▁Z oo " ▁was ▁prepared ▁by ▁the ▁Zo ological ▁Society ▁of ▁Ireland ▁and ▁the ▁Office ▁of ▁Public ▁Works . ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁it ▁was ▁presented ▁to ▁Minister ▁of ▁Fin ance ▁Bert ie ▁Ah ern . ▁The ▁government ▁granted ▁the ▁zoo ▁IR £ 1 5 ▁million ▁( € 2 8 ▁million , ▁adjust ed ▁to ▁ 2 0 1 7 ▁infl ation ▁levels ) ▁for ▁improvements . ▁Th emed ▁areas ▁were ▁decided ▁on ▁and ▁the ▁first , ▁World ▁of ▁Prim ates , ▁opened ▁to ▁the ▁public ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 . ▁The ▁latest , ▁African ▁Pla ins , ▁opened ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 1 . ▁ ▁African ▁Pla ins ▁ ▁African ▁Pla ins ▁is ▁an ▁Africa - th emed ▁area ▁that ▁covers ▁ 1 3 ▁hect ares ▁and ▁was ▁opened ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 1 . ▁The ▁main ▁exhib it ▁in ▁African ▁Pla ins ▁is ▁the ▁" A fr ican ▁Sav anna ", ▁which ▁houses ▁o str ich es , ▁sc im itar - horn ed ▁or y x , ▁white ▁r hin oc eros , ▁g ira ff es ▁and ▁common ▁z eb ras , ▁all ▁of ▁which ▁share ▁a ▁large , ▁out door ▁p add ock . ▁Gor illa ▁Rain for est , ▁an ▁exhib it ▁opened ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 2 , ▁houses ▁a ▁tro op ▁of ▁western ▁low land ▁g or illas : ▁a ▁silver back ▁male ▁named ▁Harry , ▁two ▁adult ▁females ▁named ▁L ena ▁and ▁May ani , ▁and ▁two