Korkeasari

Korkeasari Zoo was established in 1889 with the aim of providing education and inspiration, allowing people in the park to engage in exhilarating leisure activities. Transmitting knowledge about nature and the environment, as well as species conservation, remains one of the most important tasks of zoos. As our environment changes, zoos are like a window to understand natural diversity, different habitats, and their animal populations.

Even before the establishment of the zoo, Korkesari Island was used for entertainment by the people of Helsinki, but there was also a gunpowder warehouse for the Russian Empire's military institutions on the island. Korkeasaari also discovered the first cup-shaped stone in the capital region, estimated to have a history dating back 3500 years. Kuppikivi is located in the Korpi area of the zoo.

Zoo in its early years

On May Day in 1883, Korkeasaari was leased to Helsinki Brewery, which began construction and renovation work on the island and began planning a zoo. At first, the island could only be reached by steamship. The decorative restaurant Pukki, designed by architect Theodor H ö ijer, was completed in 1884 and is still used as a restaurant today. In the following years, a waiting room decorated for passengers and a gardener's apartment were completed. Vegetable gardens and stone exhibitions have been established on the island for educational purposes, and there are also other activities in the area, such as bowling alleys.

Anniskeluyhti ö is also considering establishing a zoo in Alppila, Helsinki, where the park area El ä intarha is still located today. However, this proposal was rejected by the city council, and the initial plan was to establish a zoo in Korkeasaari, which was realized in 1889. The donated animals had already been received before this - the first batch arrived a year ago with Misha and Masha bears.

At that time, animals were still purchased and captured from the wild: the young polar bear Fink arrived in Kokisari from the Arctic Ocean in 1890 and built a polar bear castle on the west coast of the island the following year. The stone ancient bear castle was also completed in the following years. The initial purpose was to focus on northern species, but if there is space, tropical animals can also be accepted. The monkeys and parrots that arrived on board were donated to the zoo. We also donated a bronze goat statue that still stands in front of Puki restaurant today. The statue was originally purchased at the Paris World's Fair in the year Korkeasaari was founded.

Develop business towards modernity

After the prohibition law came into effect, Anniskeluyhti ö had to abandon the zoo in 1919 and become the property of the city of Helsinki. Decided to fully reserve Korkeasaari for the use of the zoo. This building is now known as Monkey Castle and was originally completed in the 1930s for the use of lions. Initially, its interior required separate payment. During the 1952 Olympic Games, a new bear castle was built, which has been renovated and is still used by bears to this day.

In the 1960s, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the zoo, Kissalaakso was completed, which included endangered Northeast tigers and snow leopards. As early as the same decade, Kokisari gained a reputation as a successful snow leopard keeper - at that time, the birth of a litter of snow leopards and the survival of their cubs were very rare. The administrator of Korkeasari at the time also kept the variety list of Korkeasari until 2010. Nowadays, Kokisari maintains a register of the bloodlines of antelopes, forest deer, and owls. In 1974, a bridge was built between Korkeasaari and Mustikkamaa, allowing the zoo to be open year-round. In the following decade, Kissalaakso underwent renovations, and after the mid-1990s, Amazonia and Borealia houses were completed.

Korkeasaari was one of the founding members of the European Association of Zoos (EAZA) in 1992 and is still actively involved in the organization's activities to this day. In the joint conservation projects and activities of the zoo, funds have been raised for the natural conservation of animal habitats and people's awareness of the issue of threatened species has been raised. Since the 1990s, Korkeasaari has been involved in restoration projects in Finland and internationally, increasing the number of endangered species by releasing animals born in shelters into the wild. In Kolkesari, injured wild animals have been receiving treatment, and Palosari's wildlife hospital underwent renovation in 2006.

From agency to non-profit foundation

Since the beginning of 2018, the management form of Korkeasaari Zoo has transformed from an institution in Helsinki to a non-profit foundation. As a foundation, Korkeasaari can participate more extensively in international cooperation and species conservation. The Korkeasaari Zoo Foundation does not pursue economic profits, and the city of Helsinki continues to support the operation of Korkeasaari.

For over a hundred years, the landscape and operation of zoos have undergone changes. The concept of how to take care of animals or what facilities and stimuli they need is completely different from when zoos were established. The ancient stone bear castle is no longer used as an animal farm, but still exists to remind people of the history of zoos. Throughout Europe, the construction of animal farms is currently regulated by laws and regulations aimed at animal welfare, and extensive scientific research has been conducted on animal welfare in Korkeasaari.

In the past, animals were bought into zoos, but now, as part of international conservation programs, animals move between zoos. Korkeasaari, along with other participating zoos, raises endangered animals to ensure species conservation and that the animals do not come from the wild. Since the 1970s, the number of animal species in Korkeasaari has been decreasing, as the goal is to provide larger shelters for animals and emphasize animal species that belong to conservation programs in the list.

According to the decision of Helsinki City Council, the construction of Guanqiao will begin at the end of 2021. After completion, these bridges will connect Hakaniemi and Kruunuvuorenranta for pedestrians, cyclists, and trams. Similarly, Korkeasaari will have its own tram stop, and the main entrance of the zoo will be moved from Mustikmaa to the Korkeasaari side.