Bad Zoos Reformed: Tirana Biopark

We start off the series in Albania, with the Tirana Zoo, focus of many controversies in the recent past. However, as I post this, there's real talk about reforming the zoo, so I hope it pans out, and I wonder if any of my predictions will come true. Which bad zoos would you like me to reform next? Alexandria (Egypt), St. Petersburg... Feel free to share your ideas!

Albanian waters and Barnyard

A: Entrance complex

B: Gift store

1- Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus); free-roaming

Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus)

2- Black stork (Ciconia nigra), Eurasian crane (Grus grus grus), Western great white egret (Ardea alba alba), grey heron (Ardea cinerea), glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), Eurasian spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), western reef heron (Egretta gularis), West Mediterranean purple swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio porphyrio), marbled teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris), red-crested pochard (Netta rufina), marbled teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris), white-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala), Eurasian goldeneye (Bucephala clangula clangula), falcated teal (Mareca falcata)

3- Mute swan (Cygnus olor), Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), greylag goose (Anser anser), wood duck (Aix sponsa), mandarin duck (Aix galericulata), European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis), koi carp (Cyprinus carpio)

4- Balkan goat (Capra hircus)

5- Merino sheep (Ovis aries)

C: Old Farmstead Restaurant

6- Bosnian pony (Equus ferus caballus)

7- Bantam (Gallus gallus domesticus), Jacobin pigeon (Columba livia domestica), czech checked rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus)

8- Bosnian mountain horse (Equus ferus caballus)

9- Balkan donkey (Equus africanus asinus)

10- Mangalica pig (Sus scrofa domesticus)

11- Barn owl and native reptiles:

● Common barn owl (Tyto alba)

● Dalmatian algyroides lizard (Algyroides nigropunctatus), Eastern Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri)

● Caspian whip snake (Dolichophis caspius)

● Balkan whip snake (Hierophis gemonensis)

● Nose-horned viper (Vipera ammodytes)

● Macedonian crested newt (Triturus macedonicus)

12- Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra lutra)

13- Balkan frog (Pelophylax kurtmuelleri), European green toad (Bufotes viridis), European tree frog (Hyla arborea)


Albanian wildlife

14- Carpathian wild boar (Sus scrofa attila)

15- Western roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)

16- Western Eurasian griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus fulvus), Eastern Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus ginginianus)

17- European golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos chrysaetos)

18- Common buzzard (Buteo buteo buteo)

19- Eurasian wood owl (Strix aluco)

20- Eurasian hobby falcon (Falco subbuteo subbuteo)

21- Common fallow deer (Dama dama)

22- Bosnian wolf (Canis lupus kurjak)

23- European brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos)

24- Cretan wild goat (Capra aegagrus cretica)

D: Pine forest cafeteria

25- European lowland-bison ( Bison bonasus bonasus)

26- Southern Caucasian pheasant (Phasianus colchicus colchicus), European bee-eater (Merops apiaster), European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur turtur), European hoopoe (Upupa epops epops), European starling (Sturnus vulgaris), red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa), Greek tortoise (Testudo graeca)

27- Carpathian lynx (Lynx lynx carpathicus)

28- European red fox (Vulpes vulpes crucigera)

29- Black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomis ludovicanus)


African safari

30- Western sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekii gratus), Grey crowned crane (Balearica regulorum)

31- Rothschild's giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi), Grant's zebra (Equus quagga boehmi), common ostrich (Struthio camelus)

32- Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)

33- Common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)

E: Watering Hole Restaurant

F: Predators of Africa observation grotto

● Burst horned baboon tarantula (Ceratogyrus darlingi)

● Giant West African millipede (Archispirostreptus gigas)

● Giant African snail (Achatina achatina)

● Emperor scorpion (Pandion imperator)


34- Southeast African lion (Panthera leo krugeri)

35- Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena)

G: Nile House: indoor holdings of 30

● Hippo pool: Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), zebra tilapia (Heterotilapia buettikoferi), giraffe catfish (Auchenoglanis occidentalis)

● Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus)


Rainforest Realm

36- Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica)

H: Green Haven tropical bird house

● Northern red-billed hornbill (Tockus erythrorhynchus)

● Red-crested turaco (Tauraco erythrolophus), laughing dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)

● Peach-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis), speckled mousebird (Colius striatus), superb starling (Lamprotornis superbus), blacksmith lapwing (Vanellus armatus)

● Common silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera nycthemera), Palawan peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis), coconut lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus), Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria), common emerald dove (Chalcophaps indica), Luzon bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba luzonica), pied imperial pigeon (Ducula bicolor), Nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica), Bali myna (Leucopsar rothschildi), common hill myna (Gracula religiosa), Javan sparrow (Padda oryzivora), crested wood partridge (Rollulus rouloul)

● Red-lored amazon (Amazona autumnalis autumnalis)

● Brazilian tanager (Ramphocelus bresilia), Cuban grassquit (Phonipara canora), spangled cotinga (Cotinga cayana)

● Green aracari (Pteroglossus viridis)


I: Kids auditorium and discovery zone

● Siberian chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus)

● Guinea pig (Cavia aperea porcellus)

● Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)

● Sub-saharan pygmy mouse ( Mus minutoides)

● Grey short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica)


J: Jane Goodall Primate Education Center

37- Hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas)

K: Monkey house

● Eastern pygmy marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea niveiventris), Southern three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus)

● Red-bellied tamarin (Saguinus labiatus)


L: Pitstop cabin

38- Rainbow garden:

● Military macaw (Ara militaris)

● Blue-and-gold macaw (Ara ararauna)

● Green-winged macaw (Ara chloropterus)

● White cockatoo (Cacatua alba)

● Salmon-crested cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis)

● Greater sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)

● Congo grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus)

● Silvery-cheeked hornbill (Bycanistes brevis)


39- Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus)

40- Grivet (Chlorocebus aethiops)

41- Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)

42- Black howler monkey (Alouatta caraya)

43- Common squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus), Red-rumped agouti (Dasyprocta leporina)

44- Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)

45- Abdim's stork (Ciconia abdimii), hamerkop (Scopus umbretta), African sacred ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus), African spoonbill (Platalea alba), helmeted guineafowl (Numida meleagris), violet turaco (Musophaga violacea)


Asian Quest

46- Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)

M: Big cats of Asia observation trail

● Vietnamese mossy frog (Theloderma corticale)

● Oriental Fire-bellied toad (Bombina orientalis)

● Palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus)

● Malaysian leaf insect (Phyllium jacobsoni)



47- Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)

48- Snow leopard (Panthera uncia)

49- South European water buffalo (Bubalus arnee bubalis)

50- Nepalese red panda (Ailurus fulgens)


South Seas

51- Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), Llama (Lama glama), Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum), southern screamer (Chauna torquata)

52- Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti)

53- California sea lion (zalophus Californianus)

54- Polynesian Wings:

● Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)

● Kea (Nestor notabilis)

● Red-crowned parrakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae)

● Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), crimson rosella (Platycercus elegans), eastern rosella (Platycercus eximius), red-rumped parrot (Psephotus haematonotus)

● Zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis), gouldian finch (Chloebia gouldiae)

N: Outback Service Station

55- Red-necked wallaby (Macropus rufus), emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)


O: Aqua-terrarium

● Spurred dogfish (Squalus acanthias), common smooth-hound (Mustelus mustelus), nursehound (Scyliorhinus stellaris), common stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca), Adriatic sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii), European barracuda (Sphyraena sphyraena), Mediterranean moray (Muraena helena), dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) John dory (Zeus faber)

● Ocellaris clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris), magnificent sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica)

● Big-bellied seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis), old wife (Enoplosus armatus)

● Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris)

● Common hermit crab (Dardanus calidus)

● European lobster (Homarus gammarus), European spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas), black scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus), swallowtail sea perch (Anthias anthias), Mediterranean cardinalfish (Apogon imberbis), painted comber (Serranus scriba)

● Powder blue surgeonfish (Acanthurus leucosternon), Achilles tang (Acanthurus achilles), Moorish idol (Zanclus cornutus), silver moonyfish (Monodactylus argenteus), copperband butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus), threadfin butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga), emperor angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator), blueface angelfish (Pomacanthus xanthometopon), Mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus), black sea cucumber (Holothuria leucospilota)

● Bala shark (Balantiocheilos melanopterus), Siamese algae eater (Crossocheilus oblongus), tinfoil barb (Barbonymus schwanefeldii), walking catfish (Clarias batrachus)

● Red-bellied piranha (Pygocentrus naetteri)

● Electric eel (Electrophorus electricus)

● West African lungfish (Protopterus annectens)

● Atlantic mudskipper (Periophthalmus barbarus)

● Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)

● Yellow-banded poison dart frog (Dendrobates leucomelas), blue poison dart frog (Dendrobates tinctorius azureus)

● Green tree monitor (Varanus prasinus)

● Garden tree boa (Corallus hortulana)

● Taiwan beauty snake (Elaphe taeniura friesi)

● Panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis), Madagascar day gecko (Phelsuma madagascariensis)

● Burmese python Python (Python bivittatus)

● Green iguana (Iguana iguana), Argentine tegu (Salvator merianae)

● Dumeril's boa (Acrantophis dumerili)

● California kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae)

● Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum)

● North African mastigure (Uromastyx acanthinura), Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni)

● Inland bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps)

● American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii), red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)

Very interesting concept! Maybe a thread with comparisons to the current zoo would highlight the improvements

Also: I would like to nominate Pakawi park and Uilenpark de Paay from Belgium and the Netherlands. We have a lot of high quality zoos but those two are considered some of the worst (Pakawi park to a lesser extent, but still bad)

@Mr Gharial Starting a thread is a great idea actually. I may get on that!

And sure, I'll look into the two Dutch zoos you mentioned!

@Mr Gharial FYI I've started a thread in the fantasy zoo section

Tirana and Albania are very good choices, this remote corner of Europe is very barely known by the general public.
If you want suggestions about bad zoos to improve, I would think to the Napoli Zoo (that was in severe decay few years ago), and Belgrade, Yerevan and Yekaterinburg that have bad reputations (for the zoos). I've also seen videos about a very weird Japanese petting zoo (looking like a kind of supermarket, where it's possible to see a Shoebill, Echidnas and many small animals in small cages and tanks) but it may be difficult to find any map of this facility, if it exists.
In my country (France) I think about the Fréjus Zoo (a medium-sized zoo with an ideal climate and a good potential, but that suffered poor management and bad urban planning policies ; it has lost most of its ABC species and a few rarities in recent years, even if some interesting carnivore, primate and bird species remain), and the Jardin des Plantes de Paris (not properly a bad zoo, but difficult to develop given the little space available, the lack of funds and even the building conservation rules).
It would be interesting to describe zoos in various developing countries of Africa, Middle East and Asia ; I don't know any of them but some of these zoos are reported to be awful, while they have a huge potential in most of these countries with the conservation of the native biodiversity and the education of the citizens about it.

@Haliaeetus I really like all of your proposals! I didn't know about Fréjus zoo, but it definitely seems to fit the role. The Menagerie has always been at the bottom of my mind, as I feel that it could be reworked somewhat. The Napoli zoo, Belgrade zoo and all those strange Asian and African institutions are really worth looking into. As I said, the Alexandria and Giza Zoos in Egypt have often struck me as really terrible. But again, they can be true biodiversity hotspots.