In Practice

Is the Ranua Zoo one of the must-sees ?

Ranua Zoo has been hosting 150 residents of northern animal species for almost 40 years. Here you will find some information, such as the ethics of the zoo, its commitments, the animals that can be seen, its schedules, its prices and how to access it.

With its 150 residents, the Ranua Animal Park has been specialized in northern animals and the Arctic more broadly for almost 40 years. The living spaces of the animals are located in the middle of a coniferous forest, which is, for the most part, their natural environment. It is home to the only polar bear in Finland and 50 other arctic and northern animal species.
It is often the habit of confusing zoo and animal park, but they are two different notions. Ranua Zoo is often called as such, but it defines itself rather as an animal park.
The animal park works for the conservation of species and biodiversity, while the zoo belongs to the past. The animal park also offers more space and wellness for its residents. But also an amplified greening of the living space, the removal of bars in favor of glass surfaces and a total immersion of the visitor to observe the animals in their natural environment.

What are the values of Ranua Zoo ? Is it an ethical zoo ?

Animal welfare is a major concern of the Ranua Zoo ; most of its residents are born directly on site or in another zoo, or animal park, and have a habit of cotoying humans.

Some wild animals were collected following injuries or abandonment of their mother. The purpose of the Ranua Wildlife Park, as required by law, is to rehabilitate these animals until they can return to their wild life; if this is not possible, they will remain permanent residents of the Ranua Wildlife Park, after obtaining the approval of the authorities.
It is an opportunity to explain to children that certain species are in danger in their natural habitat and that it is up to man to protect them.
Sufficiently spacious enclosures, specific equipment for the needs of each species, and competent animal keepers who know the characteristics of each species, are important points of animal welfare.

Stimulation is also a means that allows animals to play, spend, think, invent. Depending on the species, the stimuli will be different. For example, food can be hidden in a cardboard box, clever games stimulate crows, a porch serves as a hiding place for gluttons… For some, a grove or pond can be a real playground or hiding place. Treats are sometimes hidden, meals can be served as prey. The sounds, smells and footsteps of visitors to the animal enclosures are also stimuli.

Domesticated animal species that are used to living in pens will be placed in pens (reindeer for example), and solitary animals will have the opportunity to retire to a more intimate space, a little more out of sight, or to join a more open living space, to deploy all their energy.

Reproduction and care of the young is also one of the prerequisites for animal welfare.
Training animals is part of both the process of stimulation and facilitation of care routines, from both animal and human perspectives.

The goal is to facilitate cooperation between animals and humans, and thus reduce stress on the animal. For example, they teach the animals to move to a certain place on demand, so that the master can easily pass from one door to another, or to the polar bear, among others, to open the mouth on demand, so that the teething can be evaluated without anesthesia.

Programs of protection

Arctic nature is vulnerable and the effects of climate change are felt much more strongly for endemic animal species. Many species at the zoo are endangered or in real extreme danger in their natural habitat, due to the effects of climate change. Ranua Wildlife Park has therefore set up various protection programs and research projects.
Ensuring the reproduction of the species and the conservation of the population in the animal parks contribute to the maintenance of a sufficient number of individuals of each animal species. This involves cooperation between various animal parks and zoos. In Europe, cooperation operates between the members of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums, EAZA. Many animal species have their own lineage registry program with the EAZA association or with another even more specific program, the Ex Situ protection program, EEP. The species included in this last programme have their own coordinator, which tells the zoo which individuals should breed with each other or which individuals should change zoos.

Projects of research

It is easier to obtain information about animals living in the zoo than in their natural environment, without compromising their well-being. For example, for projects to protect, restore or maintain wild populations, it is necessary to collect information on basic characteristics, the needs, diseases and reproduction of an animal species.
Ranua Zoo is keen to maintain projects in partnership with universities or other research institutes. For example, he followed a research project related to hibernation of bears and helped to discover if the DNA of polar bear prints could help identify each individual.

Back to nature

Sometimes, when a wildlife species is on the verge of extinction or in a dangerous state of impotence, the animal species housed at the zoo return to their natural environment. But all this must be done in agreement with expert groups and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, IUCN.
Ranua Wildlife Park is also involved in reintroducing wild reindeer from the forest to the Suomenselkä area.

Other commitments

Ranua Zoo also has the desire to educate its visitors, using detailed explanatory panels, dedicated to the animal species present in the zoo, their protection and biodiversity.
He participates in various campaigns around the damage caused by the destruction of nature, both at the level of the habitat of animals and of the species themselves. It is also committed to reducing its consumption of energy and fossil fuels, promoting a circular economy and sustainable development.
Finally, he or she takes care of wild animals that are injured or need their help when possible and can provide answers, advice on the matter. He works with some authorities.
Currently, it hosts an exhibition of Maija Kovari, entitled “Seven Steps to Save the Ocean“, very committed and full of hopes, suggesting that we reduce the effects of climate change, and therefore protect arctic nature, through small daily actions that everyone could do.