Emmen Zoo, Noorder Dierenpark

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History

A dream came true for Willem Oosting on 30 May 1935 when 'Noorder Dierenpark' opened for the public in Emmen, a town in the province Drenthe. He went to great lengths to refurbish large parts of the garden of his parental home and turn it into a zoo. As a small boy he wanted to be director of Artis (Amsterdam Zoo), the oldest zoo in the Netherlands. When this appeared out of his reach when he grew up, he built a zoo himself, and 'Noorder Dierenpark' came into existence as a private company, a family business. The Zoo was a great success, even form its earliest days. So, within a few years the income generated from the paying visitors made it possible to expand the park, and adjacent land was bought. Oosting was influenced by Carl Hagenbeck, so he tried to introduce spacious bar-less enclosures with moats. Unfortunately, he did not succeed while creating the wild carnivores enclosures, which were cramped cages paved with stones.

Unfortunately, World War II brought some hardships onto people, and inhabitants of the Zoo. Though Drenthe, a Northern province in the Netherlands, was spared the worst famine caused by the war, it became hard to feed the Zoo animals, obviously. Therefore, newly born camels and bisons were sometimes fattened and fed to the carnivores, like lions, tigers, wolves and hyenas.
Although not involved in the Resistance during the war, the Zoo was a perfect hide-out for people to escape from deportation and foreign employment by the Germans. So, the attic above the wild carnivores house was much used for this.

After the war the Zoo flourished and entertained lots of visitors, sometimes up to 250,000 per year, in spite of the fact it closed during the winter months and the Northern part of the Netherlands was sparsely populated. At the end of the 1960s there was a decrease in number of visitors. Due to for instance more competition and increased wealth followed by more holidays spent in foreign countries. This made it hard for the family, without governmental subsidies, to keep on track. In the end they even could not afford regular maintenance of the buildings. Willem Oosting became disillusioned and wanted to sell the Zoo, but he was sharing the ownership with his sister, who didn't want to sell. As the town council saw the great benefit of the Zoo for economic prosperity of the region arrangements were made to sell Willem Oosting's shares to the town council of Emmen. So, the Zoo became a dual ownership of Digna Gerritzen-Oosting, Willem's sister, and the local government, which ensured the Zoo's existence. While, the town of Emmen declared it would stand surety for any loans that would be necessary to keep the Zoo in business in the future. Perhaps more importantly Willem's daughter Aleid and her husband followed in the footsteps of their father (-in-law).
The new directors took up the challenge, and in September 1970 started their new enterprise with reorganising the premises according their vision. Their main goal was education of the public and show them nature as close to reality as possible. This meant a huge change to the design of the Zoo, because until then the animals were housed and grouped species by species, with related species close together. The new park would be organised according a geographical lay-out, with an African, American, Asian and European region. And it should provide spacious enclosures for the animals, which required decisions what animals could stay and what animals should be moved elsewhere (other zoos). A grand opening was scheduled for 31 May 1971, and the new design proved to be great success.
Nevertheless, to follow up and expand this idea required additional financial support, because the economic growth in this part of the Netherlands was not properous. Again, governmental support could be mobilised, as there were possibilities for financial support of special projects on regional level. This led to a project that materialised in the Biochron (in 1985), a museum on the history of life on earth, where animals took part in the museological exhibitions. The geographical lay-out was finalised in 1995, and the park reached more or less its physical boundaries. To postpone this moment and to create a true to nature environment, quite some underground building has been executed, like the inside enclosure of the elephants. Nevertheless no more expansion is possible in the centre of Emmen, the Zoos's current location.

Apart from this all, the tropical butterfly garden deserves special attention, because this superb and renowned enclosure has been the leading attraction for over 20 years now. Numerous specimens of more than 40 species of butterflies will flutter around your head after entering the enclosure.

Due to a major transformation of the town centre of Emmen, the Zoo gets the opportunity to rebuild on another site and introduce a whole new concept. This new park will not be just an ordinary zoo, but a variety of settings where people and animals will play a key role. The objective will be to provide people of all ages an unforgettable day. But, a day with a message! A message of balance between culture and nature, between man and environment ... a message on a sustainable development of our priceless planet. The basis for the concept that was developed for this new zoological park consists of several 'worlds'. Three worlds are dominated by a specific climate zone, which were four zones ('tropical heat', 'wet and watery', 'hot and dry' and 'icy cold', according the original master plan published in the International Zoo Yearbook (Landman and Visscher, 2009). There the public will not only meet the animals but also the cultures associated with these climate types. Another world is all about theatre, where theatre performances can be enjoyed in an environment that matches the theme of the park. The concept was adopted in 2008. In 2009 it was further developed and tested in every detail to guarantee a successful implementation, which apart from climate citeria also focused on sustainability and conservation. This should enable that in 2010 preparations for actual construction can start.

Unfortunately, in 2010 an evaluation ordered by the City Council of Emmen showed that financially the Zoo was not self-sustainable, and depended on 'not-guaranteed' financial support of third parties. A major reorganisation, including staff reduction, was inevitable to help the Zoo survive this period of 'bad weather'. In October 2011 good news from the City Council (17 million Euros!) made it possible to further investigate the viability of the relocation of the zoo on the rim of the city centre. Other investors followed and in March 2012 the Council gave their consent to proceed with the master plan and relocate the Zoo, to be ready in 2015.

The new zoo, or better still amusement park, was opened to the public on 25 March 2016.

(Sources: 'n Metamorfose, 60 jaar Noorder Dierenpark Emmen 1935-1995, ed. Hidding, de Koo, Landman and Rensen; Planning for a sustainable Emmen Zoo, Landman and Visscher in International Zoo Yearbook 2009; website Emmen Zoo; NRC)

Visit(s)

06.07.2013

Partly due to the progress of building the brand new Zoo at the rim of the city's centre, several changes were visible since my last visit in 2010. For instance, they moved the Humboldt penguins from their absolutely great enclosure at Location Es, where work is in progress now to shape the new Zoo according to the Masterplan. Although the 'new' penguin's enclosure isn't as nice as the former one, this temporary enclosure seems fit for purpose and provides ample space for the birds. At Location Es only the large children's playground Yucatan is to be found at the moment.

A major change at the Zoo in the city centre is the lion enclosure that opened last year. It is a large exhibit with floors covered with sandy, natural vegetation and a small hill in the centre. Wire-mesh fences all around except for the roofed viewing platform above several viewing windows on one side. Although viewing opportunities are limited there is plenty of room to see the lions. The enclosure provides peace and quiet for the animals, and if they want to they can obtain a good overview of their premises when lying on top of the hill. In addition there is a stream that leads to a small pond.

The four lion cubs (2 males, 2 females), that were born on 7 April and since one month joined the pride in the enclosure, are completely at ease (see video). The cubs have been introduced to their father, which went very well, but at the moment the male lion is housed separate again, because the other lioness became in heat recently.

Besides the lion enclosure juvenile animals can be seen on the gibbon islands (see video) and in Oasia where four Asian small-clawed otters were born in April.

A few days before my visit, actually just two days before, five white-headed capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus) had arrived from Apenheul Primate Park, Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. They are housed in the former serval enclosure and already after two days they are completely relaxed and at ease, as you can see in the video. The last of the servals moved to a Spanish zoo just a week before. This makes the relaxed attitude of the capuchins even more peculiar, because the smell of the servals could not have disappeared yet.

Another change compared to my last visit were the spectacled bears that occupied the former Kodiak bears enclosure. The last Kodiak bear died December 2011. The two spectacled bears were very active, and one of them enjoyed the water-filled moat very much on this warm Saturday afternoon.

Personally, I enjoyed my cold beverage on the terrace of the Safari restaurant at the end of the day, with a great outlook on the African Safari plain.

20.08.2010

Although the main animal collection can still be found in the town centre, the first signs of the aspiration of the Zoo's management regarding change and expansion become visible as soon as you enter town. You are directed towards a car park close to the annex of the Zoo, called location Es. This is were the new Zoo will be built. In this part the impressive penguin enclosure has been developed. The large group of over 150 Humboldt penguins (the largest in Europe) are housed in a walk-through enclosure which resembles their natural habitat. The Humboldt penguin's natural environment is the coast of Chili and Peru, so, even the Dutch temperatures are within their habitat standards. During my visit the birds are moulting, which could explain their relaxed attitude towards the visitors walking close by, or it may simply mean they have adjusted to the situation very well. Either way it is a beautiful enclosure with (artificial) rocks with nesting holes, a large pool, rocky/sandy bottom and shrubs in a multi level environment which provides lots of hiding places. The few other species housed on this location, pudus and guanacos, have got a large and stimulating enclosure too.

There is a well signposted walkway from location Es to the old part of the zoo, called location Centre. So you cannot get lost, but only be surprised to arrive at the entrance by walking through a shopping mall. Just before the entrance on the right hand side the house where Willem Oosting the Zoo founder was born, is still there and used for the park's administration and a restaurant. When inside, the Biochron - about life's history and evolution - is the first exhibit to be met. A combination of displays with explanatory texts and exhibits of ancient (still living) animals (like sharks and horseshoe crabs) provide good information for those ignorant of the history of life on earth. Around the corner the butterfly garden can be found which is a walk-through enclosure with amazing potential. Although the enclosure will not rank top level in an interior design competition, its content is absolutely outstanding. If not the tropical temperatures makes you think you're on a different continent, than the butterflies and tropical plants and flowers will do. So much colours, like brown, green, yellow, blue, all shades of purple, and different sizes of those short living creatures flutter around your head.When moving on, it is obvious that major decisions have been made concerning which species should be kept and how they should be exhibited. The Zoo management already in the 1970s decided to keep animals from the same geographical areas together and they stuck to this decision as close as possible. They collected animals, of which most are endangered or their numbers in the wild are decreasing, and brought them together in exhibits which are very informative. Sometimes in large breeding groups, sometimes in mixed species exhibits if possible and when inevitable in singular housing. Unfortunately the quest for having representations of all continents at display and the limited space available, led to some mistakes in my opinion. Like having Australia represented by red kangooroos and emus is a waste of space, and the same can be said for the rat sewer exhibit which represents Europe. Those animals are abundant still and are not a fair representation of those continents. Having said this, there are only compliments to be made about how the Zoo presents itself and keeps its animals, from the American, African and Asian continent, in an animal friendly environment, although some minor remarks can be made.

The white-handed gibbon family is provided trees on its green island, of some 20 meters high to express their natural urge of swinging in the trees. The Asian small-clawed otters' outside enclosure consists of about 1/5 of hard flooring and 4/5 of water, enriched with logs and rocks. Because of the high walls that surround the enclosure it resembles a river gorge and provides a nice surrounding for the animals, which have access to an inside enclosure too. Inside they have to share their space with other animals, because it is part of a tropical greenhouse with plants and animals from South East Asia. The herd of Asian elephants consists of 7 adults, 1 male and 6 females, and 5 young of different ages, which is quite a herd.

An ingenious walkway with glass walls between the Amur tiger and leopard enclosure, provides viewing opportunities without disturbing the animals. Both enclosures have different levels for the animals to use, of which the higher levels can be viewed from a watchtower. Lots of green trees, shrubs and a pool (even a small waterfall in case of the panther enclosure) create a natural environment and hiding places, although a good high level observation post for the panther is lacking. The trees are protected from the tiger's scratching activities, some with wire mesh but also some with plain wood to create a nice scratching-post though. The tiger and the panther cannot see, but are able to smell and hear each other. When bored the panther can decide to watch his neighbours, a neighbourhood of Emmen, through the wire mesh fence. This shows that expansion of the Zoo is impossible in this part of town.Arriving at the African continent the first thing you see is the enormous large group of baboons, which seems to flourish with a lot of young animals, but also some geriatric specimen still holding their ground. They are living on a crowded island surrounded by a moat, filled with water, of about 3 meters wide. Their inside enclosure is also on the island, but perfectly hidden because it is partly below ground. Also the other African primates live on islands and both species, ring-tailed lemurs and colobus monkeys, have underground inside enclosures which are connected to the islands via tunnels.

One of the main attractions during the grand re-opening in 1971 was the African savannah, and it is still an impressive mixed species exhibit, although not so unique anymore as it was in those days. The animals - giraffe, waterbuck, zebra, gnu, rhinoceros, impala, red river hog, ostrich and crowned crane - live in this artificial plain as if it is Africa. Although the exhibit seems crowded, the animals still are able to retire from the crowd and seek their own niche and accept each other's presence. The large old trees even survived the attacks of the long-necked giraffes, and provide shadow for those which want to hide from the hot Dutch summer temperatures. Just across the walkway around the savannah the serval enclosure can be found. One specimen of this beautiful feline carnivore is kept in captivity there. One of the few enclosures which gave me the feeling that the animal is caged, and cannot express its natural behaviour. Although different levels, rocks, trees and a waterfall are available, the animal has absolutely no hiding place, because the public have ample viewing opportunities from two sides via wire mesh fences.

The biggest pollutors, as the Zoo management say themselves, are the hippopotamuses, producing enormous amounts of fecal waste. But what can you expect when you have a herd of eight at display, which by the way are not breeding, but newborns are planned in the (near) future. Fortunately, the Zoo's own waste water treatment installation prevents this fecal waste to become a financial burden, and proves the sustainability aspirations of the Zoo.North and South America is represented by some interesting animals in likewise interesting environments. The Kodiak bear has quite a spacious outside enclosure, although it has to be said that while bears in the wild may roam over a range of 100 km² up to 100,000 km² a bear enclosure can never be large enough. Therefore it is important to provide enrichment, like in Emmen Zoo with 10 feed dispensers of which each give a portion of something edible eight times daily. This gives the bear something to do. To give the enclosure an Alaska look there are elevations in the environment, rocks, a waterfall and coniferous trees. It is said that the Zoo is trying to create a mixed species exhibit, like in Zürich Zoo with spectacled bears and coatimundis, but no other species could be identified and it was not mentioned on the information plate near the exhibit either. There are some real mixed species exhibits to admire in the American section. Bisons, moose and wild turkey live together, and there is the South American walk-through tropical greenhouse. White-faced saki, Geoffroy's marmoset, golden lion tamarin, sunbittern, Cuban amazon and some other South American animals can be observed closely, because as they can roam freely they sometimes just sit in the middle of the walkway. Another enclosure worthwhile mentioning is the nocturnal enclosure which has got a viewing platform which also gives a good opportunity to get close to the free roaming animals, like the douroucouli, sloth and kinkajou or honey bear. A slight disappointment is the island of the Columbian blackspider monkey. It looks very artificial without any real trees. Nevertheless lots of enrichment is created with artificial climbing opportunities, like ropes, logs and platforms on high level.Visiting this Zoo shows the positive effect of the rigorous decision that was made to decrease the number of animal species in their collection and as a consequence create sufficient opportunity to build enclosures which enables implementation of up to date husbandry systems. I am curious how the Zoo will look like after they moved to the new location and realised their masterplan. Because the increase of square meters is going to be enormous and a dream for every zoo director, provided the necessary money is available of course.A final remark should be made: Emmen Zoo is very clean (including the pools and water in the moats), not smelly, and for some reason without any litter whatsoever.