İzmir Doğal Yaşam Parkı

The zoo, established on 18 acres at the İzmir Kültürpark Fair, was opened in 1937. In 2008, it was transformed into Turkey's first Natural Life Park in a 425-acre area in Çiğli Sasalı. The project, which started in 2006, was completed in two years. The Natural Life Park, where animals live freely in shelters specially prepared to resemble their natural habitats, with thousands of trees and plant diversity, has quickly become one of İzmir's attraction centers. It is undoubtedly one of the places to see in Çiğli.

İzmir Natural Life Park covers an area of 425,000 square meters and houses over 1,200 animals of more than 120 species. In İzmir Bird Paradise, which is the largest natural habitat in Europe, around 500,000 bird species live. The İzmir Natural Life Park has become a full member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). EAZA, which has over 300 members from 35 countries, conducts campaigns for the protection of animal species, emphasizing that biodiversity is under threat and that species are becoming extinct every day. EAZA members take active roles in ecosystem and habitat conservation.

The shelters in İzmir Natural Life Park include: Pond (Swans, Ducks, Water Birds), Meerkat and Ground Squirrel, Guinea Pigs-Pelicans (White Pelican and Spot-billed Pelican), Peacocks, Pheasants, African Savannah (Giraffes, Zebras, Hippopotamuses, Ostriches), Children's Zoo (Miniature Horses, Dwarf Goats, Cameroon Sheep, Rabbits, Chickens, Turkeys, Land and Water Tortoises), Gazelles, Red Deer, Dromedaries, Aviary (Water Birds, Ducks, Storks, Partridges), Wild Goats, Birds of Prey (Eagles, Hawks, Vultures, Owls), Parrots, Wolves, Bears, Hyenas, Monkey Islands (Macaques, Velvet Monkeys, Black Macaques), Asian Elephants, Tropical Center (Snakes, Lizards, Crocodiles, Tortoises, Fish, Macaw Parrots, Ring-tailed Lemurs), Pumas, Lions, and Tigers. Endangered Asian elephants Begümcan and Winner can be seen at İzmir Natural Life Park. A total of 15,000 square meters of open and closed space has been allocated for the elephants. The memorial tomb created for Pak Bahadır, who lived for years in the Fair Zoo and passed away in 2007, can be seen opposite the Asian elephant shelter.

In the African Savannah of İzmir Natural Life Park, giraffes, zebras, hippopotamuses, and ostriches live together as they do in natural savannahs. An open area of 180,000 square meters has been allocated for the African Savannah. There are three separate open areas and one closed area for Tigers, Lions, and Pumas. An open area of 3,600 square meters for Tigers, 3,550 square meters for Lions, and 2,000 square meters for Pumas, along with a closed area of 277 square meters, have been created. In a completely enclosed center of 2,345 square meters, conditions resembling tropical rainforests have been established with special heating and humidification. The Tropical Center houses reptiles, crocodiles, ring-tailed lemurs, tortoises, parrots, koi fish, and tropical plants. The large pond, covering an area of 8,450 m2, features fountains, mini waterfalls, islets, and surrounding green areas, creating a small habitat with white and black swans, ducks, and geese.