Good game parks come in small packages in Kecskemét!

The zoo was established on the occasion of the 1971 World Hunting Show, which was held in the capital city. The collection of domestic animals presented at the exhibition at that time was donated to the city of Kecskemét, so it was evident that the city would build a zoo, which was handed over that year, and the visitors flocked to the institution under the name of ‘Kecskeméti Vadaskert’ (Kecskemét Game Park). The symbol of the World's Fair has also been relocated to the game park. It was a condition that the zoo was launched for the presentation of domestic, native animals received as gifts then it kept developing and exotic animals such as tigers, bears, monkeys and lions arrived continuously. In the rich natural environment, multiple enclosures have been built, as the zoo tries to create the living spaces, enclosures and aviaries closest to the original habitat for each animal. One of the most important tasks in the development of the zoo is the preservation, enlargement and enrichment of the existing natural values, and besides this, it continuously offers more surprises.

Besides the basic herd, extra animals arrived a few years ago, such as the black panthers, for which a enclosure has been made, in addition, during the pandemic, the fallow deer and mouflons were given a new enclosure. A couple of years ago, the Transcarpathian lynx couple grew old and died, so last year a very young female and male came to the game park. Young are born all the time, but baby lamas and meerkats are also expected. The great favourite of the zoo is the arctic fox, who got the name ‘Hógolyó’ (Snowball) because of her thick snow-white fur and good appetite; zookeepers are trying to tame her. As they spend more time with the fox, they can play with her; she really likes playing chase, and if the zookeepers come into her enclosure, they have to keep an eye on their cleaning equipment, because she’ll sometimes steal their tools away. The pride of the zoo in Kecskemét is the male lion, Meru, who is the most beautiful specimen in Hungary. “The best tiger couple” in Europe also lives here. 

Every year, World Animal Day is a big event for the zoo. On this day, programmes focus on the protection of special wild animals and responsible animal husbandry, as well as the impact of pollution on wildlife. The county police, the Kecskemét Game Park and the Kiskunság National Park Directorate, have been cooperating on this event for several years. Prevention specialists use playful tasks, puzzles, memory games and colouring books to draw attention to law-abiding behaviour that is important to encourage not only in the game park, but anywhere else in nature.

Of course, the basic experience of the visits is to see animals whose natural habitat is on another continent, or unfortunately already extinct, with only few specimens living freely. From the first weekend of March visitors can watch the feeds of 3-4 animals in their feeding session in the morning or in the afternoon every Saturday and Sunday. And what kind of animals can be viewed while they are eating? We can witness among others, Rozsdás, the South American coati or the above-mentioned Hógolyó, the arctic fox eating lunch. But they are not disturbed by macaques, mandrils, raccoons, jungle cats, donkeys, bearded monkeys, South American coati, Colombian white-faced capuchins, llamas and lions – they also chomp in peace under our noses. Youth programmes are organised regularly, and certain animals can be approached by children during feeding. Part of the programme is the reptile show and the presentation of the animal treasures pavilion. If we are extra-curious about the everyday life, breed characteristics and possible diseases of animals, it is worth having a chat with zookeepers, who can provide a great deal of interesting information and stories.