Park

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Royal Burgers' Zoo consists of seven distinctive sections. Six of them are themed around various ecosystems around the world. In the seventh area, Burgers' Park, visitors encounter a variety of animals and birds from different continents and habitats. This is where many children's favourite animals live, including penguins, elephants and great apes!
Burgers' Park starts right after the main entrance, at the African Penguin enclosure Strolling along the sloping paths, visitors will meet Asian elephants, meerkats, panthers and flamingos. The Park stretches along the main route of the entire zoo. The gorillas and chimpanzees live on spacious islands. Nearby, you can also encounter all kinds of tropical birds and wallabies.

A rich history

History buffs will be interested in photos and information about Burgers' Zoo's rich history along the main route in Burgers' Park. Just a few years ago, this section also held historical enclosures from decades ago, which have been modified for small animals. The former tiger valley and what used to be the orangutan enclosure have also been completely renovated. Ring-tailed lemurs, squirrel monkeys and coatis feel completely at ease in their new enclosures which opened in 2019.

Plants

Because the Park does not represent one particular continent or habitat, and because this part of the zoo is outdoors, the vegetation consists mainly of native species. Shrubs and flowering plants typical of the Veluwe have been planted to promote insect and bird diversity. As a result, nature lovers will also be able to discover various native species between the enclosures. We sow annual and biennial flower meadows to support bees, butterflies and other insects. They erupt in colourful splendour, particularly in early summer.

Animals

Some of the species in Burgers' Park are endangered. The great apes, of course, as well as the New Zealand kea parrots and the forest reindeer. There are less than a thousand Sri Lankan black panthers in the wild. A breeding programme for these endangered species is often necessary to build up a safe backup population. However, making offspring is not the only goal of a breeding programme. In some cases, a good population structure requires a bachelor group. Our groups of ring-tailed lemurs and Peruvian squirrel monkeys, for example, consist exclusively of males at the request of the breeding programme coordinators for these species. We also have no aspirations to breed Asian elephants. We mostly focus on the care of older female elephants who, for whatever reason, no longer get on with their group. They get to live out their old age in Arnhem.

Education

There are a lot of interesting things to tell about the attractive and largely social animal species in Burgers' Park. For each mammal species in this area, you will find information on larger theme displays in addition to the usual species signs. Information, for example, about the golden jackal, which can now be found in the wild in the Netherlands; or about the correct interpretation of gorilla behaviour or the care of elderly elephants. In the aviary, the peculiarity of the birds as an animal group is highlighted using signs with colourful photographs and drawings.