Lots of kids are interested in animals and lots of adults have fond memories of childhood visits to zoos so, whether you are travelling in Tuscany as a family with children among your number and are looking for something that they'll definitely enjoy doing or you simply want to know where you can go to see animals in Tuscany, then we recommend a day trip to the Zoological Gardens of Pistoia, or Pistoia Zoo.
This rather special 7-hectare zoo in Pistoia is home to more than 400 animal species and is especially dedicated to conservation and education. Created in 1970 thanks to Raffaello Galardini, Pistoia Zoo was established in a wooded area in the beautiful hills around the city of Pistoia and inaugurated on the 19th of April. There are around 600 animals living in the zoo and, among them, there are about 65 species of mammals, 40 species of birds and 30 species of reptiles. Some of the residents are more common animals often found locally that will be familiar, such as pigs, guinea pigs, oxen, donkeys, horses, goats, cows, rabbits, and other domesticated animals but other residents are from much further flung places and are not commonly found in Italy or Europe such as jaguars, polar bears, Rothschild's giraffes, Zebras (including baby Jordy who was born last year!), rare Madagascan ring-tailed lemurs, red pandas, penguins, elephants, lions, tigers, ostriches, Kookaburras, wallabies, meerkats, otters, pygmy hippos, monkeys, reindeer, crocodiles, pythons, turtles, tortoise, vipers, iguana, emus, flamingos, and more.
This rather special 7-hectare zoo in Pistoia is home to more than 400 animal species and is especially dedicated to conservation and education. Created in 1970 thanks to Raffaello Galardini, Pistoia Zoo was established in a wooded area in the beautiful hills around the city of Pistoia and inaugurated on the 19th of April. There are around 600 animals living in the zoo and, among them, there are about 65 species of mammals, 40 species of birds and 30 species of reptiles. Some of the residents are more common animals often found locally that will be familiar, such as pigs, guinea pigs, oxen, donkeys, horses, goats, cows, rabbits, and other domesticated animals but other residents are from much further flung places and are not commonly found in Italy or Europe such as jaguars, polar bears, Rothschild's giraffes, Zebras (including baby Jordy who was born last year!), rare Madagascan ring-tailed lemurs, red pandas, penguins, elephants, lions, tigers, ostriches, Kookaburras, wallabies, meerkats, otters, pygmy hippos, monkeys, reindeer, crocodiles, pythons, turtles, tortoise, vipers, iguana, emus, flamingos, and more.
Where it is possible, the natural habitat of the animals have been recreated and, as such, the penguins, sea lions, and polar bears live in an aquatic area with various different pools and enclosures called Betty's Bay, while other animals graze in pastures, the reptiles live in a special enclosure, and a new large-scale outdoor area has been developed to house the brown bears, wolves, lynxes, big cats, and primates. Importantly, the Pistoia Zoo can proudly say that all of the animals that live in this park were born in captivity (some of which were born in captivity in Pistoia itself) and none of its occupants were captured in the wild and then caged. The zoo is also actively involved in the conservation and protection of endangered species, such as the ring-tailed lemur, Marsican brown bear, griffon vulture and red-cheeked gibbon.
In addition to conserving these species of animals, the zoo is involved in Biodiversity Conservation and protecting the local environment. They continue to grow in scale and to work on protecting more animals and doing more for the surrounding area. Their practical work on the ground is further enhanced by their creation of the Biodiversity Laboratory, which gives both adults and children the opportunity to get up close and personal with nature and fostering a love and care for nature, while enjoying it and learning more about the world around them too. As a result of all of these different initiatives, the Pistoia Zoo has become one of the most important zoos in the entire country.
In addition to conserving these species of animals, the zoo is involved in Biodiversity Conservation and protecting the local environment. They continue to grow in scale and to work on protecting more animals and doing more for the surrounding area. Their practical work on the ground is further enhanced by their creation of the Biodiversity Laboratory, which gives both adults and children the opportunity to get up close and personal with nature and fostering a love and care for nature, while enjoying it and learning more about the world around them too. As a result of all of these different initiatives, the Pistoia Zoo has become one of the most important zoos in the entire country.
So, if you are on a family holiday and are looking for the perfect place for a family day out (and to take a break from museums and other activities that might not always be the most entertaining for younger kids), you want to learn more about animals and animal conservation and the environment, or you simply want to get a chance to see some of the most extraordinary creatures in real life, or all of the above, then make sure to pencil a trip to the Zoological Gardens of Pistoia into your itinerary on your next holiday in Pistoia or in Tuscany!
