Group activities

CLOSE ENCOUNTER

Together with our staff you go behind the scenes to our feed kitchen to collect the food for the animal you are going to visit. All our animals’ food is prepared in the feed kitchen and we have a look at their menu for the week, a very different and exciting menu than we are accustomed to. After our visit to the feed kitchen we proceed to the animal we are going to feed and environmentally enrich. Our staff explain Nordens Ark’s mission and talk about the animal we are going to meet close up.

MEET AN ANIMAL

This is very similar to “Close Encounter” but is adapted to larger groups. Via the food kitchen we go out to the animal the group has chosen where our staff give a talk and we can watch the animal being fed.

 
WILD ANIMALS

Our guide meets your group and during the walk to the zoo’s wild animals’ area tells you about Nordens Ark’s mission and a little of Åby Manor’s history. The walk is about 3 km and we pass predators that include Amur tiger, lynx, and snow leopard. The otters live not far from the wolverine enclosure. Halfway along our walk we see the Wolf House, which is a timbered building next to the wolves’ enclosure. The tour continues down towards the new wetlands area, which will be home to birds, amphibians and reptiles. Owls, Przewalski's horse and red panda are other animals that we pass on the way back.

CAT WALK

 WOLF WOOD

DRY AND WETT

RARE BREEDS

TALKS BY OUR ZOOLOGICAL TEAM

1. Why Nordens Ark is so important
We want our children to experience wild animals in beautiful surroundings
A general description of Nordens Ark’s work to preserve endangered species and rare native Swedish breeds. We take up some of the major projects in which the zoo is involved. Why is it important to preserve species and biological diversity?

2. 2008 – the Year of the Frog
Hearing a frog concert in the spring is a wonderful experience
Half of the world’s batrachians may soon be extinct. 2008 is the year when we together reverse this trend and save them. Both individuals and companies can do a lot to help. These animals have so much to give us that is exciting and fun. We talk about what is being done in Sweden and around the world to preserve the batrachians.

3. Peregrine falcon, white-backed woodpecker & lesser white-fronted goose
Nordens Ark – their guarantor for survival
We talk about our efforts to save important species of bird that are balancing on the brink of extinction. These birds are all greatly affected by how we humans treat the environment. We can recreate viable populations in the wild, but it is hard work.

4. Animals’ behaviour
How we make life interesting for the animals at Nordens Ark
Why animals behave the way they do and how we challenge and stimulate the animals’ senses. Is it possible to create a good living environment for wild animals in enclosures?

5. Tiger - The big cats at Nordens Ark
The big cats’ situation today. The mighty silent hunter. Does the tiger have a future in the wild? Why does the tiger have stripes?

6. Wetlands - Swamp or paradise
Wetlands are of great importance for biological diversity. Why have almost all wetlands been drained or destroyed? How can we recreate these environments that are so rich in species and so important to birds and animals etc?