Has placing Giza Zoo on Egypt's list of heritage sites aborted a plan to move it to 6th October city, asks Nevine El-Aref and Sherif Sonbol captures the spirit Giza Zoo has been grabbing the headlines over the past two weeks amid rumours that the 120-year-old zoological gardens are to be moved to new premises in 6th October City and the present site used for administrative buildings. The Minister of Agriculture Amin Abaza, whose ministry oversees the zoo, has repeatedly denied the rumours. Despite the denials a strong report has surfaced claiming that a prominent development company wants to buy both the land on which the zoo now stands and the adjacent Orman park for investment projects. Reports also claim that the Ministry of Housing has allocated a 400-feddan space in 6th October to house the new zoo under a plan to transfer all the animals, trees and plants on the Giza site before 2010. Zoological experts, however, have balked at the suggestion, saying that it would lead to the destruction of a number of Victorian- style buildings and gardens. They say that Giza Zoo was initially designed to showcase imported rare flowers, exotic plants and a huge exhibition of African wildlife. A few days after the latest rumours began to spread, the historic buildings of Giza Zoo were listed as Islamic and Coptic monuments in accordance with Egypt's law no 117 for the year 1983, which stipulates that any building more than a century old and with distinguishing features be regarded as an antiquity. Within the zoo gardens such features would include the three hills (the Chandelier, the Creativity and the Royal) as well as the Japanese kiosk, the royal rest house, the hanging bridge, the remains of the Haramlik Palace and the old gate. The stories buzzing around have raised several issues. Al-Ahram Weekly questioned members of the public for their reaction, and received a unified bag of responses Mohamed Mahmoud a teacher at the Orman School asked why transferring the zoo to another area and preventing people from creating memories was even being considered. The zoo, he said, had been a place where he had spent many happy childhood days. "I personally have memories in every place at the zoo. Here I used to picnic with my family and there I played football with my relatives," Mahmoud remembered. "When I faced a major problem in my life I used to sit in the tea garden watching the ducks and swans swimming on the lake. The scene took me away from my problem and often led me to a solution." Aliya Sayed a housewife who we talked to as she entered the zoo with her two children, also questioned the rationality behind a move. "The zoo is almost our only place of entertainment," she told the Weekly. "It would be too far for us to go and the transport will cost us a lot. If the government has all these money to transfer the zoo and build another one, why spend all that money to tear down our beloved zoo when they could use it to upgrade people's standard of living?" To put an end to the gossip, Abaza sent a press release to all Egyptian newspapers denying any plan to transfer the zoo and sell its land to investors for administrative buildings. Hamed Samaha, head of the general authority for veterinarian services told the Weekly that no studies had so far been submitted to the authorities to build a new zoo in 6th October to replace Giza Zoo. He said the government had no intention of privatising the zoo and was paying regard to its social aspect as a cheap place of entertainment and the only one in area. Zahi Hawass, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), insists that no state agency has the power or authority to relocate Giza Zoo or any of its buildings without the SCA's approval, since it qualifies as an Islamic monument. "If they want to remove the animals with their cages it's OK, but no one can touch any part of the zoo itself," he says. The same applies to the Andalusian Garden in Gezira, which was recently placed on Egypt's heritage list because of its distinguished and unique architecture. Giza Zoo is one of the most beautiful in the world, built on about 80 feddans and home to various animal and plant species. It was founded by Khedive Ismail, who aspired to cultural and aesthetic innovations in the European style. He thought up the idea of setting up a zoo to coincide with the inauguration of the Suez Canal in 1869, but ran out of time and failed to make it. The zoo was completed in 1871 and was part of his private estate until it opened to the public in 1891, when Cairenes and foreign visitors could view the collection exotic plants and animals brought in from faraway places. The animal and bird enclosures were set among streams, lakes, bridges and hilly habitats cultivated with cacti and rare plants and entwined with paths paved with coloured pebbles set in beautiful mosaic pictures, The gardens contain of five hilly areas; the largest, called Citadel Hill, was constructed in 1867 and is decorated with models in cement and pebbles of creatures including the extinct Fayoum rhinoceros, crocodiles and birds. The plateau is crowned with a small park that can be reached by means of a spiral path. It comprises plant-covered walks, a number of streams and a central gazebo. The streams flow through caves roofed with pieces of white coral and down through waterfalls to a lake with two islands connected by a wooden bridge. In front of the Lion House are two artificial hills connected by an iron suspension bridge, the only one of its kind in Egypt. To complement the numerous animals in the gardens is a museum. Built in 1906, it contains three large galleries exhibiting a large collection of stuffed birds from Egypt and abroad, as well as reptiles, fish and animals, and a number of skeletons. Two further galleries exhibit animals, reptiles, and birds. Besides this, the zoo is an institute where scientists can study the animal behaviour. Altogether five non-governmental organisations carry out campaigns to encourage people to preserve wild life and promote environment awareness in Egypt. The Orman Gardens were part of Giza Zoo, which was built with the aim of providing the khedive's palaces with fruit. Khedive Ismail acquired botanical specimens from all over the world to enrich the Giza gardens, and brought in French agronomists to carry out his designs. In 1910 the gardens were put under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture, and in 1934, when Cairo University was established, the avenue leading from Giza Square to the university was paved, separating the Orman Gardens from the Zoo. The original premises of Giza Zoo were 50 feddans in surface, but in 1938 the southern part of the Orman Gardens was added, bringing the total up to 80 feddans. The original collection of animals was brought from a private zoo that Khedive Ismail established in the grounds of Sarai Al-Gezira, now the Marriott Hotel. The zoo, which currently houses 1,300 animal specimens and 342 types of plants, 90 of which are rare and 31 virtually extinct, still displays a faded grandiosity that reveals the splendor in which it used to bask The main gate is a triumphal arch with stucco bas-relief designs, embellished with inscriptions of pharaonic soldiers hunting with spears in a dense forest -- surely hardly comforting to the animals within. Until the early 1950s the zoo was a favourite venue for picnickers from all social strata. With its manicured landscape and picturesque garden, it was the traditional haunt of lovers. It was also an educational facility for children. After the 1952, however, priority was given to social and economic issues that were considered far more pressing than the khedive's legacy. The zoo, like many of the nation's architectural treasures, fell into neglect. "Giza Zoo is an important part of Egypt's heritage," says conservationist Mindy Baha El-Din, the national coordinator of a study on hunting management for the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) and an organiser of bird-watching tours. "It was the best in Africa, with one of the rarest animal and botanical collections in the world. Something should be really done to save it." The Royal Grotto and its collection of rare cacti was designed in 1867 and revamped several years ago. The winding paths that lead through it were paved with bright mosaic work similar to the original cladding. Since the renovation, visitors gave again been able to explore the Cave of the Chandeliers ( Al-Sham'idan ). Created in 1869 by a Turkish architect, this has been cleared of the dead plants that formerly cluttered it. A Japanese kiosk built by George Lee between 1863 and 1869 is also on view. This was renovated twice: first in 1927, when the Japanese crown prince paid a visit to the zoo in the company of King Fouad; and a second time this year. The kiosk houses rare pictures of the zoo's most distinguished visitors -- royal and state dignitaries -- as well as snapshot of the Giza Zoo in the royal era. The Grotto of Creativity, built in 1875, was recently provided with 12 studio spaces in which painters may draw while contemplating Tea Island ( Geziret Al-Shay ). Another historical landmark is a hanging bridge that links two of the zoo's grottos and was designed by none other than the French architect Gustave Eiffel. Years ago, children would play happily on the bridge and no newly-married couple would forego the chance of a photograph there. Although 6th October Bridge has replaced it in many newlyweds' photo albums, everyone will be pleased to hear that Eiffel's bridge was recently renovated, having been deemed too hazardous to cross. Now zoo-goers can stand on it once more to view the huge panorama of trees and plants. The Andalusian Garden is a wonderful little park located in Gezira between Qasr Al-Nil Bridge and 6th October Bridge, in the southern part of Zamalek and just minutes away from the Downtown area. The garden was laid out in 1929 by Zulficar Pasha as a present to his wife., and covers an area of 8,400 square metres. The park itself is very pleasant, with well tended greenery, walkways, and benches from where one can quietly observe the Nile and the criss-crossing feluccas. A quiet walk along the river bank while enjoying the lush foliage and beautiful landscaping certainly separates one from the noise and hassle of city traffic. The park is divided in three sections. The first is composed of narrow passages surrounded by various trees and flowerbeds together with replicas of ancient Egyptian statues. There are two round terraces at the edge. The second part, which is designed in an Andalusian style, is on a higher level and has more of a symmetrical nature than the first section. Dominating the central area is a fountain with a statue of the famous poet Ahmed Shawki set under a regal arch at the highest point of the garden. The third part, Al-Fardus, is arabesque in design and architecture. All the steps and benches at the garden are decorated with fine coloured mosaics. At the far end of the park and opposite the statue is the main entrance, which looks on to Gezira Square. There are few places in Cairo where one can enjoy such a pleasant stroll.
