Radosław Ratajszczak, former director of Wrocław Zoo, has died

Radosław Ratajszczak, the former long-term director of Wrocław Zoo, has passed away at the age of 69. A distinguished biologist, Ratajszczak led the Wrocław institution from 2007 to 2022.

During his tenure, he was credited with transforming the zoo, expanding its collection from approximately 500 species to over 1,100. He was the visionary behind the creation of Afrykarium, which opened in 2014 and became a major tourist attraction in Lower Silesia. He also founded the Wrocław Zoo ‘DODO’ Foundation.

Following his time in Wrocław, Ratajszczak dedicated his work to the protection of primates in Vietnam. Local officials and the zoo described him as a man of great passion and vision who viewed modern zoos primarily as centers for species protection, science, and education.