100 stories from the hiking route

1997 – Elistvere Animal Park is established

Information

Topic

The story of forestry

Coordinates

Long-Lat WGS 84

Latitude: 58.5760972222222

Longitude: 26.6849722222222

L-EST 97

x: 6496025.4
y: 656160.0

Location

Ähijärve-Aegviidu Hiking route

The goal of establishing the Elistvere Animal Park was to give people the opportunity to learn about local wildlife as well as to provide facilities for the treatment, safekeeping and care of injured or orphaned young animals. The animal park is currently home to 13 wild species, 10 of which inhabit Estonian forests.
The first inhabitants of RMK’s Elistvere Animal Park – European bisons Villu and Vilja – arrived in Jõgeva County in 1997 from the Tallinn Zoo. By now, the male bison Villu has passed away, whereas the 21-year-old female bison Vilja is the oldest animal in the park.
The most famous animal in the park is undoubtedly the bear Karoliina. It is fun to watch her frolic and lounge about. From time to time, Karoliina likes to play sports and use a rock for shot put. In addition, she occasionally jumps and growls at visitors. Who knows if it is a threat or a wish for further interaction.
The fallow deer, whose spots do not fade in adulthood, cheer the visitors every summer with calves. During the glory days of manors, fallow deer were a staple in many of the manors’ deer gardens.
As the enclosures and cages in the park were built with the welfare of animals in mind, you might have to take your time when visiting. Not all animals are always visible to the visitor.