A few days ago, Nadine Heisler, the great-grandchild of our former director Károly Serák who lives in Brazil, visited our Zoo. She naturally paid a visit to her great-grandfather’s statue and also met with the current director of our institution, Dr. Endre Sós.
Anyone familiar with the history of our Zoo – or who has studied the chapter on the Zoo’s history on our website – will know that Károly Serák (1835–1905) was one of the most significant directors of the past. It is therefore not surprising that, alongside some other well-known former directors such as János Xántus, Adolf Lendl, Herbert Nadler, and Csaba Anghi, his statue can be found along our memorial walkway near the Main Gate. (This statue, by the sculptor Péter László, has stood in the Zoo since 1996.) Born in Adács and a small landowner who lived for a long time in Nagyabony, Serák was also notable for being the longest-serving director of our Zoo, leading the institution from 1873 until his death – over three decades in total.
The reason we are highlighting Károly Serák now is that the great-grandchild of our former director, living in Brazil, visited us recently. Nadine Heisler is the granddaughter of Serák Márta, an opera singer and the daughter of Károly Serák from his third marriage. After World War II, Serák Márta and her son, Ervin Heisler, lived for a time in Italy, then Argentina, and finally settled in São Paulo, Brazil, where Nadine Heisler was born.
During her visit, Zoltán Hanga, the Zoo’s spokesperson, guided her around. Naturally, she paid a visit to her great-grandfather’s statue and was also welcomed by Dr. Endre Sós, the current director of our institution.
