The Nyíregyháza Zoo (Nyíregyházi Állatpark – Animal Park of Nyíregyháza, also known as Sóstó Zoo) is a 30-hectare animal park zoo located 5 km (3.3 miles) north of Nyíregyháza, Hungary. The zoo is in the Sóstó recreation area, which includes a beach, spa, public swimming pool, open-air museum, and a forested oak tree park. Visitors can observe how the wild zoo animals live across all the world's continents by touring the animal park. The zoo also provides visitors local access to Hotel Dzsungel (Hotel Jungle). History Nyíregyháza Zoo was opened in 1974 as “Nyíregyházi Vadaspark” (Wild Park of Nyíregyháza). It was located 5 kilometers from Nyíregyháza in the Sóstó recreation area of Hungary. Owned and sponsored by the local government, Nyíregyháza Zoo is governed by the city area of Sóstó-Nyíregyháza. Upon first opening for visitors in 1974, its main purpose was to exhibit native species of Hungary and the Pannonian Basin. It has a unique exhibition system in which the giant exhibits are separated from the paths with ditches filled with water. Some European species were replaced with their close relatives; for instance, there are American bison exhibited instead of those found in Europe. The greatest spectacles of that time were the European carnivores, the bears, and the timber wolves substituting their European relatives. Despite this, the number of visitors decreased due to the lack of exotic animals. The year 1996 brought a breakthrough to the zoo. This year, the new director László Gajdos took up his duties in the park and decided to create a real zoo in Nyíregyháza. János Szánthó received the rank of deputy manager. Szánthó personally brought up a number of smaller animals. This year, the redenomination of the zoo has occurred. It received a new name “Nyíregyházi Állatpark” (however, some may still call it by its older name, Vadaspark, incorrectly). László Gajdos and his team have since come up with new ideas every year. The Állatpark is the richest zoo in mammals (especially primates and pachyderms) in Hungary. The once 14-hectare area is now 32 hectares large and home to 500 species and over 5000 animals that can be seen by the visitors. It has grown out to be the biggest animal collection in the country. The zoo is a member of the Hungarian Association of Zoos (MÁSZ), the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).