The Heritage of Polish Zoological Gardens – Architectural and Artistic Monuments and their Contemporary Presentation

The aim of this article is to introduce, present and highlight the importance of historical buildings and works of art in Polish zoos. It focuses on strategies for managing this cultural heritage. It uses mainly descriptive methods through case studies chosen for their effectiveness in illustrating complex and individual solutions. The findings suggest that common practices for preserving architectural and artistic heritage include maintaining the existing state with possible reuse, creative adaptation with isolation and partial restoration of essential elements, or relocation of valuable elements. Previous research on zoo facilities has mostly focused on changes in breeding and display requirements and their impact on spatial development. This article fills this gap by providing evidence on how architectural and artistic heritage is managed and used within operating zoo facilities. The results show that in the selected institutions there is a certain level of awareness of the value of historic objects and buildings in modern zoos, leading to their proper conservation for further use and display. However, historical studies and observations indicate that management processes have led to irreversible alterations and demolitions. The article contributes to the existing body of knowledge in two ways: first, by initiating a discussion on the conservation and adaptive management of cultural heritage in zoos and second, by providing examples and highlighting successful conservation practices.