Orientarium
The biggest Asian elephant in Europe, critically endangered Sumatran orangutans and gigantic false gharials. Visit Asia in your free time! The Orientarium in the Łódź Zoo invites everyone for a fantastic adventure.
The construction of the Orientarium started in September 2018. It is the biggest complex in Europe presenting the fauna and flora of South-East Asia. More than 1300 fish in the oceanic area, the longest underwater tunnel, 35 species of animals in the Orientarium building alone (and more than 550 species in the entire zoo) – all this can be seen in the Łódź Orientarium.
What animals live in the Orientarium?
The exhibition section has been divided into four parts. In the first part – the elephant house – we can see Alexander, the biggest Asian elephant in Europe, and his younger fellows, Taru, Kyan and Barnaba. This part also has a free flight zone. The visitors will be able to see cattle egrets (among others) flying above their heads.
The second part was divided into two areas. One of them is inhabited by Asian small-clawed otters, Marlenka and Vincent and them children and Malayan Tapir. The second one is home to a family of macaques.
In the third, oceanic part, there are more than 1300 fish, including sharks, rarely seen bowmouth guitarfish, zebra sharks, blacktip sharks and rays – ocellated eagle rays and Himantura. Visitors can admire all these species from the longest underwater tunnel in Poland. The smaller tanks contain seahorses, triggerfish, pufferfish and cardinalfish (among others).
The fourth, hottest part of the Orientarium are the Sunda Islands. It is the kingdom of many different animal species. Here, we can meet a gigantic false gharial, Kraken, and his mate, Penelopa, Sumatran orangutans – Ketawa, Budi and Joko, gibbons, Javan langurs, binturongs, mouse-deers and sun bears. In this part, we can also see Asian birds.
While visiting the Orientarium, tourists can witness the feeding of the animals, including a spectacular show during which the Asian elephants are bathed and fed, as well as the feeding of Sumatran orangutans, sun bears or sharks. All the details can be found at www.orientarium.lodz.pl.
The only one of its kind in Poland!
The Łódź Zoo is a proud keeper of many animal species that cannot be found in any other zoo in Poland. The Orientarium building itself is inhabited by species such as false gharials, Sumatran orangutans, Palawan porcupines, sun bears and bowmouth guitarfish. In the oceanic area, there is the longest underwater tunnel in Poland, which is 26-meters long.
The Orientarium occupies an area equal to approx. ten full-sized football pitches. It is the biggest facility of this kind in Poland and one of the largest and most modern in Europe. The complex has been divided into two parts – exhibition and conference. The conference center has an area of over 5,200 m2. There are 7 rooms with modern equipment. It is a perfect space for organizing events, business meetings, conferences and other celebrations.
Learning through play
In addition to the animals themselves, the youngest visitors can expect a host of additional attractions. In the Orientarium, children can find several interactive towers and tables, which offer different games and fun activities connected with animals. In the underwater tunnel, there is an interactive floor, which the children can also use to have a fun time. On the premises of this modern facility, young visitors can also find special toys, which, after being activated, tell interesting facts about the animal species living in the Orientarium.
The zoo has an adventure park, situated near the Vivarium building, where also older children can enjoy active fun during the opening hours of the zoo. There are also two publicly available playgrounds where children can go a little wild.
However, the zoo has some special attractions intended for adults, too. Every visitor has an opportunity to take care of their hands thanks to special fish tanks situated in the Orientarium building (near the swimming pool for the Asian elephants). The two big fish tanks are inhabited by red garras – fish feeding on dead skin cells. They are used in skincare and medical treatments because they perfectly cleanse and exfoliate the skin. However, the visitors are urged to remember to wash their hands carefully before putting them in the tanks.
To make the trip to the zoo even more fun, visitors can take photos of themselves in one of our photo booths located in the Orientarium building or outdoors. There is also a catering area, with sushi/ramen, pancakes house, Candy shop, bubble tea parlour and a pizzeria.
Unique murals at the Orientarium
The premises of the Orientarium and the entire zoo, in partnership with the Łódź Events Centre, have been decorated with beautiful murals showing different animals living in South-East Asia. – There are fourteen murals in total, and they have been painted by nine artists from Łódź and Wrocław. The subject of the murals was determined by the zoo itself. Animals seem to be the most natural and appropriate topic considering the place where the paintings were created. However, the entire concept is based on the diversity of forms. The visitors who walk through each part of the Orientarium have an opportunity to see varied, contrasting styles and different ways of depicting the individual animals. I am sure that everyone will find something to their liking – says Michał Bieżyński, the curator of the project from the Łódź Events Centre.
The visitors will have a chance to see realistic paintings created by Maciej Bielewicz as well as fully graphic murals, based on the flat colour patches of Otecki and Bartek Bojarczuk. The zoo also showcases some extremely detailed murals by Ola Czudżak and Paweł Ponichtera as well as linear, slightly sketch-like works of Ola Ignasiak. Zuzanna Milewska, an artist from the Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź, painted her diploma work on the outer wall of the Orientarium, near the enclosure for the elephants. The visitors can also see a calligraphy mural by Magdalena Lauk near the swimming pool for the Asian elephants.
The paintings on the walls of the Orientarium are an excellent complement to the overall look of this facility, perfectly matching it in tone and feeling.
How much is the ticket to the Orientarium?
A new price list is in effect after the opening of the new complex on the premises of the zoo. The visitor can see the entire zoological garden after buying a single ticket. Visitors with an active Łódź Citizen Card will pay PLN 40 for their tickets. Visitors who do not have the Card will have to pay PLN 70. – We have analysed the prices of other entertainment venues situated in the Łódź Voivodeship, and the zoo will certainly not be the most expensive tourist attraction in the region – says Arkadiusz Jaksa, the director of the zoo.
The mission of zoological gardens is to provide the best possible conditions for animal species bred in captivity, which are often on the brink of extinction. Animals need special feed, professional veterinary care and regular rearrangements of their enclosures – these are only a few items on the long list of costs that we have to pay. Every visitor can make a contribution and help to protect nature – adds the director.
Where can we park our cars? How can we get to the Orientarium?
The modern complex can be accessed by public transport from every part of Łódź. There is also a special ZOO bus line that takes all the visitors from dedicated car parks to the facility for free.
The visitors who come to the zoo by car can choose one of five car parks:
- Atlas Arena – 560 parking spaces
- Aquapark Fala – 180 parking spaces
- Car park at ul. Krakowska – 158 parking spaces
- Car park at ul. Krzemieniecka – 42 parking spaces
- Car park at al. Unii – 360 parking spaces
Individual guests can get from all the car parks to the Orientarium in fifteen minutes. – Our zoo is surrounded by a park that is almost a hundred years old, and the mission of our zoological garden is not only to protect endangered animal species but also the nature around us. I would also like to add that most such facilities in Europe do not offer parking spaces near the entrance – says Arkadiusz Jaksa.
Visit this modern complex! The facility is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (ticket offices close one hour earlier). In the summer season our Zoo is open longer.
