The Lithuanian Zoo invites you on a journey through the world of nature!
Species conservation
The zoo continuously contributes to the conservation of endangered animal species.
About
Mission
Vision
“The idea to establish a zoo in Kaunas has been in my mind for a long time. It was in those days when I started getting to know the vivid surroundings of the city during my trips to Kaunas. I was fascinated by the Girstupis valley, the edges of the Marvelė stream, the Vytautas oak grove. I remembered that Adam Mickevičius was also fascinated by these beauties of Kaunas, and I began to dream that these places would be useful for our society…”
Tadas Ivanauskas
1935
The mission of the Lithuanian Zoo- acquaint the public with the diversity of the world’s and Lithuania’s fauna, endangered species and factors leading to extinction, to promote awareness and responsibility for the preservation of biological diversity, to develop emotional ties with animals, cooperate with educational institutions.
The vision of the Lithuanian Zoo is a modern, non-formal natural science education center that introduces the public to the world’s and Lithuania’s biological diversity and threats to it, encourages public participation in the creation of a sustainable environment and involvement in biodiversity conservation initiatives.
“The idea to establish a zoo in Kaunas has been in my mind for a long time. It was in those days when I started getting to know the vivid surroundings of the city during my trips to Kaunas. I was fascinated by the Girstupis valley, the edges of the Marvelė stream, the Vytautas oak grove. I remembered that Adam Mickevičius was also fascinated by these beauties of Kaunas, and I began to dream that these places would be useful for our society…”
Tadas Ivanauskas
1935
History
May 23, 1935, at the meeting held at the Zoological Museum, Tadas Ivanauskas and like-minded people put forward the goal of the zoo: “.. establish and exhibit the Kaunas Zoo, to take care of the rarer flora and fauna of Lithuania and to take care of its protection from extinction”.
On July 1, 1938 at 5 p.m. the Zoo was officially opened. The opening was initiated by the naturalist prof. Tadas Ivanauskas, Kaunas City Mayor Antanas Merkys, Minister of Agriculture Stasys Putvinskis, physicist Prof. Ignas Končius and astrophysicist dr. Antanas Juška. Many educational, political, public figures and representatives of the press and other invited guests of that time came to this solemn celebration. Several hundred people gathered at the original garden gate even before the opening. Vice Minister J. Jankevičius, vice mayor Rusteika, many professors, heads of government institutions, public figures, representatives of the press and other invited guests.
During the first year, the number of exhibits increased by more than 100. And already in 1939, the number of animals kept reached 140 exhibits.
By the end of World War II, only 42 species of animals remained. During the post-war period, garden restoration work began. The most important stage of that period is the construction of new aviaries for large predators – lions, panthers, tigers, as well as birds from warm countries. New paths for visitors are being installed. Gradually, about 400 different animals are acquired, and their species are over 100. An aquarium for fish and a terrarium for reptiles have been established, albeit small. The activities of the zoo intensified.
Kaunas Zoological garden has been given the title of Republican Zoological garden.
Kaunas Zoo was visited by more than 260,000 visitors.
For the first time, an Amur tiger cub was born in the Lithuanian zoo.
A special year for Kaunas Zoo. This year they became a full member of EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquariums).
Kaunas Zoo has been given the title of Lithuanian Zoo. The zoo was accepted into the European Breeding Program (EEP) for endangered animals, which gave the zoo the opportunity to expand its activities.
The long-awaited renovation of the Lithuanian Zoological garden began
1935
1938
1939
1944
1958
1959
1969
1989
1992
2021
Istorija
1935
1938
1939
1944
1958
1959
1969
1989
1992
2021
May 23, 1935, at the meeting held at the Zoological Museum, Tadas Ivanauskas and like-minded people put forward the goal of the zoo: “.. establish and exhibit the Kaunas Zoo, to take care of the rarer flora and fauna of Lithuania and to take care of its protection from extinction”.
On July 1, 1938 at 5 p.m. the Zoo was officially opened. The opening was initiated by the naturalist prof. Tadas Ivanauskas, Kaunas City Mayor Antanas Merkys, Minister of Agriculture Stasys Putvinskis, physicist Prof. Ignas Končius and astrophysicist dr. Antanas Juška. Many educational, political, public figures and representatives of the press and other invited guests of that time came to this solemn celebration. Several hundred people gathered at the original garden gate even before the opening. Vice Minister J. Jankevičius, vice mayor Rusteika, many professors, heads of government institutions, public figures, representatives of the press and other invited guests.
During the first year, the number of exhibits increased by more than 100. And already in 1939, the number of animals kept reached 140 exhibits.
By the end of World War II, only 42 species of animals remained. During the post-war period, garden restoration work began. The most important stage of that period is the construction of new aviaries for large predators – lions, panthers, tigers, as well as birds from warm countries. New paths for visitors are being installed. Gradually, about 400 different animals are acquired, and their species are over 100. An aquarium for fish and a terrarium for reptiles have been established, albeit small. The activities of the zoo intensified.
Kaunas Zoological garden has been given the title of Republican Zoological garden.
Kaunas Zoo was visited by more than 260,000 visitors.
For the first time, an Amur tiger cub was born in the Lithuanian zoo.
A special year for Kaunas Zoo. This year they became a full member of EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquariums).
Kaunas Zoo has been given the title of Lithuanian Zoo. The zoo was accepted into the European Breeding Program (EEP) for endangered animals, which gave the zoo the opportunity to expand its activities.
The long-awaited renovation of the Lithuanian Zoological garden began
Mission
The mission of the Lithuanian Zoo- acquaint the public with the diversity of the world’s and Lithuania’s fauna, endangered species and factors leading to extinction, to promote awareness and responsibility for the preservation of biological diversity, to develop emotional ties with animals, cooperate with educational institutions.
Vision
The vision of the Lithuanian Zoo is a modern, non-formal natural science education center that introduces the public to the world’s and Lithuania’s biological diversity and threats to it, encourages public participation in the creation of a sustainable environment and involvement in biodiversity conservation initiatives.