Ähtäri Zoo closes doors after 52 years operation

Ähtäri Zoo, the oldest natural wildlife park in Finland closed its doors on Sunday following bankruptcy of the operating company earlier this month, said the Zoo authority.

The doors of the zoo were closed at 5:00 p.m. after an operation for 52 years and the animals of the zoo will not be available for the visitors anymore from Monday.

Meanwhile, Visit and Care association (Vieraile ja Välität ry) took the responsibility for taking care of the animals of the zoo for the time being.

The association, however, said that some small groups, particularly the school students will be allowed to visit from next week.

Earlier on October 13, Ähtäri Zoo and its accommodation facility Hotel Mesikämmen were declared bankrupts.

The authority said that the zoo failed to earn commercial viability despite taking austerity measures which prompted the authority to file the bankruptcy applications.

"The zoo has been operating for over 50 years. We are working to find a successor for the company's operations, but it is also possible that the operations will be ended permanently," said the Chief Executive Officer of Ähtäri Zoo, Arja Väliaho while submitting the bankruptcy applications.

The operations of the zoo and the hotel suffered financial crisis significantly due to declining number of tourists, corona pandemic, Russian invasion of Ukraine and the poor financial situation of households, said the zoo authority.

Earlier in 2024 the Ähtäri zoo announced that two giant pandas would return to China.

Located in west central Finland. The Ähtäri Zoo is the main attraction of the small city.