Sóstó Zoo

The Nyíregyháza Zoo opened in 1974 under the name “Nyíregyházi Vadaspark.” It is located 5 km from the city in the Sóstó resort area, in a 14-hectare oak forest. Sóstó is managed by the Municipality of Nyíregyháza, and the district boundary starts at the entrance of the park. For this reason, the park still uses the name “Sóstó Zoo.”

The zoo is easily accessible by narrow-gauge railway, car, or bus number 8. Visitors arriving by car can use the free parking lot. Opposite the entrance in the parking lot stands a giraffe statue, representing the park’s first major attraction. Upon entering, visitors first see the Arctic Panorama enclosure complex. This is the only place in the country where Humboldt penguins are kept. The Nyíregyháza group has bred several times. Their modern enclosure is protected by mosquito nets to prevent mosquitoes, which can carry fatal diseases for the birds. The penguins can also be observed underwater.

The big sensation of 2007 was the opening of the sea lion show. The modern pool and associated building meet all the needs of the animals and their caretakers, while spectators can enjoy the show three times daily. Three young male California sea lions named Gino, Leon, and Alf live in the pool. The polar bear enclosure can be divided into two parts, each with a pool. Currently, two males are kept separately. The older male, Ootek, is nearly 30 years old, while the younger, Jorek, is an 8-year-old teenager. Jorek often swims in his large, calm water pool. The park aims to acquire a young female to accompany Jorek.

The 1999-built harbor seal pool houses four seals—three females and one male. Among the females is a little girl born in 2011, Hungary’s first seal baby! Their enclosure is separated from the reindeer by a few large rocks. The Arctic birds are displayed in two aviaries: one houses silver gulls, the other snowy owls. Next to the Arctic Panorama is the administration office, beside which a basset hound dog lives in a spacious enclosure.

Leaving the Panorama, you immediately see the Green Pyramid and Oceanarium complex. In 2010, a unique facility opened here in Hungary and Central Europe—a 4,000 square meter, three-story building called the Green Pyramid with an Oceanarium and Rainforest House.

The underground level of the Green Pyramid showcases the wildlife of the Indian Ocean. Visitors walk through a glass corridor observing sharks, rays, corals, and other creatures in a 500,000-liter aquarium. Due to popular demand, shark feedings are held twice a week, where visitors can watch the over 2-meter-long sand tiger shark’s breakfast through the glass corridor. Above the Oceanarium is the Rainforest, featuring Europe’s largest breeding pair of Komodo dragons. The suspension bridge leads to the orangutan exhibit as well as the Cave of Fear. Passing by a waterfall that falls from 10 meters high, visitors encounter a fascinating collection of beautiful reptiles.

Exiting the building on the left side, in one of the outdoor enclosures, visitors can see a rare and special animal species—the Indian rhinoceros. A young breeding pair live here separately. Like many other animals, this species is only displayed here in Hungary. Next to their enclosure is an interesting bird, the Australian kookaburra, known for its distinctive laughing call. A nearby enclosure is home to the country’s largest herd of Bactrian camels. Not far from them stands a decorative fountain, adjacent to a large building: the Jungle Hotel, Hungary’s only hotel located within a zoo.