It was the year 1889 and the term ‘zoo’ was a novelty. The founders wanted to add their own to this effort in preserving wildlife and so an entire island was cordoned off. Its landscape was altered to make way for tundra, a tropical greenhouse and evergreen forests. There was to be a valley of cats where Snow and Amur leopards could freely prowl and hunt. Ruddy cheeked and furry Barbary Macaques immediately took to the trees the moment they were brought in, away from the lumbering brown bears that populated the enclosures. It was to be one of a kind in its efforts to preserve endangered animals both within the zoo and within their natural habitats.

Few can match the Helsinki Zoo in its sheer scale. As one of the oldest zoos in the world, it has grown to hold close to 200 animal species and 1000 plant species. 200 years of history and service can be found within this zoo, so take a peek and walk into the welcoming embrace of the inhabitants of Helsinki Zoo.