of 2009) |
| No. of species | 271 (as of 2009) |
| Memberships | WAZA, EAZA, IZA, Species360 |
The Tisch Family Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem, often called the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, is a popular zoo in the Malha neighborhood of Jerusalem, Israel. It's famous for its collection of animals from Africa and Asia, especially those mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. The zoo is also very successful at breeding endangered species, helping to protect animals that are at risk of disappearing forever.
From 2005 to 2007, the Biblical Zoo was the most visited tourist spot in Israel. In 2009, a record 738,000 people came to visit!
Contents
History of the Zoo
How the Zoo Started
The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo first opened in September 1940. It was a small "animal corner" on Rabbi Kook Street in central Jerusalem. The zoo was started by Aharon Shulov, a professor who studied animals at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Professor Shulov had a few goals for the zoo. He wanted it to be a place for his students to do research. He also wanted to gather animals, reptiles, and birds that are mentioned in the Bible. He hoped the zoo would help connect people from the university with the general public. The very first animal at the zoo was a desert monitor lizard, brought by British soldiers in 1940.
Early on, the zoo faced challenges because it focused on biblical animals. It was hard to know exactly which animals were meant by some names in the Bible. Also, many animals mentioned in the Bible were already extinct in Israel. This was due to hunting, habitat loss, and other reasons. So, the zoo decided to also include endangered species from all over the world.
The first location caused many complaints from neighbors because of the smell, noise, and fear of animals escaping. Because of these complaints, the zoo moved in 1941 to a new spot on Shmuel HaNavi Street. Even there, neighbors still complained, but the zoo stayed for six more years.
Moving to Mount Scopus
In 1947, the zoo moved again to land on Mount Scopus, provided by Hebrew University. By this time, it had 122 animals. The zoo was on Mount Scopus during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and the siege of Jerusalem. Food was very scarce for people, so it was even harder to feed the animals. Zookeepers had to hunt for stray dogs to feed the meat-eating animals. Many animals still died, and some less dangerous ones had to be set free.
The Romema Years (1950–1991)
After the war, access to Mount Scopus was limited. So, the United Nations helped the zoo move to a larger area in Givat Komuna, near the Romema neighborhood. When the zoo arrived in Romema, only a few animals were left: two wolves, one hyena, one lion, and one leopard.
The zoo stayed in Romema from 1950 to 1991 and became a much-loved place in Jerusalem. It grew to 28 acres and had over 200 species, including most of the 130 animals mentioned in the Bible. Thanks to its breeding program, 11 species that had disappeared from Israel were brought back into nature reserves. These included the Syrian brown bear and two types of fallow deer.
During the Six-Day War, 110 animals were killed by shrapnel and stray bullets.
Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek became a big supporter of the zoo. He wanted to move it to an even bigger location and make it a modern, top-notch attraction for everyone. Around 1990, the Tisch family from New York agreed to donate $5 million for the project. The old zoo land was sold for housing, raising more money. The city, tourism ministry, and other groups also helped.
The Modern Zoo in Malha (1993–Present)
The zoo closed its Romema location in 1991 and reopened in the Malha valley in 1993. This new location is about 7 kilometers southwest of the city center.
The Zoo Today
The zoo is now officially called the Tisch Family Zoological Gardens in Jerusalem. It had a soft opening on February 28, 1993, and officially opened on September 9, 1993.
Zoo Design and Layout
The zoo was designed by Miller-Blum & Associates and built by the Moriah Jerusalem Development Corporation. It covers 62 acres in a valley surrounded by hills. The park is filled with trees and shrubs native to Israel, many of which are mentioned in the Bible.
The zoo has two main levels. A special train takes visitors on a circular path from the lower level to the upper level. The entire park is easy to get around for everyone, including those using wheelchairs.
The main feature of the lower level is a large artificial lake. This lake has two islands where monkeys live. Water flows into the lake from pools and waterfalls, starting at an artificial waterfall called "Moses' Rock." This name reminds people of the well that provided water for the Israelites in the desert. The water is cleaned and reused, flowing back to Moses' Rock through underground pipes.
At the west end of the park, there's a two-story, boat-shaped visitor's center made of wood. It looks like Noah's Ark! Inside, you'll find an auditorium, an art gallery, a gift shop, a snack bar, and computers with information about biblical animals.
The zoo has several snack bars and a coffee shop. There are also picnic tables and benches throughout the park. Kids can enjoy an animal-themed jungle gym and a sculpture garden. This garden has 23 amazing animal sculptures by French artist Niki de Saint Phalle. They are decorated with stones, mirrors, and mosaics, and kids can even climb on them! There's also an underground Noah's Ark sculpture designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta. You can also watch 3D films about animals in a small theater near the zoo entrance.
Animal Exhibits
Instead of old-fashioned bars and cages, the zoo uses open areas. These areas are separated from visitors by trenches, moats, bridges, and glass windows. Outdoor exhibits also have indoor shelters for animals in bad weather.
You can get close to animals in a few special areas. These include Lemur Land, the "petting pool" at the Wet Side Story exhibit, and the children's zoo. In the children's zoo, kids can pet and feed pygmy goats, sheep, rabbits, and guinea pigs.
Animals and birds live in habitats that look like their natural homes. These range from an African savannah to a tropical rain forest. There's even an underground world for mice and cockroaches. The lesser kestrel exhibit looks like a house in Jerusalem, where these birds used to nest. For every animal or bird mentioned in the Bible, its information sign includes a Bible verse in Hebrew, Arabic, and English.
Behind the scenes, the zoo has a special animal medical center. It has rooms for surgery, recovery, and treatment, plus a lab. There's also a quarantine unit where new animals are checked for diseases. This center cares for most zoo animals. Larger animals like elephants and giraffes are treated in their own exhibits.
The zoo's parking lot can hold 500 cars. The street next to the zoo is named Derech Aharon Shulov (Aharon Shulov Way) after the zoo's founder.
Animal Species
In 2009, the zoo was home to 2,200 animals from 271 different species. This included 60 types of fish, 68 types of mammals, 28 types of reptiles, 11 types of amphibians, and 104 types of birds. Many new species have been added in recent years.
Animal Food Sources
The zoo gets a huge amount of fruits and vegetables for its animals for free! This is thanks to an agreement made by Professor Shulov. It involves Israeli companies that follow Jewish law about tithing their produce. The animals at the Biblical Zoo receive almost a ton of fresh fruits and vegetables every day.
Meat for the meat-eating animals comes from kosher butchers, veterinarians, and fishermen. Branches from edible plants in the park, like date palms and olive trees, are also used as food.
During Passover, the entire zoo becomes chametz-free. This means no wheat-based foods. The animal feed is switched to rice-based ingredients for a few weeks before and after the holiday.
Zoo Themes and Focus
Wildlife Conservation and Reproduction
The zoo's main goal is to protect endangered species. This includes animals mentioned in the Bible that are now extinct in Israel, like the Asian lion and the Syrian brown bear. It also includes animals like the Persian fallow deer, which has been brought back to Israel. The zoo also helps critically endangered animals worldwide, such as the Asian elephant and the golden lion tamarin.
To do this, the zoo works to breed animals in captivity. Sometimes, they even release these animals back into the wild. For example, the zoo has successfully increased the number of Persian fallow deer in Israel. This deer was thought to be extinct until a small group was found in Iran in 1956. Four of these deer were brought to Israel in 1978, and now there are hundreds!
The zoo also has a special program for the blind cave shrimp Typhlocaris galilea.
At the zoo's National Center for Artificial Incubation of Raptor Eggs, eggs from raptors (birds of prey) that are extinct or very rare in Israel are hatched. The griffon vulture, an endangered species, is a big focus. The zoo has even successfully bred vultures with crippled wings, which was thought to be impossible! They have also used two male vultures to hatch and raise chicks from incubated eggs.
Baby animals that are not cared for by their parents are raised by the zoo's veterinary staff. For example, a newborn tiger cub was taken home by a staff member to be bottle-fed when its mother ignored it.
The zoo also treats wild animals and birds that are injured. If they recover, they are released back into nature. If not, they might find a home in another zoo.
Public Education
Teaching visitors is another key goal of the zoo. Shai Doron, the zoo's director-general, says that educating visitors is why the zoo exists.
Many Israelis, both Jewish and Arab, are not very familiar with zoos. They can get very excited when they see the animals. Dozens of zoo staff are present during busy times to stop visitors from throwing food or other items at the animals. Animals have been hurt by things thrown into their enclosures. Over the years, the zoo staff says that public awareness has improved.
Through school groups, after-school programs, and summer camps, children learn about and interact with animals. The zoo's educational activities, including its youth movement, help bring together Arab and Jewish young people. The zoo also has a traveling workshop called the Zoomobile. It brings small animals in cages and sounds of larger animals to schools and hospitals.
Environmental Awareness
The zoo teaches about environmentalism through its exhibits and by its own actions. Since 1997, it has had an "ecological maze" with signs about environmental challenges in Israel. In 2010, it opened a new aquatic exhibit called "Wet Side Story." This exhibit teaches about water conservation and water challenges in the Middle East and worldwide. It shows rare marine life in large aquariums and water tanks. There's also an outdoor "petting pool" where visitors can touch and feed koi fish.
To be "green," the zoo has its own sewage treatment system. It uses recycled water to water its gardens. Food and animal waste are mixed with plant material to make compost, which is used to fertilize the trees and shrubs. The zoo even sells its organic compost in the gift shop!
Research and Affiliations
The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo takes part in research projects about animals and the environment. It also publishes scientific papers. The zoo offers grants for research on animal welfare, breeding endangered species, and animal health. This is done through the Aharon Shulov Fund for the Study of Animals in Captivity.
The zoo also hosts academic meetings and student research at the Gabi Center. This center is named after Dr. Gabi Eshkar, who was the zoo's chief veterinarian for over 17 years.
Zoo Partnerships
The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo is a full member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). It is also a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), the Israel Zoo Association, and the International Species Information System (ISIS). These memberships help the zoo work with other zoos around the world to protect animals.
Visitors and Volunteers
In 2009, a record 738,000 people visited the zoo. Many visitors come in groups, including school groups and summer camps. Over 120,000 visitors came in groups in 2009. This includes 63 groups of children with special needs, both Jewish and Arab, who take part in weekly animal-assisted therapy sessions. The zoo can hold up to 11,000 visitors at one time.
More than 50 volunteers help the zoo every week. The zoo also has a youth movement called Tnuat Noach ("Noah's Movement"). Teens aged 13–15 volunteer in the children's zoo, small animal building, and other sections. They meet weekly with zoo staff and go on hikes in nature reserves.
In March 2013, a Zoo Guide app for iPhone and iPad was released. It helps visitors navigate the zoo, learn about animals, and see daily feeding schedules.
Special Events
The zoo is open every day of the year except for a few holidays. It holds special activities on certain dates. Tree-planting is an annual tradition on Tu Bishvat. On Purim, there's a parade, a costume contest, and a tug-of-war between the Hapoel Jerusalem Basketball Team and an elephant (the elephant always wins!). On Israel's Election Day, visitors can vote for their favorite animal. During the summer, the zoo offers tours to see nocturnal animals at night. It also hosts jazz concerts, juggling, and workshops during school breaks.
Future Plans
The zoo has plans for future expansion. These plans are created by the International Zoological Committee, which includes experts in wildlife conservation, zoo management, education, and tourism.
New plans include an educational center and an exhibit called Yemei Bereishit (In the Days of Genesis). This exhibit will show what biblical times were like and will not allow modern devices like cell phones. This $30 million project will be paid for by private donations.
