Seoul Grand Park Zoo
Submitted by Kathleen (Last visited: 2003)
I recently visited this zoo and I couldn't believe what I saw, It was
terrible. I saw parents and children throwing objects, feeding animals
cookies and crackers, squirting the animals with squirt guns. The parents
were actually encouraging their children to do this and taking pictures and
laughing. Not once did I see a zoo worker. Some of the animals appeared
underfed or sick. The tropical rain forest monkeys were fed pieces of white
bread by the zoo as there diet. The polar bear was green. The exhibits
were so small and overcrowded and not many had enclosures or shelters for
the animals to take refuge in. The alligator was covered in change that
people had thrown at it. The endangered snow leopard had a cage no bigger
than my bathroom. The chickens had a better exhibit than the leopard. Most
of the animals in the zoo seemed very stressed and people banging on the
glass to get them riled up and throwing things at them to get a rise out of
them just made me sick. In my opinion this zoo needs to be closed down and
these animals moved to a place where they will be adequately taken care of
and the people who come to see them actually appreciate them.
Submitted by Nigel Foster - nigelwfoster@hotmail.com (Last visited: 1999)
This zoo was frustrating -- it was obviously designed by a certified zoo designer, and then handed over to zoo authorities and it lost half the features which could make it a World class zoo , of similar standard to Singapore zoo.
The main problems seem to be overcrowding the enclosures , minimal maintainance , and zookeepers who appear to be just working as a job rather than genuinely care for the animals.
Almost every enclosure had far too many animals in it, inadequate room for all the animals, and no where for the animals to go to take a break from ther crowds . Indoor enclosures stunk ( Inadequate ventilation )There was no grass in cattle paddocks ( just mud )inadequate vegetation to block view of barriers ....etc When I was there , a keeper attacked a zebra with a yardbroom . Much to my delight the zebra decided to charge at him! There seemed to be alot of fear shown by the animals whenever there was a keeper around.
There was no cafe or restaurant as such, but a prolific number of fast food mobile stalls etc. I think that the main aim of this zoo is entertainment for the visitors , rather than education and conservation measures . It is part of Seoul Grand Park , which includes gardens , racecource , amusement park , a lake .....etc The zoo is on an increasing hilly site, and it is wise to take the chairlift up to the highest point and make your way down.
As far as zoos go, it has heaps of potential, but instead it is a disappointment. Any budding zoo directors should visit here , just to see how not to have a zoo!