The Tisch Family Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem

The Tisch Family Zoological Gardens, also known as the Biblical Zoo, opened in Jerusalem’s Malha neighborhood in 1993. Stretching across almost 100 acres, it is ranked year after year as one of the top tourist sites in Israel. Together with Gottesman Family Israel Aquarium, it attracts a million visitors annually. The Zoo’s scenic location in the Judean hills with its varied animal exhibits, draws people from all of Jerusalem’s diverse population groups – young and old; Jewish, Christian and Muslim; and secular and religious. A principal mission of the Zoo is to educate visitors about wildlife conservation and sustainability. Each year more than 100,000 young people of all ages attend both formal and informal educational programs at the Zoo. Activities include school field trips, the zoology and ecology matriculation program, the Zoo Teen Volunteer Patrol, the Zoomobile, a traveling mini-zoo, the Animal Assisted Therapy program for children and adults with special needs, workshops, seminars, summer camps and more. The Zoo, with international coordination, contributes to the conservation of endangered species, breeding and reintroduction to nature with special emphasis on animals mentioned in the Bible. It is widely involved in research projects in collaboration with academic and global organizations. The Zoo has been recognized internationally for its breeding and reintroduction programs for species such as the Persian fallow deer, the Griffon vulture, the Ferruginous duck and the Negev tortoise and is part of international programs for species such as the Sumatran tiger and the Asian elephant.