Photo journalism
Rebirth at the Zurich little Madagascar Park: the Masoala in the Spring time
Nothing feels better than walking through the Masoala early in the morning when it opens and no one has entered it. You can fully enjoy it.
Boats in the Masoala hall in Zoo Zurich
But what is the Masoala?
The Zoo in Zurich opened a rainforest hall where visitors can walk and observe the vegetation and animals just if they would go to the island of Madagascar. Masoala is the name of the National Park on the island.
Here are a few interesting things to know about it:
- The word Masoala comes from the Malagasy language: The word “maso” means “eye” and the word “ala” means “forest”.
- 6 years after the opening of the National Park in Madagascar (1997), the Zurich Masoala (2003) opened.
- Because of its area of 11,000 m2, it is one of the largest halls in the world.
- 17,000 plants were brought to the Masoala at the opening.
- Seeds came from Thailand, Malaysia, Madagascar and Florida.
- Today there are about 400 plant species.
- The roof has 4 layers of foil.
- There are 6 millimeters of daily rain
- Climate in the the Zurich Masoala is tropical always green
- The hall cost SFr 52 Million to build.
The other day when I went, every plant seemed to be in complete rebirth.
I had the chance to have a private tour of the jungle, going from one narrow bridge to another and jumping on rocks. My guide explained everything about the plants and answered all of my questions about the building of the hall and what had to be done to make it look like a real park.
Some trees are 20 years old, when the Masoala in Zurich is only 7 years old.
She showed me a few of the ventilators (over 50 in total) and the chimney and explained how important it is that the trees don’t touch the top of roof. It is very fragile as it is not made of glass but of foil.
Everything was so peaceful in the Masoala and for a while I almost forgot it was not the real National Park.
Follow my tour at the Zurich Masoala by looking at my photo collage:
Elephant’s ear leaves or Giant Taro, (Alocasia macrorrhiza)
Banana leaves after early morning rain.
Bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus)
Large fern branch from a tree fern
Ferns before opening up
A fern opening up
Davallia Fern
Young leaf from a tree
Look below at the growth on this palm tree.
Palm tree
One week later, here is the same tree again. See what came out of the branch.
Same palm tree one week later
Pilea Crassifolia leaves
Leaves changing
Fruits growing on a tree trunk
Papaya tree with papayas
Rose-apple-tree fruit or Eugenia jambos
Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)
If you want to have a tour of the Masoala, every Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30, guides wait for visitors inside; you don’t need to reserve. They bring you in places normally forgotten to the public. Each guide takes a maximum of 15 people. There were 6 guides waiting when I went. It is free with your admission ticket. Tours last a minimum of 20 minutes.
