Budapest Zoo's Biodóm attracts 160,000 visitors since opening

The Biodóm, a new indoor urban oasis at the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden, has welcomed approximately 160,000 visitors since its opening in early July. According to zoo spokesperson Zoltán Hanga, about 100,000 of these visitors arrived in July alone.

The 1.7-hectare facility features a central one-hectare area containing roughly 13,000 tropical and subtropical plants, a 14.5-meter waterfall, and various exotic animals, including Bali starlings, crested turtles, and various primates. While the project's final scope is more modest than originally planned, Director Endre Sós noted it provides a consistent year-round experience for the public.

Operating the facility involves significant energy consumption to maintain climate control. During extreme heatwaves, the cooling system kept internal temperatures between 28 and 32 degrees Celsius, roughly 6 to 8 degrees lower than the external environment. Consequently, monthly electricity bills are estimated to fluctuate between 10 million and 40 million forints, with July's bill reaching over 40 million forints.