İzmir Natural Life Park

İzmir Natural Life Park is one of Türkiye’s institutions dedicated to the conservation and promotion of natural life. Its origins trace back to 1937, when Türkiye’s first zoo was established on an 18-dönüm site within Kültürpark. In 2008, this zoo was relocated by the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality to a vast 425-dönüm area in Çiğli Sasalı and transformed into Türkiye’s first Natural Life Park. Since its establishment, the park has aimed to provide animals with living conditions similar to their natural habitats and to offer visitors an authentic natural experience.

^{Park Map} (İzmir Natural Life Park, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality)

İzmir Natural Life Park spans an area of 425,000 square meters and is home to over 1,500 animals representing approximately 130 species and more than 250 plant species. The park’s design features enclosures modeled after the animals’ natural habitats, using natural barriers such as water and moats instead of artificial fences or cages. This approach enables visitors to observe animals in environments that closely resemble their wild settings. At the park’s entrance lies a lake covering 8,450 square meters, which serves as a habitat for numerous waterfowl.

The main enclosures and animal species in the park include:

• Lakes: Swans, ducks, pelicans, waterfowl
• Mammals: Armadillos, deer, capybaras, coatis, giraffes, zebras, hippos, ostriches (African savanna), South African antelopes, emus, gazelles, fallow deer, red deer, camels, wild goats, hyenas, bears, wolves, jackals, pumas, lions, tigers
• Children’s Zoo: Miniature horses, pygmy goats, Cameroon sheep, rabbits, black and aquatic turtles, llamas, marmosets, pygmy pigs
• Bird Aviary: Waterfowl, peacocks, partridges, quails
• Raptors: Eagles, hawks, vultures, owls
• Monkey Islands: Mona monkeys, vervet monkeys, black macaques, ring-tailed lemurs
• Asian Elephants: A 15,000-square-meter area, both open and enclosed, has been designated for endangered elephants such as Begümcan and Winner
• Tropical Center: A specially heated and humidified area replicating tropical rainforest conditions, housing species such as snakes, lizards, crocodiles, turtles, fish, and macaw parrots

^{İzmir Natural Life Park} (Anadolu Agency)

EAZA is an international association founded in 1992, comprising over 370 zoos and aquariums from 44 countries. Its core mission is to foster cooperation among European zoos and aquariums in support of education, research, and conservation goals; to raise animal welfare standards; to increase public awareness of biological diversity; and to conduct campaigns for the protection of endangered species.

On 11 January 2010, the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Council approved the application for membership in the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). Following evaluations, İzmir Natural Life Park was officially accepted as a full member on 3 April 2011. EAZA membership demonstrates that İzmir Natural Life Park operates in accordance with international standards and actively contributes to global conservation efforts.

The park indicates the conservation status of species in its collection according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). İzmir Natural Life Park provides this information on its official website to help visitors understand species conservation issues.

İzmir Natural Life Park is open daily throughout the year except on Mondays. Mondays are reserved for periodic animal health checks, adaptation and enrichment activities, and weekly maintenance and repairs of enclosures.

• Opening Time: 09:00 (except Monday)
• Last Entry (Turnstile Closure): 16:30 on weekdays and weekends
• Park Closing Time: 17:15 on weekdays and weekends
• Closing Time on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays: 18:00

Sasalı Neighborhood, Sasalı and Tuzla Bird Paradise Road, 35620 Çiğli/İzmir.