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Yangon Zoological Gardens (Yangon Zoo) is the oldest and the second largest zoo in Myanmar (Burma). Located immediately north of downtown Yangon near Kandawgyi Lake, the 69.25-acre recreational park also includes a museum of natural history, an aquarium and an amusement park. With a collection of nearly 200 species and 1100 species, the zoo draws nearly 1.5 million visitors annually. The zoo is operated by the Forest Department under the Ministry of Forestry.

Yangon Zoo is open from 8 am to 6 pm daily.

History

The first collection of wild animals in Yangon began in 1882 in connection with Phayre's Museum, then situated at the present site of Yangon General Hospital. Funded by the public donation of 240,000 kyats, construction started at the present site near Royal Lake (Kandawgyi Lake) in 1901. The newly established 42-acre zoological gardens was formally opened as Victoria Memorial Park and Zoological Gardens in honor of Queen Victoria. The major attraction at the opening was the white elephant of King Thibaw, the last king of Burma, whom the British had exiled to India only 20 years earlier. In 1908 the Victoria Memorial Park and Zoological Gardens Act was passed giving the establishment a legal recognition.

The zoo was vandalized and looted during World War II. In 1951, the Burmese government changed the name to Rangoon Zoological Gardens and Parks. In 1962, the zoo's area was enlarged to the present size of 69.25 acres. The enlarged compound opened doors to new attractions: a museum of natural history on 4 May 1966, an amusement park on 7 October 1997, and an aquarium on 1 October 1998. The aquarium is operated by the Department of Fisheries.

About 420 animals including elephants, crocodiles, tigers, deer, leopards, monkeys from Yangon Zoo were relocated to Naypyidaw Zoo in February 2008.

Attractions

Land animals

The zoo has 145 species of land animals, including 8 endangered species (the tiger, the takin, Asian elephant, the clouded leopard, the Burmese large tortoise, the great hornbill, the marsh crocodile and the eld's deer). In 2000, the number of land animals in the zoo was 1203 while that in 2006 was 1100.

Flora

In 2000, the zoo had over 300 species of flora totaling over 15,000.

Museum of Natural History

The Natural History Museum, located in the southern end of the park, houses exhibits of taxidermy, specializing in rare species of Burmese fauna with explanatory charts and captions. Many of the curators are postgraduate students of zoology from Yangon University.

Animal Performance Shows

Various animal shows are performed on weekends and public holidays during the fall and summer seasons (November to April).

Aquarium

Opened in 1998, the aquarium is the first large scale aquarium in the country.

Amusement Park

The amusement park has a number of rides including the city's only roller-coaster.

Reference

1. ^ Wai Phyo Myint and Khin Hninn Phyu (2006-01-30). "Yangon Zoological Gardens celebrates 100th anniversary". The Myanmar Times. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
2. ^ "History of Zoological Gardens (Yangon)". Retrieved 2008-09-27.
3. ^ Dr Khin Maung Nyunt (2000-03-01). "At the Yangon Zoo". Myanmar Perspectives. Retrieved 2008-09-27. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
4. "Myanmar unveils zoo in remote new capital". AFP. 2008-03-27.

16°47′30″N 96°9′34″E / 16.79167°N 96.15944°E / 16.79167; 96.15944

• Buildings and structures in Burma
• Zoos in Burma
• Yangon