Shoushan Zoo

Shoushan Zoo 壽山動物園
New entrance for Shoushan Zoo
22°38′05″N 120°16′30″E / 22.63461°N 120.27495°E / 22.63461; 120.27495
Date opened	1978 (original location) 1986 (current location)
Location	Gushan, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Owner	Scenic Area Administration of Kaohsiung City Government
Website	zoo.kcg.gov.tw

The Shoushan Zoo (Chinese: 壽山動物園; pinyin: Shòushān Dòngwùyuán) is a zoo in Gushan District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. It is located on the northern border of Shoushan Park and houses animals from Asia, Africa, Americas and Australia, such as lions, tigers, elephants, black bears and kangaroos.^[1]

It was founded in 1978 but moved to its present location in 1986.^[2] The zoo belongs to the Scenic Area Administration of Kaohsiung City now.

A number of incidents in 2007 brought to light varying issues the zoo had accumulated over the years. From reports of zoo staff not knowing the species and sex of its animals to veterinarians losing limbs to a crocodile, further investigation drew forth acknowledgement of the zoo's lack of funding and manpower.^[3] Visiting experts and directors have described it as the worst government-run zoo in Taiwan in consideration of terrible conditions their animals are kept in.^[4] Since then however, the zoo has undergone a considerable renovation project in 2009 costing NT$150 million. Whether or not this was related to the then unconfirmed plan to import two white tigers is debatable, but the zoo reopened on July 12 in the same year after 5 months of reconstruction and as of 26 May 2011 does indeed now have the aforementioned animals.^[5][6][7]

The zoo consists of the following exhibitions:^[8]

This area includes enclosures for Hippopotamus, Red-legged pademelon, Linnaeus's two-toed sloth, Green iguana, Burmese python, Chinese ferret-badger, Formosan Masked palm civet and Meerkat.

This area showcases primates, including Orangutan, Lar gibbon, Yellow-cheeked gibbon, Hamadryas baboon, Celebes crested macaque, Northern pig-tailed macaque and Crab-eating macaque.

This area includes Alligator snapping turtle, Spectacled caiman and Pygmy hippopotamus.

In this immersive bird enclosure, visitors get to see Palawan peacock-pheasant walking past them and flaunting their beautiful tails. Other animals in this area includes Trumpeter hornbill, Western crowned pigeon and Long-tailed chinchilla.

This area showcases the chimpanzees, which were relocated from a large metal cage to this new open-air enclosure.

The Tiger Hill enclosure is located in this area. The enclosure includes Bengal tiger and White tiger.

Other animals this area includes are Dromedary, American bison, estuarine crocodile and Miniature horse.

The Deer Park, known as the Little Nara of Shoushan, is created with a high-level coral reef forest environment where visitors can watch sika deer up close.^[9]

This area is designed to simulate the native ecosystem with animals native to Taiwan. The Formosan black bear is showcased in the Hut of Black Bear. The other animals included in this area are the Formosan muntjac, Taiwan serow and South American coati.

The Hut of Capybara is located in this area, which it includes many capybaras.

Other animals in this area includes Alpaca, Taiwan yellow cattle, miniature horses, miniature donkeys, Barbados Black Belly sheep, European fallow deer and Malayan sun bear.

An interactive, kids-friendly area for family to view animals in close proximity. Visitors can feed the boer goats. Other animals in this area includes the Formosan Ring-necked Pheasant, Great hornbill and Stump-tailed macaque.

This area includes African Lion, African elephant, Common eland, White rhinoceros, Chapman's zebra, alpacas, Addax, Grey crowned crane, Falabella horse, Emu, Aldabra giant tortoise, African spurred tortoise and Crested porcupine.

The zoo is accessible by taking the City Bus No. 56 to Shoushan Zoo bus stop.^[10]

The bus is accessible from the following railway stations:

• Kaohsiung Railway Station
• MRT Yanchengpu Station - Exit from Exit 4. Turn right on Wufu 4th Road for about 10 meters and take bus No. 56 in front of Hua Nan Bank to Shoushan Zoo.
• LRT Wenwu Temple Station -Get off the LRT at Wenwu Temple Station. Follow Dagong Road and turn right on Gushan 1st Road for about 50 meters to take bus 56 at Taipower Station to Shoushan Zoo.

Alternatively, visitors can get the Bus 219 service to Gushan Administration Center, then walk along Wanshou Road, passing by Yuanheng Temple, Wanshou Mountain Bridge and the zoo parking area to arrive at the main entrance.

• List of tourist attractions in Taiwan