Photo by Anssi Nokelainen, Ähtäri Zoo
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Read the original article here: https://explorefinlandpodcast.com/2019/02/18/six-things-you-must-experience-at-ahtari-zoo/
Read more in English and plan your visit: https://www.ahtarizoo.fi/index.php/en/
Subscribe to the Ähtäri Zoo Podcast on iTunes
Once you get out into the wilds of Finland, it’s easy to think you are in the middle of nowhere, but I discovered recently that the small town of Ähtäri, with it’s zoo resort, is actually at the centre of everything. Below are some of things that you must not miss-out on when you visit Ähtäri.
Photo ÄhtäriZoo Panda Lumi3 by Timo Ahopelto
Since they arrived in early-2018, Pyry and Lumi the giant pandas have become the headline act at Ähtäri – they have even been re-branded, as SnowPandas. They reside in the custom-built Snowpanda House at Ähtäri Zoo, in enclosures that were designed to replicate the mountainside environment of their native China, complete with a stream running down the sloped, rocky terrain.
If you are lucky, you will be there at playtime, when the pandas are most active, padding around both inside and outside, playing with their toys or climbing frames. Or you will be there at feeding time, and see them expertly stripping their bamboo canes and devouring the inside. Making a lot of noise in the process.
It is recommended to buy a combination ticket for the zoo and panda house. This gives you two days at the zoo plus one visit to the panda house. Be sure to take your time, the pandas are not always ‘performing’, they also sleep. A lot. There are benches and bean bags, so you can make yourself comfortable and just hang-out with the pandas. People have been known to stay in the Panda House for hours. #BeLikePanda indeed (although I’m not sure if anyone has taken the #SleepLikePanda hashtag seriously, not yet anyway.)
Photo: AhtariZoo Panda Lumi Talvi by Timo Ahopelto
Play the Podcast
Download an MP3 of A Winter Visit to Ähtäri Zoo & Snowpanda Resort
Subscribe to the new Ähtäri Zoo podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/fi/podcast/%C3%A4ht%C3%A4ri-zoo-explore-finland-radio-show/id1451443467?mt=2
Episode 39
In Winter 2018, I was commissioned to make a pilot series of a new podcast; The Ähtäri Zoo Podcast. This episode is a selection of stories from the first three interviews with people powering Ähtäri Zoo:
I’m sure you will find this a fascinating look, at the workings of a modern-day zoo. If you search for Ähtäri Zoo Podcast on your podcast player, you will find two full-length episodes, with more to follow.
The podcast will be supported by blog posts that highlight some of the unique aspects of Ähtäri; at first this will focus on the zoo but, with your support, it could expand to include the town of Ähtäri and the surrounding area – there is plenty here to show you.
So if you want the series to continue, then we need to hear from you. Whichever episode you are enjoying, please share it on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to tag the zoo @ÄhtäriZoo and me @explorefinland and use the hashtag #AhtariZooPodcast. While you’re doing this, why not tell us where in the world you are?
This will help spread the word about this new podcast. It will also demonstrate to everyone in Ähtäri that there is an international audience for this show and it may convince then to continue making it – it’s up to you now.
Thank you for listening, remember to subscribe to the show so you get new episodes when they are published Ähtäri Zoo Podcast on iTunes
– Mark Wiltshear, Explore Finland Radio Show
Explore Finland’s ‘scopes are first broadcast via a live stream on the Periscope app, search for ExploreFinland in the app. Follow @explorefinland on Twitter for announcements of upcoming ‘scopes.
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