The two most visited zoos in Sweden are Skansen in Stockholm (1,377,338 visitors in 2007) and Kolmården Zoo in Norrköping (551,448 visitors in 2007). Below, you will find a presentation of some of the larger parks.
Skansen
Skansen is the world’s first open-air museum, founded as early as 1891. Walk through five centuries of Swedish history, from north to south. Skansen is also Stockholm’s only zoological park. It is primarily the Scandinavian animal world that is represented here, with Swedish native breeds and Nordic wild animals such as bears, wolves, seals and moose. However, Skansen-Akvariet (the Skansen Aquarium), Vårt Afrika (Our Africa) and Lill-Skansen (Little Skansen) also show exotic animals. Today, there are approximately 70 different species in the animal park.
Kolmården
Kolmården is Northern Europe’s largest zoo. At Kolmården you come face-to-face with animals from all over the world. Take the chance to see this year’s dolphin show and take a guided tour in the Safari Park where animals such as zebras, bears and curious giraffes roam about freely. You are not likely to come much closer to the wild animals. When real wild animals get too scary, it can be more comfortable to meet Bamse bear and his friends at Bamse’s World.
Borås Zoo
Besides being a zoo in the traditional sense, Borås Zoo is also a recreation area and is ideal for country walks in the middle of the town! The zoo, situated in an exciting environment, has almost 500 animals of 80 species. The main focus is on showing the large African animals although you can also see Asian and Nordic animals. The zoo aims to work with nature’s own material and avoids steel and concrete constructions as far as is possible. The animals are shown in spacious areas and in an environment that stimulates natural behaviour.
Parken Zoo
Parken Zoo is perhaps best known for its wild cats; white tigers, Asian lions, pumas, leopards and cheetahs. However, there is also – besides many other things – such an exclusive animal species as the Komodo Dragon, the world’s largest lizard and a fascinating heirloom from the dinosaur era. In the "World of Knowledge" (Vetandets värld) you can learn about animals and nature in a fun and easy-to-understand manner.
The Nordic Ark
The Nordic Ark, Eskilstuna is a zoo for endangered species. Skåne Zoo, Höör houses 800 nordic animals in splendid natural surroundings. Only animals that exist or have existed in the wild in Scandinavia are on display at Järvzoo.The bear park in Grönklitt in Orsa is Europe’s largest. Sweden’s four large predators live here in an environment that corresponds to their natural environment.
Ölands Zoo and Fun Park
At Ölands Zoo and Fun Park, you can meet tropical and endangered animals from all corners of the globe.