The original name: Botanical Garden (it is also referred to the Zoo) where preserves plants and animals at Vietnam, ranking 8th in the world.
On March 23, 1864, Commander De La Grandière signed the Decree allowing construction of botanical Garden in Saigon. Immediately after, Mr Louis Adolphe Germain, a military veterinarian of France tasked open up 12 hectares wilderness to the Northeast of Thi Nghe canal (French call Arrroyo d’Avalanche, according to name of battle ship come in Thi Nghe canal in order to attach Gia Dinh citadel) to be a place for grow animals and trees. The next March, 1865, at the first step, Mr. Germain has built some breeding facilities. In order to turn this area into a place for animals and plants of Indochina; both showing and supplying seedlings for Muséum national d’histoire naturelle and planted along the roads in Saigon, the general Governor of Indochina recognized that it’s necessary to receive a professional person. Therefore, he have invited Mr J.B Pierre who is in charge of taking care plants of Calcutta botanical Garden (India) to be the director on March 28, 1865.
At the end of 1865, Botanic garden has been expanded to 20 hectares. By 1924, the campus of botanic garden add about more than 12 hectares to the North side of Thi nghe canal. A bridge was across the canal, connecting two areas was completed in 1927. And in the same year, due to campaign of a French officer in Japan, the Japanese Government has provided about 900 strange species to Botanical Garden. On December 15, 1867, Governor De La Grandière has promulgated Deree No.183 to regulate the organization and operation of Botanic Garden, place it under the control of the Saigon city Council, with a budget of 21,000 French/year that is provided by the colonial budget.
February 17, 1869, deputy Admiral G.Ohier, Cochin Governor the South Vietnam signed Decree No.33 establishing standing committees by Philastre as president in order to oversee the spending at the Botanic Garden. At this time, the annual budget for Botanic Garden was raised to 30,000 French/year. And also, according to the Decree above, in French national day (July 14, 1896), Botanic Garden opened to the public.
Listing a number of other refurbishment and renovation:
From 1924 to 1927: to lay asphalt on internal road within campus, constructing zoo cages with large scale and strong such as round cages for monkey, tiger cages and so on.
By 1956: to be repaired, rebuilt and renamed to Saigon zoo.
By 1984: constructing several new work items such as: stone wall along Thi Nghe canal, improving drainage system and wiring system and lay asphalt on internal roads, constructing fences along Nguyen Binh Khiem street.
Especially since 1990, many zoo cages was renovated and expanded to be more suitable with the lives of individual animals, has raised a total area of zoo cages from 8,500 m2 (1975) to 25,000 m2 (2000).
Through collaborative relationship, exchange, purchase with other the zoos and international scientific Organizations, the animals collection of Saigon zoo is creasing extensive. So, besides dozens of mammals, dozens of birds, reptiles such as: monkey, bear, tiger, lion, gibbon, deer, wild pig, porcupine, elephant, crocodile,…A lot of new species have appeared in Vietnam such as: hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), dwarf hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis), jaguar (Panthera onca), ostrich (Struthio camelus), American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruper), orangutan (Pongo pygmaeue), giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)…
After more than 130 years of existence, the Zoo has become a big zoo with 590 animals of 125 species, 1,800 wooden trees of 260 species, 23 orchid species, 33 cactus species, 34 bonsai species,…
Thus, although in urban area, the atmosphere here is quite fresh with interesting sound of zoo, sound of birds, countless of trees and beautiful flowers. Moreover, Saigon zoo combined with Hung Kings temple (be built in 1926) and Vietnam history Museum (open in 1929) in the same campus, in addition to entertainment role, also serves as education, conservation and research,…
Currently, Saigon zoo is having relations with many international organizations such as: Association of South east Asian zoo (SEAZA), world Union for conservation of Nature and natural resource (IUCN), Conservation education Association of Zoos around the world (IZEA),…
>> Read more: Saigon Zoo – The special place for travelers in Saigon
Contact details:
Address: No 2B Nguyen Binh Khiem street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city
Phone: (08) 3829 3728
Email: info@saigonzoo.net
Website: www.saigonzoo.net
