Nordens Ark

Historic letters show that King Håkon of Norway lived at Åby Manor in 1307, establishing that the manor is at least that old and making it one of Bohuslän's oldest estates. In 1661, Margareta Hvitfeldt purchased the property, consisting of some 90 farms and cottages. After her death in 1683, the property was managed until 1975 by the scholarship fund that inherited her wealth. The Agricultural Society in Gothenburg and Bohus County purchased the property at this time, and held it until 1996. The dwelling house at the manor was built in 1729, and parts of the {{Convert|60|m|adj=on}} barn, the largest timbered structure in Bohuslän, are believed to date back to the 17th century.

The Bohus Breeding Center Foundation (Stiftelsen Bohus Avelscentrum) was founded on 8 March 1988 and Nordens Ark was inaugurated by Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden on 14 June 1989. In 1996 the foundation purchased Åby Manor from Aby manor from the Agricultural Society in Gothenburg and Bohus County. In 1997, the name of the foundation was changed to the current Nordens Ark Foundation (Stiftelsen Nordens Ark), and in 1999 Nordens Ark created The Farm and opened to the public.

Image:Järv.JPG at the park]]

{{hidden begin

|title = The Farm (native breeds)

|titlestyle = background:lightgreen;width:60%

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• Bohuslän-dal black poultry
• Dala sheep
• Mountain cattle
• Gotland rabbit
• Gotlandsruss
• Gute sheep
• Jämtland goat
• Linderöd pig
• The Nordic bee
• Nordsvensk horse
• Orust poultry
• Polled cattle
• Swedish blue duck
• Longwool sheep
• Öland goose

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{{hidden begin

|title = The wild zoo

|titlestyle = background:lightgreen;width:60%

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• Amur leopard
• Amur tiger
• Eurasian eagle owl
• Bald ibis
• European wild cat
• Lesser white-fronted goose
• Snowy owl
• White-naped crane
• Red-crowned crane
• Wolverine
• Great grey owl
• Eurasian lynx
• Maned wolf
• Red panda
• Peregrine falcon
• Przewalski horse
• European forest reindeer
• Tadjiik markhor
• Ural owl
• Rocky mountain goat
• Snow leopard
• Pudu
• Tadjiikistan urial sheep
• Eurasian otter
• Grey wolf
• White-backed woodpecker
• White stork

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{{hidden begin

|title = Reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates

|titlestyle = background:lightgreen;width:60%

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• Giant marine toad
• Bamboo tree frog
• European pond tortoise
• Wels catfish
• Gotland grass snake
• Green toad
• Yellow-banded poison arrow frog
• Pool frog
• Smooth snake
• Adder
• Red-necked pond turtle
• European fire-bellied toad
• Agile frog
• Common toad
• Annam leaf turtle
• Moor frog
• Edible toad{{citation needed|date=January 2012}}
• European tree frog
• Smooth newt
• Carvalho's Surinam toad
• Sand lizard
• Viviparous lizard
• Grass snake
• Natterjack toad
• Giant day gecko
• Great crested newt
• Common frog

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Quarantine and breeding take place in a separate part of the park called Lunden, which is not accessible to the public. This area includes separate quarantine areas for predators, birds, and ungulates.

There are three categories of breeding and rearing work at the park.

1. Endangered old Nordic breeds.
2. Endangered Nordic wild mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects.
3. Endangered exotic wild mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects that come from an environment similar to the Nordic. There are exceptions when it comes to amphibians and reptiles.

Nordens Ark has participated or is currently taking part in re-population projects, to release animals born at the facility into the wild, including the white stork, eagle owl, bell frog, otter, European wildcat, and lynx.

The park has a national responsibility for rearing and reintroduction of the white-backed woodpecker, peregrine falcon, green toad, lesser white-fronted goose, and several species of beetle.

Nordens ark is owned and run by the Nordens Ark Foundation (Swedish: Stiftelsen Nordens Ark) which owns the {{Convert|383|acre|adj=on}} Åby Manor. This foundation is supported by gifts, donations, and commercial and private sponsors.

{{reflist|refs=

{{Cite web

|url=http://www.nordensark.se/home-en-US/

|title=Welcome to Nordens Ark!

|work=nordensark.se

|publisher=Nordens Ark

|accessdate=29 April 2012

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505220027/http://www.nordensark.se/home-en-US/

|archive-date=5 May 2012

|url-status=dead

}}

{{Cite web

|url=http://www.nordensark.se/about-nordens-ark/

|title=About Nordens Ark

|work=nordensark.se

|publisher=Nordens Ark

|accessdate=29 April 2012

}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.nordensark.se/se/om-nordens-ark/ |title=Om Nordens Ark |work=nordensark.se |publisher=Nordens Ark |language=Swedish |accessdate=29 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818202059/http://www.nordensark.se/se/om-nordens-ark/ |archivedate=18 August 2010 }}

{{cite web|url=http://www.nordensark.se/se/om-nordens-ark/kort-historik/ |title=Kort historik |work=nordensark.se |publisher=Nordens Ark |language=Swedish |accessdate=29 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820081006/http://www.nordensark.se/se/om-nordens-ark/kort-historik/ |archivedate=20 August 2010 }}

{{ZooOrg|eaza|zoos|accessdate=28 April 2012}}

{{ZooOrg|waza|zoos|accessdate=28 April 2012}}

{{cite news |title=Nordens Ark fick turistpriset

|first=Ann-Katrin |last=Eklund |newspaper=Bohusläningen

|date=2 January 2010

|url=http://bohuslaningen.se/nyheter/tanum/1.689925-nordens-ark-fick-turistpriset

|language=Swedish

|accessdate=29 April 2012

}}

}}

• {{Commons category-inline}}
• {{Official website|en.nordensark.se/}}

{{Zoos of Sweden}}

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Category:Zoos in Sweden

Category:Buildings and structures in Västra Götaland County

Category:Tourist attractions in Västra Götaland County

Category:1989 establishments in Sweden

Category:Zoos established in 1989

Category:Sotenäs Municipality

Category:1980s establishments in Gothenburg and Bohus County