There is no denying that in years gone by, the Zoos of Turkey gained a reputation that was nothing to be proud of. Many visitors and organizations accused the Zoos of a lack of understanding towards the natural environments of many animal species.  Tales were rife of enclosed cages and animals that eventually went crazy through boredom and confinement.

Fast forward to the present day and it is a welcome relief to see that Turkey has taken many steps to shake off this reputation and understand the animals that they are taking care of. Zoos in Turkey are being transformed from tight, confined spaces into natural environments where animals can roam free and relax in surroundings that are typical of their habitat in the wild.

The change in routine, environment, attitude and care of animals is now leading people to call them wildlife parks instead. The aim of the parks is to take care of the animals in the best way possible and also to provide education facilities to children of all ages. Let’s take a look at three of the best wildlife parks and Zoos in Turkey.

Gaziantep Zoo

This zoo is the biggest in Turkey and within the large grounds are a variety of reptiles, mammals, birds and sea life that will ensure upon first sight that you gasp with delight.  Emphasis is placed on pairing the animals up with a partner or letting them roam in groups which is typical of their wild environment.

Visiting the zoo is great for introducing children to our animal planet as they will see every animal possible including a colorful peacock, a ferocious lion and the quiet but deadly snake.  The 1000 acres of land means that it takes a whole day to properly explore the zoo however it is a great family day out and the perfect way to make learning fun for your children.

Izmir wild life park

One zoo that faced criticism was Izmir however in 2008; it underwent major transformation and a change of location so that animals would be given more freedom and space. The entrance fee is only 2.50 lira (1 UK pound or 1.50USD) and upon entering the wildlife park, you are given a map to ensure you see everything that the zoo has to offer.

Animals are placed in large enclosures and there are large signs wrote in Turkish and English so that children can learn about the characteristics, the eating habits and the wildlife status of the animal they are seeing. Many of the animals In Izmir zoo and wildlife park have been placed on the endangered list of world species. The most famous resident of Izmir zoo is a baby Asian elephant that captures the admiration of everyone that meets her. Her name as chosen by the citizens of the city is “Izmir”.

Ankara Zoo

This zoo is a great introduction to the animal kingdom. Lions, tigers, elephants, zebras are just a few species that occupy the establishment. The owners place great focus on education and often arrange school trips and give discounted prices to student travelers.

The zoo covers ??32 hectares and was first opened in 1933. Since then it has undergone a number of changes to house over 2500 species. They state their mission is to install a love of animals in adults and children. Within the zoo is a tunnel aquarium, a dolphin center and for predatory animals, they run the Valley project. The latest addition to the zoo is a baby bear that joins a colorful range of mammals, reptiles, birds and aquarium animals.

There are not many places in the world where we can watch the animals of our planet in their natural environment. Take a day out to visit the zoo when you come to Turkey and it will certainly be a day that will ensure your camera produces a lot of wonderful holiday photographs.  

Natalie Sayin, My Destination Aegean Coast
September 2011