The Capital Circus of Budapest has shown interest not only in the stables, which are currently used under legally disputed and professionally unjustified circumstances, but also in the entire area between the Holnemvolt Vár and the Biodome.
This area is currently home to numerous activities, including education, public awareness programs, wildlife rescue operations, and various services. In addition, we also have future development plans for this part of the Zoo. These plans have been submitted in writing to the Municipality of Budapest, which maintains our institution. To summarize our position: from a professional perspective, relocating is not an option, nor do we have the intention to do so.
Reducing the territory of the Zoo is not aligned with any professional or international guideline. Moreover, the above mentioned riding hall, developed at our own expense and tailored to our specific needs, is something we urgently require. At present, there is no shared ground that could lead to a compromise.
Following a series of unproductive debates during the spring session of the City Assembly, discussions continued on June 12 with an on-site visit. Representatives of the Capital Circus of Budapest, including Director Péter Fekete, as well as representatives from the Mayor’s Office, the Zoo, and the relevant Ministry, toured the Zoo grounds. Despite our clear request, no similar visit has taken place at the Circus. Our verbal and written proposals for such a visit have gone unanswered, so the actual professional needs that would justify the Circus’s request for this area remain unclear. Based on the information available to us, their demands appear unrealistic and disregard the Zoo’s professional expertise, its international reputation, and its quantifiable achievements in visitor numbers and financial stability. Furthermore, the current government resolution states clearly that it is not the Zoo that should give up its area, but the Circus that should relocate.
This site is also a key element in the City of Budapest’s Animal Welfare Action Plan, in which our wildlife rescue center plays a crucial role. The center has seen record numbers recently, making its expansion both necessary and timely.
Just as the renovation of the stables was funded entirely from the Zoo’s own resources, the historic carousel was also restored in the same way. However, we are unable to finance the renovation of the listed roller coaster from our own budget. That project can only begin once the necessary funding is secured.
In contrast, the outdoor enclosures of the Biodome, which is currently 80% complete, were populated as early as last year, and the planting project is ongoing. The City has received the relevant cost estimates. Although the budget cuts affecting the City also affect us, we aim to stay on track with our planned schedule so that the Biodome can soon welcome visitors as an urban oasis.
