site.btaSofia Zoo to Conduct Stress Test as Preparation for Membership in European Association of Zoos and Aquariums

On Thursday, March 11, Sofia Zoo will conduct a training stress test for reaction to an emergency situation, the Sofia Municipality press center said. The simulation is part of the procedures for obtaining permanent full membership in the "European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA).

The situation that the licensed trainers from EAZA will simulate is an escape of a dangerous animal from its enclosure and a training test for the reaction of the zoo employees and the competent external services.

Sofia Municipality calls on visitors to Sofia Zoo on Tuesday to remain calm and strictly follow the instructions of the zoo staff. In order to make the simulation as realistic as possible, the starting time of the stress test will not be announced in advance.

The Sofia Zoo is one of the 100 Bulgarian National Tourist Sites (No. 64), the largest and oldest zoo on the Balkan Peninsula and a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA) since 2023, Sofia said. The zoo has the richest collection of species in Bulgaria, over 1,200 animals from 280 species. Sofia Zoo has some of the best facilities in the region for big cats and primates, a terrarium and an aquarium, as well as an Ecological Education Centre, which offers educational services.

The zoo operates 365 days a year without a day off. The number of visitors in 2022 reached 450,000 people, and in 2023 it exceeded 500,000 people. In the zoo, visitors can observe a large number of animals from all over the world, and learn a lot about them from modern educational materials and on-site exhibitions. The zoo also contains a well-maintained park with over 40-year-old trees and the only publicly accessible Japanese Garden, and three playgrounds.

In January, new, higher ticket prices at the Sofia Zoo came into effect. The decision to increase prices was made by the Sofia Municipal Council, after the ticket price had not been updated for 12 years. The change was initiated by the zoo management. It is in implementation of the recommendation of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is part of the Sofia Municipality's strategy to improve the quality of services for Sofia residents and improve animal care.