Largest indoor desert in a zoo

Largest indoor desert in a zoo
Who
Royal Burgers' Zoo Desert
What
0.75 hectare(s)
Where
Netherlands (Arnhem)
When
February 1994

Opened in February 1994, the "Burgers' Desert" exhibit at Royal Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem, Netherlands, spans an area of 6,200 square metres (66,736 square feet); this increases to 7,500 square metres (80,729 square feet) when including an artificial mineshaft-style cave system through which visitors enter the biome. The arid landscape is inspired by the rocky Sonoran Desert, straddling the border of north-west Mexico and south-west USA, and the flora and fauna largely reflects this region. It is home to over 1,100 animals, representing more than 30 different species, and around 145 different species of cactus.

In February 1994, Prince Bernhardt marked the opening of "Burgers' Desert" with the release of two turkey vultures.

Other species that reside in the exhibit are gila monsters (the most venomous lizard), bighorn sheep, collared peccaries and diamondback rattlesnakes.

The tallest rock structure in the exhibit, looking to recreate the many rocky escarpments that are common to the Mexican/US desert, stands 7 m (23 ft) tall.