The Giza Zoo and Orman Botanical Garden administration announced a comprehensive upgrade of the two facilities.
This includes equipping the gardens with modern fire extinguishing systems and installing irrigation networks for the green spaces in the internal gardens.
The gardens will also feature several enclosures for wild animals such as lions and tigers, as well as rare birds and wild animals, which will be displayed for the first time, in accordance with the international standards of the Asian, African, and International Zoo Associations.
This will enable the zoo administration to become the first open zoo to meet international standards.
The head of the Giza Zoo and Orman Botanical Garden Development Alliance, Mohamed Kamel, said that the zoo administration has successfully acquired several large animals, including Asian elephants and giraffes.
He explained that the zoo aims to raise a young generation of both predatory and domesticated animals in preparation for its opening this year.
According to the plan, eight historical sites inside the zoo are being developed under the full supervision of the Supreme Council of Antiquities to ensure that the historical value of the registered monuments is not compromised.
Delicate work
The zoo development project is one of the most delicate, as it balances modernization with preserving a historical identity dating back to 1891, Kamel said.
He added that the development work currently being finalized includes the suspension bridge designed by Gustave Eiffel (the designer of the Eiffel Tower), one of the most important landmarks in the park. The project aims to transform it into a local and international tourist attraction.
The development works also include the Royal Rest Area, which was used to receive King Farouk and other dignitaries visiting the zoo.
This area will be transformed into a cultural center showcasing the zoo’s history, while preserving and restoring the royal decorations and historical furnishings within the rest area.
Experts from the Ministry of Antiquities will be responsible for its restoration.
Kamel added, “The development works also encompass the Citadel Hill and the Royal Hill, both rare architectural masterpieces constructed from coral and natural stone. The waterways within the Royal Hill, including its waterfalls, will be reactivated.”
The zoo administration has also begun work on establishing a small veterinary clinic.
A fully equipped room has been designated within the Royal Hill area for rapid examinations, eliminating the need to transport animals long distances within the zoo and thus protecting them from emergencies.
