Korkeasaari Zoo

Korkeasaari, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest zoos in the world, spread across a rocky Baltic island off Helsinki. It focuses on cold-climate and mountain species, from snow leopards and Amur tigers to northern owls, among the pines and granite of the island, reached by a summer ferry or a year-round bridge.

History

Before the zoo, Korkeasaari was a place where Helsinki went to relax, and drinking at its restaurant caused trouble. To keep order the city leased the island as a public park to the Helsinki liquor company, which controlled the sale of alcohol and planned a zoo as a more refined entertainment; a proposal to put it at Alppila was narrowly voted down, and the zoo opened on Korkeasaari in 1889. A wartime ban on alcohol sales and then Prohibition in 1919 ruined the company, and in 1920 the zoo passed to the City of Helsinki. Since the end of 2017 it has been run by a non-profit foundation (Wikipedia, Korkeasaari Zoo).

What you'll find

• Big cats - snow leopards, Amur tigers and lynx in island enclosures.
• Northern species - owls, wolverines and cold-climate animals.
• The tropical houses - warm indoor sections for a cold day.
• The island setting - rocky Baltic shore and pine among the enclosures.

When to go

Summer for the ferry, active animals and the full island; the bridge keeps it open year-round for a snowy visit. Weekday mornings are quietest.

Things to know

It is a zoo with the usual questions, though it leans to species suited to the northern climate. The island terrain means a fair amount of walking up and down rock. In winter the ferry stops and you reach it by bus and bridge.

Nearby

The Helsinki market square and Suomenlinna ferry are across the water; the city centre is close.

Key facts