Gdansk zoological garden

The Gdańsk Zoological Garden was opened on 1 May 1954. It is located in the Valley of the Forest Mill above the Rymaszewski Creek, in Oliwa (Gdańsk region). It is currently one of the largest zoos in Poland. Every year, especially during the holidays, the Oliwa Zoo attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors, both residents of Tricity and tourists. Attendance in 2018 reached 471,298 visitors!

The location of the zoo was not accidental. Excellent topographic conditions and a favorable microclimate of the valley certainly helped Michał Massalski (founder and first director) to choose the location of the zoo. Previously, there was a sanatorium for people suffering from diseases of the upper respiratory tract and rheumatism. The Oliwa Zoo owes its expansion mainly to the workers of the park and residents of the Tricity. They were the ones they gave small animals, such as rabbits, guinea pigs or foxes, which became the first inhabitants of the zoo. The enormous amount of work done free of charge by enthusiasts of the Gdańsk Zoo must appreciate. Currently, about 1,000 animals from all over the world live in the Oliwa Zoo. These are mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and birds. In total, there are about 200 species of animals, even those that are no longer possible to meet in the wild, so this is a chance for them to survive and for guests of the Gdańsk Zoo this is the only opportunity to see them. Most zoo residents are outdoors in suitable conditions, but there are also separate facilities, such as a room for birds, giraffes and reptiles or the recently opened lion house, where visitors can enjoy animals at a shorter distance. Attractions and conveniences await guests at the City Zoological Garden “Coast”: Retro train – a vehicle where you can make a trip to the zoo (with a guide in the summer), A small zoo – a place where you can feed and stroke animals, rent baby strollers, animal feeding shows, educational lessons and training workshops, horseback riding, events and campaigns, rope park, dinosaur park, souvenir stands and food outlets. Gdańsk Zoo is open to visitors all year round and regardless of the season, each visitor can find something for himself.

The main role of the Gdańsk Zoo is to protect endangered species, as well as to preserve their natural habitat. The task and purpose of the zoo is, above all, breeding, expanding scientific knowledge about animals and teaching. Oliwa Zoo is a member of the European Association of Zoological Gardens and Aquariums, thanks to that it can participate in more than a dozen European programs for breeding endangered species.