The Lithuanian Zoo in the country’s second-largest city of Kaunas opens to the public on Monday after more than two years of renovation.
At the opening ceremony, visitors will be able to see new animals that have arrived at the zoo for the first time.
“I’m sure you’ve heard about the rhinos as they’ve been here for a month, and they’re really getting used to it. We also have an anteater and the zoo has never had one before. We also have mongoose, damans, various reptiles, birds, cheetahs”, Gintare Stankevice, director of the Lithuanian Zoo, said.
The reconstruction covered 80 percent of the zoo and involved the improvement of housing conditions for animals, the construction of seven new buildings, the renovation of the old ones, the refurbishment of the animal enclosures, and the installation of new spaces for visitors and staff. Also the pathways have been tidied up, playgrounds for children have been put in place, and the zoo now has an exotarium with an educational center, and an observation tower with an elevator.
The Lithuanian Zoo has animals of 149 species, more than 50 of which are protected. The number of protected species is set to increase over the next five years.
The Lithuanian Zoo has not undergone major renovation since opening in 1938. The renovation has cost 24 million euros.
Source: BNS
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