A short summary of what has happened since 1996: 1996: 1996 was the year of African species. The exhibit of lions was finished and the biggest exhibit in the country was opened under the name Afrika Panoráma (Africa Panorama), where zebras, ostriches, common elands, and wildebeests have cohabited. The aviary was also completed this year, which gives place to the richest parrot and cockatoo collection in Hungary. The exhibit for the tiger also opened this year. 1997: The expansion of the zoo was continued. The llama and the kangaroo exhibit opened for the public and the constructions of the giraffe shelter finished. The giraffe couple coming from the zoo of Emmen of the Netherlands gave birth to a baby in the same year. 1998: More and more species are given a place in the zoo, some of them are a real curiosity. Uniquely in Hungary, the parrots lay eggs throughout the year, and a number of scarce antelope calves are given birth (including waterbucks and black wildebeests). New species arrived at the zoo, the most interesting of which include skunks and red kangaroos coming from Budapest. 1999: The zoo became the first provincial zoo to provide a seal exhibit, where the visitors can inspect the swimming of calves as well. The construction of the rhinoceros shelter started this year too. 2000: The first saltwater aquarium in the countryside opened in 2000 in Hungary. Its most important animal among many others is a requiem shark. 2001: The exhibit and aviary for European animals was rebuilt and was denominated as Magyar Őspark (Hungarian Primeval Park). Besides the animals, a little open-air museum was given a place. The most interesting novelty is the long-desired European bison. 2002: The opening of the Tropical House occurred. A portion of sharks and monkeys were moved to the newly built house, of course the collection was completed with new species. The most precious inhabitants of the building are the Bornean orangutans. The open-air portion of the house was also opened in the same year which gives place to the Monkey Forest and the Mediterranean Garden. 2003: Around the former seal exhibit, Polar panorama was built. Penguins and polar bears are exhibited for the first time in provincial Hungary. 2004: The educational hall is built, which has since been closed. The wax museum presenting the evolution of humankind also opened that year. The sensation of the year is