Pairi Daiza

Pairi Daiza

Pairi Daiza logo

View of the park
Date opened 1993[1]
Location Brugelette, Hainaut, Belgium
Coordinates 50°35′5″N 3°53′14″E / 50.58472°N 3.88722°E / 50.58472; 3.88722Coordinates: 50°35′5″N 3°53′14″E / 50.58472°N 3.88722°E / 50.58472; 3.88722
Land area 55 hectares (140 acres)
Number of animals 4,000+[1]
Annual visitors 900,000 (2009)[1]
Memberships EAZA,[2] ISIS[3]
Website www.pairidaiza.eu

Pairi Daiza (formerly Paradisio) is a privately owned 55-hectare (140-acre) zoo and botanical garden located in Brugelette in the province of Hainaut in Belgium. The animal theme park is located on the site of the former Cistercian Cambron Abbey, and is home to over 4,000 animals.[1]

Pairi Daiza is owned and operated by Pairi Daiza Belgium SA, a limited company listed on NYSE Alternext Brussels (code: PARD).[4] It is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), and participates in the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP).

History

The abbey tower and Château Beaulieu

In 1148, Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux (later Saint Bernard), sent twelve Cistercian monks to Cambron at the invitation of Anselm of Trazegnies, who had offered them land at the edge of the river Dender. After the abbey was dissolved, the family of the counts of the Val de Beaulieu purchased the property and built a castle, which remained in the family until purchased by the Domb family, who founded the park. The entire property has been a protected area since 1982. [5]

The zoo was opened in 1993 as a bird garden named Paradisio. By 2000, the zoo included the Oasis, a large greenhouse that was home to other animals including meerkats, otters, and alligators. In 2001, the zoo opened the Nautilus (aquarium), the Madidi Islands (squirrel monkeys), and Nosy Komba (lemurs), followed by Algoa Bay (brown fur seals) in 2002.[6]

The zoo created a series of suspension bridges in 2004 that let visitors see the exhibits from above.[7] The "Dream of Han Wu Di" opened in 2006, and is the largest Chinese garden in Europe.[6][8] A series of aviaries opened in 2007, showcasing raptors.

In 2009, the zoo opened the 4-hectare (9.9-acre) "Kingdom of Ganesha," an Indonesian themed garden.[8][9] It also changed its name to Pairi Daiza, which means "walled garden" or "orchard protected by walls"—the oldest name for paradise.[1][6]

Exhibits

Penguins at the zoo
Algoa Bay

Algoa Bay is home to the zoo's South African fur seals and penguins. Visitors can watch the animals from above the water, or from an underwater viewing area where they may come face to face with residents of the exhibit.[10]

The Nautilus

The Nautilus is an exhibit that is themed after 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. It includes exhibits with coral reefs, lagoons, and tropical waters, and is home to sea urchins, starfish, anemones, crabs, and jellyfish. Visitors can touch the stingrays, and can watch sharks, moray eels, and barracuda.[10]

The Cathedral Aviary

One of the largest aviaries in Europe, this exhibit is home to birds including scarlet ibis, American flamingos, cattle egrets, purple-crested turacos, storks, and vulturine guineafowl.[10]

The Mersus Emergo
Mersus Emergo

The Mersus Emergo exhibit is a replica of the English whaling vessel Mersus Emergo that was used for 40 years, from 1870 to 1914. The exhibit opened in 2003 and includes the SOS Biodiversity exhibit, created in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which highlights current threats to the planet and ways in which visitors can take action to help minimize these threats. The "ship" also includes the zoo's rescue center for animals such as pythons, boas, iguanas, turtles, and alligators which were handed over or abandoned by former owners who could no longer care for them. The lake and island surrounding the exhibit is home to giraffes, hippos, zebras, and antelope.[7][10]

The Oasis

This 7,000-square-metre (75,000 sq ft) greenhouse with waterfalls includes tropical plants such as bamboo, vines, banana trees, and hibiscus, and is home to animals including giant turtles, otters, meerkats, hornbills, and crocodiles.[10]

Elephants
Elephant at Pairi Daiza

The zoo is home to five Asian elephants and one African elephant.[11] The elephants are allowed to walk among the visitors, at random intervals to avoid too many people trying to come and see them. Although they are always with a trainer and caretaker, visitors can get close enough to touch the elephants, and there is some controversy over the safety of this practice.[12]

Falconry Village

This attraction opened in 2007. There are several large aviaries for birds of prey including osprey, bald eagle, Steller's sea eagle, African fish eagle, caracara, Andean condor, kites, snake eagle, eagle-owl, and many types of vultures.

Gardens

Chinese Garden

The Chinese garden, also called "The Dream of Han Wu Di," has been open since 2006. It is the largest Chinese garden in Europe, and in addition to its Chinese themed buildings, waterfalls, rocks, and plants, it is home to cranes, red pandas, and muntjak.[8]

Kingdom of Ganesha

The 4-hectare (9.9-acre) Kingdom of Ganesha, which was opened in 2009, is the largest Indonesian garden in Europe, and reproduces the plant life and feel of the Indonesian archipelago, particularly Bali.[8] Its collections include Pura Agung Shanti Buwana Balinese Hindu temple, East Nusa Tenggara and Toraja traditional houses and miniature replicas of Borobudur and Prambanan temples. In August 2009 the Indonesian government has sent a pair of Sumatran elephants to enliven the Indonesian Park. It is the first endangered animal breeding loan program that Indonesia ever had in Europe.[13]

Rose garden

Established in 2004, this rose garden is home to more than 700 varieties of roses from around the world, including rose bushes, climbing roses, vines, and rambling roses.[8]

Andalusian garden

This garden near the park entrance is inspired by Moorish patios and the palaces of Spain. In addition to plants including ferns, fig trees, persimmons, and albizia, this garden includes many ponds and fountains.[8]

Olive garden

The collection of plants in this garden was originally part of the Ghent Flower Show. The garden includes olive plants, fig trees, a cork oak, and a large patch of lavender which attracts butterflies.[8]

Other attractions

A steam powered train circles the two large lakes in the zoo, and gives visitors a view of many animals including giraffes, zebras, tapirs, flamingos, and bisons.[7][14]

The future

Future plans of the park include Lost Horizon, a project that will focus on the Incas, and Thousand and One Nights, a project in which Moroccan craftsmen will turn the Oasis into an oriental palace.[6] Pairi Daiza now also hosts 2 giant pandas which are on loan for 15 years as from April 2014.[15]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "What is Pairi Daiza". pairidaiza.eu. Pairi Daiza. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  2. ↑ "EAZA Member Zoos & Aquariums". eaza.net. EAZA. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  3. ↑ "Member Locator". isis.org. ISIS. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  4. ↑ "Pairi Daiza". pairidaiza.eu. Pairi Daiza. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  5. ↑ "What is the history of the Domain de Cambron.". pairidaiza.eu. Pairi Daiza. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Paradisio became Pairi Daiza". palmvrienden.net. Jungle Garden. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 "Paradise Found". expatica.com. Expatica Communications BV. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "The largest Chinese garden of Europe". pairidaiza.eu. Pairi Daiza. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  9. ↑ "Pairi Daiza & "Le Pass": Two Must-See Attractions". belgium-tourism.net. Belgian Tourist Office. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Highlights of Pairi Daiza". pairidaiza.eu. Pairi Daiza. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  11. ↑ "Present living elephants at Parc Paradisio (Pairi Daiza) in Belgium". elephant.se. Elephant Encyclopedia. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  12. ↑ "Walking With Wild Elephants Is Newest Hottest Tourist Attraction In Belgium". nodeju.com. NJD World. 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  13. ↑ "Sumatran elephants on loan in Belgium". The Jakarta Post. August 22, 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  14. ↑ "Pairi Daiza". pairidaiza.eu. Pairi Daiza. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  15. ↑ Jvt. "Premier Di Rupo zal panda’s verwelkomen". De Standaard.

External links

Media related to Pairi Daiza at Wikimedia Commons

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