Pairi Daiza

History

In 1148, Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux (later Saint Bernard), sent twelve Cistercian monks to Cambron at the invitation of Anselm of Trazegnies, who had offered them land at the edge of the river Dender. After the abbey was dissolved, the family of the counts of the Val de Beaulieu purchased the property and built a castle, which remained in the family until purchased by the Domb family, who founded the park. The entire property has been a protected area since 1982.

The zoo was opened in 1993 as a bird garden named Paradisio. By 2000, the zoo included the Oasis, a large greenhouse that was home to other animals including meerkats, otters, and alligators. In 2001, the zoo opened the Nautilus (aquarium), the Madidi Islands (squirrel monkeys), and Nosy Komba (lemurs), followed by Algoa Bay (brown fur seals) in 2002.

The zoo created a series of suspension bridges in 2004 that let visitors see the exhibits from above. The "Dream of Han Wu Di" opened in 2006, and is the largest Chinese garden in Europe. A series of aviaries opened in 2007, showcasing raptors.

In 2009, the zoo opened the 4-hectare (9.9-acre) "Kingdom of Ganesha", an Indonesian-themed garden. It also changed its name to Pairi Daiza, which means "walled garden" or "orchard protected by walls"—the oldest name for paradise. In August 2009, the Indonesian government sent a pair of Sumatran elephants to enliven the Indonesian section, the country's first endangered animal breeding loan program to Europe.

Since April 2014, Pairi Daiza hosts a couple of two giant pandas that are on loan from China for 15 years.

The Land of Origins

This African-themed area houses the giraffe enclosure, various display terrariums, and a restaurant. It also includes replicas of two African villages. The animals kept there include white rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, and two groups of gorillas in enclosures designed to resemble volcanic islands. Ring-tailed lemurs are kept in a contact enclosure on another island.