select - animal magic (Part 3)
Written by Brian Johnston
Monkey antics and the acrobatics of seals have always delighted kids at the zoo and, even as adults, few of us are immune to the wonders of close animal encounters. Here are some of the best in the world.
Beijing
Beijing National Zoological Gardens started life as a private zoo In the grounds of an imperial mansion and first opened to the public in 1910; it boasts Qing Dynasty buildings set among traditional-style gardens. Six million visitors a year enjoy animals that range from elephants and lions to hippos, giraffes, and monkeys, as well as over 100 reptile species. Perhaps most interesting, however, are rare native Chinese animals such as red-crowned cranes, Père David deer, tigers, snow leopards, Tibetan gazelles, and, of course, giant pandas. The zoo was the first anywhere to successfully breed pandas in the 1960s, some of which are famously loaned to overseas zoos. The adjacent aquarium is the largest in China and has sea lion and dolphin shows, as well as a large array of ocean creatures great and small.
WHY
Take the subway (line 4) to Beijing Zoo station, which is also a hub for many bus lines.
WHERE
A prominent giant panda programme makes this zoo a world leader in breeding the rare – and very cute – animal.
HOW TO GET THERE
Qatar Airways flies from Doha to Beijing four times a week.
Vienna
Schönbrunn Zoo started life as an imperial menagerie at the summer palace of Schönbrunn in 1752, making it the world’s oldest zoo. But many exhibits are very contemporary, including an unusual aquarium that simulates the Amazon River in flood, and exhibits of animals that thrive in man-made environments. Schönbrunn is most notable for its three giant pandas, among the very few in zoos outside China.
WHY
In the park surrounding Schönbrunn Palace on the outskirts of Vienna. Take the U-bahn to Hietzing or Schönbrunn stations.
WHERE
Baroque-era buildings give a good impression of what the precursor of zoos – private, 18th-century menageries – looked like.
HOW TO GET THERE
Qatar Airways has daily flights from Doha to Vienna.
