Tropical World (Leeds) facts for kids
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| Date opened | 1988 |
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| Location | Roundhay Park, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England |
| Coordinates | 53°50′26.24″N 1°30′17.08″W / 53.8406222°N 1.5047444°W |
| Annual visitors | 300,000 (2019) |
| Memberships | BIAZA |
| Website | https://tropicalworld.leeds.gov.uk/ |
Tropical World is an amazing place in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, where you can see lots of tropical plants and animals! It's like stepping into a real-life jungle or desert. This special spot is a licensed zoo and is a member of BIAZA, which is a group for zoos and aquariums. It's also famous for having one of the biggest collections of tropical plants outside of the famous Kew Gardens.
Contents
History
How Tropical World Started
Did you know Tropical World has a long history? Back in 1911, a special glass building called the Coronation House was built in Roundhay Park. It was like a giant greenhouse for plants! It was rebuilt in 1939 and then updated again in 1984.
But the real magic happened in 1988. Big plans turned the old greenhouse into Tropical World. This new attraction opened with a special house just for tropical butterflies. Soon, birds, fish, reptiles, and small mammals joined the rare and unusual plants on display.
New Name and Updates
In 2008, Tropical World got a new name: The Arnold and Marjorie Ziff Tropical World. This was to honor Arnold Ziff and his wife Marjorie, who had helped the attraction with money.
Later, in 2015, Tropical World closed for a big update. It cost £1.5 million to make it even better! The part with the fish, called the aquarium, was completely redone. It got new types of fish and even an Aztec theme. A new cafe was also built, so visitors could grab a snack.
What You Can See at Tropical World
Tropical World has several special glass houses. Each house has its own climate, making it feel just like a tropical place from around the world. You'll find tropical plants and live animals inside. Some animals, like butterflies and turtles, even roam freely!
The Butterfly Zone
When you first enter, you'll step into the butterfly zone. Here, beautiful butterflies fly all around you in a swamp-like area. You can also spot terrapins and colorful koi fish swimming in the ponds. Look closely, and you might even see Morelet's crocodiles in their own space.
The Aztec Aquarium
From the butterfly zone, you'll move into an amazing Aztec-themed aquarium. This part is full of both freshwater and ocean animals. You can see bright poison dart frogs, unique axolotls, and famous clownfish. There are also mysterious octopuses, graceful stingrays, delicate seahorses, and even red-bellied piranhas and catfish.
Rainforest Floor and Reptiles
Next, you'll explore the rainforest floor section. It has a beautiful waterfall and more tropical fish. You can watch busy leafcutter ants, see birds that live on the ground, and even spot butterfly pupae (which are like cocoons before they become butterflies!). This area leads you upstairs to see reptiles like snakes, lizards, and iguanas.
Rainforest Canopy and Desert House
The rainforest canopy house is where birds, including colorful parrots, fly freely. You might also see tiny cotton-top tamarins swinging around. This leads to the desert house, which is home to a group of playful meerkats, slow tortoises, and desert birds.
The Nocturnal House
The last house is the nocturnal house. This means it's set up for animals that are active at night! Here, you can see amazing creatures like bats, armadillos, Malagasy giant rats, Egyptian fruit bats, tiny pygmy slow loris, cute mouse lemurs, and hopping potoroos.
Before you leave, there's a cafe where you can look out over the Canal Gardens, and a gift shop to find a souvenir!
Gallery
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A pond within the swamp-themed butterfly house
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Morelet's crocodile
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Red-bellied piranhas
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Yacare caiman
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The meerkats within the desert house
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The bat enclosure within the nocturnal house
