Let’s visit the Children’s zoo, a special place where you can learn about animals and find out about their fascinating relationship to the Bible. The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, as it is also known, is located in the Malha neighborhood of Jerusalem. It opened in 1940 as a small petting zoo on Rav Kook Street in the center of Jerusalem. The zoo was founded by Professor Aharon Shulov, a passionate zoologist. The zoo was moved several times because of complaints from neighbors about smells and noises. In 1992, a new zoo opened in Malha, a place where families could enjoy their time together.
Over the years, the zoo grew and is now home to over 2,200 animals representing 271 different species. You can see a variety of animals in natural habitats. The zoo has an African savanna where you can see lions and zebras, a tropical rainforest, and an underground world of mice and cockroaches. The zoo even has a special exhibit about the lesser kestrel, a bird that lived in the Morasha district.
Did you know that the zoo is dedicated to preserving endangered species? Animals mentioned in the Bible and others that are facing extinction are cared for by the skilled staff. They are working hard to breed animals in captivity and, in some cases, return them back to their natural environments. They have also successfully increased the number of Persian fallow deer in Israel. This species was thought to be extinct until some were found in Iran in 1956.
The zoo team takes great care of their animals, and they are also very passionate about educating the public. The zoo organizes tours for schools, after-school groups, special education groups, and summer camps. They even have a traveling workshop called the Zoomobile that takes small animals, sounds of larger animals, and information to schools and hospitals. You can see the amazing work they do in protecting the environment, too. Food and animal waste are used to make compost that is used to fertilize the trees and shrubs in the zoo. This is just another example of how the zoo tries to be as environmentally friendly as possible.