Petah Tikva Zoo

Petah Tikva Zoo
Location	Petah Tikva, Israel

The Petah Tikva Zoo is a small zoo located in Petah Tikva, Israel, adjacent to the Yad Labanim Park, and it opened to the public in 1996. Previously, the zoo was larger and housed large animals such as giraffes, camels, and elephants. However, with the increase in the city's population, the noise created by the animals and the cost of land led to a reduction in the variety of animals at the zoo.

History

The origins of the Petah Tikva Zoo date back to 1954 when it was a small animal corner in a public garden in the city, known today as the President's Garden. Subsequently, the animal corner was moved to the pine grove at the intersection of Sharet and Palmach Streets. Over time, new and diverse animals were added. The zoo developed to such an extent that it could no longer coexist with the growing urban population surrounding it. The zoo housed large animals like giraffes, elephants, leopards, lions, hyenas, wolves, bears, hippos, and camels. The noise and smells disturbed the nearby residents, and after much deliberation, it was decided to close the existing zoo and establish a modern zoo more suitable for the urban environment.

The new zoo was established by the Petah Tikva Municipality for the benefit of the residents in 1996. The new zoo is modern and provides good and fair living conditions for the animals residing there.

Visitor features

Visitors can purchase animal food boxes and feed (not manually) some of the animals by throwing the food into a large pipe that ends in an open wooden box inside the enclosure. Additionally, there is a petting area with rabbits and guinea pigs that can be petted at specific times of the zoo.

Little egret In Petah Tikva Zoo

Exhibits and animals

In addition to the animals in enclosures around the zoo, peacocks, chickens, and pigeons roam freely.

Chitals and Nubian ibex

The rock display and surrounding enclosures

The rock display is the exhibit that houses the largest animals in the zoo. Among the species in this exhibit are:

• Ostrich enclosure – The zoo houses a pair of ostriches.
• Emu enclosure – The zoo houses a pair of emus.
• Nubian Ibex and Fallow Deer enclosure – The zoo has a herd of Nubian ibex and a herd of fallow deer (available for touch and feeding).
• Various Wild Birds enclosure – The zoo houses various species of wild birds such as:
  • Turkeys
  • Guineafowl
  • Domestic Goose
  • Mallards
  • Egyptian Goose
  • Muscovy Ducks
  • Common Pelicans – There are three individuals that were injured and could not return to the wild. The zoo participates in a project with the Wildlife Hospital for injured pelicans.
• Livestock enclosure – The zoo houses five domestic goats and five domestic sheep (available for touch and feeding).
• Cameroon Sheep enclosure – The zoo houses six Cameroon sheep (available for touch and feeding).
• Meerkat enclosure – The zoo has an enclosed area with three red meerkats.

The enclosure was previously used for meerkats but underwent renovations and temporarily housed birds such as pigeons and pheasants. Afterwards, the meerkats were returned to the enclosure. Around the enclosure and near the entrance to the aviary are:

• Petting area – The zoo has a petting area with two enclosures of guinea pigs and rabbits, which can be petted at specific times of the zoo.
• Ferret enclosure – The zoo houses six ferrets, also used for educational purposes.
• Bat enclosure – The zoo houses fruit bats.
• Pigeon enclosure – The zoo houses several pigeons and one silver pheasant.
• Iguana enclosure – The zoo houses two green iguanas, previously housed in the reptile room, and have moved to a new enclosure.
• Prevost's squirrel

The lake

In the center of the zoo, there is a lake where ornamental fish can be seen. In the middle of the lake is a large central island where various waterfowl species live:

• Mute swans
• Black swans
• Black-necked swan – One female that came from an animal corner in southern Israel.
• Chinese goose
• Black-crowned night heron
• Little egret
• White stork – Four individuals that could not return to the wild. The zoo participates in a project with the Wildlife Hospital for injured storks.
• Pintail duck
• Egyptian goose
• Red-crested pochard
• Marbled duck
• Wood duck
• Hawaiian goose

Additionally, there is another small island in the lake, enclosed with bars, and it is connected to the enclosure of the tufted capuchin monkeys.

The island enclosure provides an interesting enrichment for the tufted capuchins and a different perspective on these monkeys.

Bird aviary

The bird aviary is a large, enclosed aviary with a walking path. It is the exhibit in the zoo with the highest number of animals. The walking path in the aviary passes through dense tropical vegetation mazes, and there is a large lake in the aviary that connects to the central lake in the zoo with small waterfalls. In the bird aviary, waterfowl and wading birds can be found, including:

• Ruddy shelduck
• Marbled duck
• Guineafowl
• Green-winged teal
• Red-crested pochard
• Golden pheasant
• Mandarin duck, including white individuals
• Fulvous whistling duck
• Carolina duck
• Black swan
• Collared dove
• Wood duck
• Diamond dove
• White-cheeked turaco
• Violet turaco (Musophaga violacea) – 4 individuals
• Sacred ibis – 5 individuals that came from the Haifa Educational Zoo

Parrot and ornamental bird path – Part of the path has glass enclosures with parrots and other birds, including:

• Green-winged macaw – two enclosures, one with several parrots, and the other with one female
• Blue-and-yellow macaw
• African grey parrot
• Burrowing parrot
• Eclectus parrot
• Sun conure
• Blue-crowned conure (Thectocercus acuticaudata)
• Monk parakeet
• Cockatiel
• Budgerigar
• Ring-necked parakeet
• Great curassow – a pair

Flamingo enclosure – Another section of the path has a flamingo enclosure with five Chilean flamingos.

Mara enclosure – The zoo houses four maras that have moved to a new exhibit from the old emu enclosure, replacing the barred chicken enclosures. Alongside the enclosure, there are aviaries with birds like finches, weavers, quails, and more.

Rhea enclosure – In the rhea enclosure, there are several rheas and spurred tortoises. Additionally, adjacent to the enclosure is an enclosure of common tortoises. Nearby, there is a seating tribune for the audience.

Monkey complex

The monkey complex is a special walking path where visitors are inside an enclosure with a tunnel through which they pass. The species of monkeys in the enclosure are tufted capuchins and ring-tailed lemurs, with a separation between the enclosures of the two species. Additionally, the path has a roof providing shade for visitors and allows for hand contact with the capuchins and lemurs through the bars.

Reptile room

The reptile room houses reptiles and insects. Among the animals present are:

Snakes:

• Corn snake
• Garter snake
• Gray ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides)
• Common kingsnake
• Boa constrictor

Insects:

• Hissing cockroach
• Stick insect

Taxidermy Museum

Taxidermy Museum

The Taxidermy Museum is one of the largest in Israel. Most of the taxidermy specimens are in aquariums preventing contact and include a background simulating the natural environment, while other specimens are open but not for touching. The museum has large taxidermy specimens like a polar bear, bison, and lion, as well as smaller specimens of various mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, and a butterfly collection.