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Attica Zoological Park

Attica Park, officially Attica Zoological Park (AZP), is a private zoo located in the suburb of Spata, approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of Athens, Greece. It is the only zoo in Greece. The zoo is home to more than 1,500 animals representing 220 species, in an area of 200-acre (81 ha). It is open 365 days a year.

History
The zoo, opened its doors to the public in May 2000, initially as a bird park, hosting the third-largest bird collection in the world featuring 1100 birds of 300 species, farm animals for the younger visitors and three very impressive walk-in aviaries – miniatures of three continents (Africa, Asia and the Americas) in which visitors can walk and admire the relevant bird fauna and flora. In February 2010, Atu, a zoo-born pygmy hippopotamus, that was born in February 2009, was transferred to Duisburg Zoo in Germany, after a request by the EEP representative. The breeding of this species is highly important due to the fact that the birth rate of male hippos has fallen in contrast to the female one. Moreover, death rates amount to 30% within the first 60 days of their birth. His parents came from Edinburgh Zoo and from Aalborg Zoo. The zoo received the pair in November 2004, and since then three calves have been born to this pairing. The first one being also a male that was sent to Zurich Zoo and the last one being a female named Matima, that died a month and a half later due to a sudden pulmonary edema. In January 2025, the zoo announced the transfer of its five dolphins to a Florida aquarium. In May 2025, the dolphins will be transferred to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. == Exhibits and attractions ==
Exhibits and attractions
World of Reptiles World of Reptiles opened in April 2001 and it was the first addition to the zoo after its opening. Among the species in World of Reptiles are the cane toad, Madagascar day gecko, green tree python, yellow anaconda, tokay gecko, western ratsnake and the carpet python. Greek Forest The Greek Forest exhibit opened the following year in the summer of 2002 and includes species rarely seen in Greece. This exhibit features Eurasian Lynxes, wild boars, Eurasian grey wolves, Eurasian brown bears, fallow deer, Griffon Vultures and the endangered Cretan wild goat also known as the kri-kri. In the past it also featured Eurasian Otters. Birds of Prey Birds of Prey is a row of cages for multiple raptor species. The exhibit is home to bald eagles, white-backed vultures, white-headed vultures, Egyptian vultures, king vultures, griffon vultures, bateleurs and palm-nut vultures. Nearby is the zoo's farm and petting zoo where visitors can see and pet Cameroon sheep, Nigerian Dwarf goats, zebus, Falabella ponies, and an endangered breed of pony, the Skyrian pony and more. . Water World Water World consists of two big pond and an elevated kiosk that offers a view of the whole zoo. The pond is home to a variety of waterfowl and other aquatic birds. Water World residents include Egyptian geese, black swans, red-breasted geese, barnacle geese, ruddy shelducks, white storks and Canada geese. Parrots & Lory Land Parrots consists of a row of cages that are home to the zoos many parrot species. The exhibit is home to monk parakeets, keas, palm cockatoos, yellow-collared lovebirds, hooded parrots and African grey parrots. Lory Land consists of a walk-through exhibit, that is home to rainbow lorikeets, chattering lories, purple-naped lories and yellow-bibbed lories. Animals of S. America Animals of S. America consists of four enclosures, one of which is a walk-through aviary, for species native to South America. This area is home to a family of greater rheas (two of which are leucistic), capybaras, Patagonian maras, llamas and giant anteaters. The walk-through aviary, was the first exhibit in this area, from when the zoo was just a bird park. The aviary is home to 11 birds native to the Americas as a whole, but it mostly features birds from South America, such as scarlet ibises, Chiloé wigeons, southern screamers, wood ducks and guira cuckoos. There can be found also a big cage with mamy species of Macaws such as: Red-and-green macaw, Military macaw and Blue and gold macaw and also a new exhibit with a fishing cat can be seen nearby. Birds of Africa Birds of Africa consists of a walk-through aviary, home to 10 bird species, the smallest mixed species aviary out of the three walk-though aviaries of the zoo, and its home to species such as the village weaver, glossy ibis, blue-winged goose, African spoonbill, superb starling, blacksmith lapwing and the hamerkop. Birds of Asia Birds of Asia consists of a walk-through aviary, home to 12 bird species, the largest mix of species out of the three continental themed aviaries, and its home to species from Asia and Australasia, such as the demoiselle crane, the crested pigeon, the red-whiskered bulbul, the maned duck and the Torresian imperial-pigeon. Next to the aviary its the zoo's main plaza and Educational Center. ==Other animals==
Other animals
Other zoo residents, that do not belong to any particular attraction are the greater flamingoes, the Indian crested porcupine, the European bee-eater, the serval and more. The zoo's big cats include Southern African lions, Sumatran tigers, Persian leopards, pumas and as of 2020 a pair of clouded leopards that recently had cubs. The zoo has several walk-through enclosures, including a "Lemur Forest" the Birds of Africa, Asia and America the Lory Land and the Bat forest. In December 2015, two male Asian elephants, named Leso and Myo, arrived at the park from Emmen Zoo in the Netherlands. In 2018 the zoo welcomed a cauldron of Rodrigues flying foxes. List of animals that have not been mentioned == Future Extensions ==
Future Extensions
In 2021, the zoo began constructions for an Asian enclosure that will house red pandas, Chinese muntjacs and Asian small-clawed otters, and will expect them in the following months. In June of 2022 the zoo announced the arrival of a pair of Linnaeus's two-toed sloths, with the male coming from Munich Zoo and the female coming from Parque de las Ciencias which also houses the BioDome which is where the Granada's zoo is located. == Breeding programs ==
Breeding programs
in the park. Attica Zoological Park actively participates in major programs of global importance. One of this programs was developed by WWF Russia and the Russian Academy of Sciences in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources in Russia, the European Endangered Species Program of EAZA (EEP) of this species, Sochi Natural Park and other key partners. The aim of this program is the breeding of this species in a controlled environment and the gradual reintroduction of their offspring in the Northern Caucasus, where today there are less than 10 individuals left in the wild, risking complete extinction of the species. The Attica Zoological Park, with the help of Parc des Félins in France, acts as a key center for the safe and successful breeding of Persian leopards, by hosting a breeding pair in a specially designed enclosure. == Conservation ==
Conservation
In May 2001, the Attica Zoological Park became a member of EAZA. The AZP is actively involved in 37 EEPs (European Endangered species Programs), and 31 species in the park are monitored by ESBs (European Studbooks), as well as other advanced methods such as Species360 (International Species Information System). A first aid station for the Mediterranean monk seal was built in the zoo's premises in collaboration with MOm (Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal). The station was built and was fully equipped with the full financial support of PELARGOS. The station mostly helps young seals that lost their mothers due to weather conditions, until they can be reintroduction in the National Marine Park of Alonnisos Northern Sporades. Since 2015 the zoo has nursed and released six monk seals with the last two being released in 2019. == Incidents and criticism ==
Incidents and criticism
In June 2010 the dolphinarium started working with shows by sea lions and dolphins. There were initially four dolphins bought from the Lithuanian Marine Institute, then seven more were added from the same source. The Greek Green Party took Attica Zoological Park to court claiming animal welfare issues in 2011. In April 2011, a provisional order was issued by the Athens Court temporarily prohibiting the operation of the dolphinarium. In December 2018, two jaguars, escaped their controlled area, triggering the security protocol. The two big cats, named Jenny and Spotty, escaped their enclosure, after a gazelle, that was ready to be transferred to another facility, escaped and crashed on the enclosure's glass fence. The animals escaped from a hole in the broken glass while the park was still open. The staff, with the help of the park's vet, shot the two animals and killed them. ==References==
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