Co-funded by the European Union. Programme Central Macedonia 2021-2027.
EcoZoo
ΕΛEN

EcoZoo: the world's first captivity-free “zoo” theme park

An original science theme park with robotic animals and innovative technology, combining entertainment with education on the environment, climate change and biodiversity.

Project ΚΜΡ6-0240621, Action “Investment Plans of Innovation”, Programme “Central Macedonia 2021-2027”.

About the project
About the project

A unique undertaking

EcoZoo is the first and only animal park in the world that has nothing to do with the captivity of living creatures. It wastes no energy, food or medicine, needs no water to care for the animals and operates without depleting natural resources. All the animals and wild beasts are robotic exhibits, precisely designed in size and physical features, with striking movement and real sounds.

The project uses technology and art so that visitors of all ages can approach the animals within a realistic natural setting and enjoy a true experience of discovery, without any living creature being held in captivity. It is an alternative, ecological and friendly “zoo”.

The undertaking emerged from the collaboration of leading Greek creative teams in the field of theme parks and was implemented under the Action “Investment Plans of Innovation” of the Programme “Central Macedonia 2021-2027”. The exhibition was presented at the NOESIS Science Center and Technology Museum in Thessaloniki, from 17 October 2023 to 4 February 2024.

Objective & Goals

What the project set out to achieve

Objective

To create an original, interactive science theme park with robotic animals that functions as a captivity-free “zoo” and uses innovative technological and artistic means to educate and entertain the public.

Goals

  • Combining quality entertainment with education (edutainment).
  • Raising awareness of the natural environment, climate change, biodiversity and animal welfare.
  • Using innovative robotic exhibits with movement and sound.
  • Educational programmes tailored to each school level, designed together with teachers and museologists.
  • Strengthening educational tourism and providing free educational material to schools.
The park

The EcoZoo experience

Visitors do not simply encounter a large park with dozens of animals. Within a single “story” they become protagonists themselves and discover, at arm's length, the secrets of a world whose heroes are the animals of the entire planet. The tour begins in a screening room with a specially produced video.

The route presents extinct animals, dominated by giant dinosaurs and mammoths, while for the first time in Greece the world of marine dinosaurs was presented within a staged underwater environment. Visitors then discover the animals of every continent.

Dedicated areas were designed for innovative activities around the natural environment and its protection, climate change, animal welfare and a healthy relationship with pets and companion animals. Through workshops, small exhibitions and hands-on activities, children and adults discover “new knowledge” through experience.

Different guided programmes were designed: one for pre-school and primary pupils, with careful humour and language adapted to their level, and a separate one for secondary education, so that interest and active participation remain high.

Λιοντάρι, ζέβρα και γορίλας σε σκηνικό ζούγκλας με μπλε φωτισμό Ρομποτικό έκθεμα ζώου του EcoZoo σε φυσικό σκηνικό Διαδραστικό έκθεμα του EcoZoo με αντιστροφή ρόλων ανθρώπου και ζώου Σκηνικό με ρομποτικούς δεινόσαυρους και πλούσια βλάστηση
Partners

Project partners

EKSAGON GREECE Ι.Κ.Ε.

Beneficiary and project Coordinator

Active in organising large exhibitions and events for more than eight years. Dedicated to creating impressive, educational exhibitions, it has produced projects such as “The Giant Dinosaurs”, the “Chocolate Park” and the “Nikola Tesla” exhibition. It led the design, production and delivery of the EcoZoo exhibits.

Contact: Email info@ecozoo.gr, Phone 2311 827620

DREAM WORKERS

Beneficiary

A Greek creative team with over fifteen years of experience in designing, developing and operating theme parks. It has created leading parks in Greece, such as “Oneiroupoli” in Drama, the “Elves' Mill” in Trikala, the “Chocolate Factory and Museum” and the “Secret Worlds of Eugene Trivizas”. Together, the two teams' parks have welcomed more than twelve million visitors.

Contact: Email info@dream-workers.gr, Phone +30 693 270 0021

NOESIS

Beneficiary and Scientific lead

Science Center and Technology Museum. It hosted the EcoZoo exhibition and acted as the scientific and educational partner, offering safe facilities, easy access, parking and full accessibility for people with disabilities.

Contact: 6th km Thessaloniki Thermi road, Thermi 57001. Website www.noesis.edu.gr

Funding

Short project description

The project was co-funded by the European Union and national resources under the Action “Investment Plans of Innovation” of the Programme “Central Macedonia 2021-2027”, PARD. The EcoZoo project (code ΚΜΡ6-0240621) aims to create the world's first captivity-free “zoo” theme park, with robotic animals and innovative technology, combining entertainment with education on the environment, climate change and biodiversity.

The total subsidised budget of the project amounts to 391,205.00 € and the corresponding public funding to 339,561.00 €. The project is co-funded by Greece and the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Project codeΚΜΡ6-0240621 (MIS 6002870)
BeneficiariesEKSAGON GREECE Ι.Κ.Ε., ΝΟΗΣΙΣ, DREAM WORKERS
CoordinatorEKSAGON GREECE Ι.Κ.Ε.
Scientific leadNOESIS
LocationNOESIS, 6th km Thessaloniki Thermi road, Thermi 57001
FundERDF, European Union and national funds
Publicity material

Project publicity material

Printed and digital publicity material produced under the EcoZoo project (ΚΜΡ6-0240621). All material carries the visual identity of the Programme “Central Macedonia 2021-2027”. Each file comes with an accessible text version. The original files are in Greek.

Cover of the EcoZoo four-page brochure: a puma in a dark jungle, a magnifying glass with the ECO ZOO logo and the title “The world's first captivity-free zoo”

Brochure

EcoZoo four-page brochure

PDF, 4 A4 pages, 0.7 MB, in Greek

Archive material of the exhibition, 17/10/2023 to 04/02/2024

The exhibition brochure for families, teachers and schools. Printed as a folded leaflet in A3 and A4 format.

Brochure text (accessible version)

The brochure is in Greek. Summary in English:

Page 1 (cover): ECO ZOO theme park. The world's first captivity-free “zoo”. The only theme park with robotic animals. From 17 October 2023 to 4 February 2024, NOESIS (Planetarium), Thessaloniki. Production: NOESIS. Design: Dream Workers, Eksagon Exhibitions. Co-funded by the European Union, ESPA 2021-2027, Programme Central Macedonia.

Page 2: NOESIS, together with Dream Workers and Eksagon Exhibitions, designs a new type of activity that combines entertainment and education. Eco Zoo is the world's first animal park with no captivity of living creatures: no waste of energy, food or medicine, and no water needed for animal care. All animals are robotic, with impressive movement and sound. From October 2023 to February 2024, Eco Zoo comes alive at NOESIS in Thessaloniki for families, teachers and schools from all over Greece.

Page 3, What will “travellers” meet at Eco Zoo? Meeting the animals of every continent opens up the natural environment, climate change, global warming, biodiversity and the risk of extinction. The visit starts with a video by author and presenter Giannis Servetas, continues with extinct species (dinosaurs, mammoths and, for the first time in Greece, marine dinosaurs) and then the animals of each continent, with games and innovative technology on wild and domestic animals, forests, animal welfare and responsible pet care.

Page 4 (back cover): Separate guided tour programmes for pre-school and primary pupils and for secondary pupils. NOESIS facilities: safety, free parking, sheltered waiting area, easy access, health staff on site, accessibility for people with disabilities. Practical visit information for the 2023-2024 exhibition period (opening hours, group ticket price, booking phones, info@ecozoo.gr). Address: NOESIS, 6th km Thessaloniki Thermi road, Thermi 57001. Co-funded by the European Union, ESPA 2021-2027, Programme Central Macedonia.

Download PDF (0.7 MB)
A3 project poster for ECOZOO with the logo, a QR code, duration, budget and the logos of the European Union, ESPA 2021-2027 and NOESIS

Poster

A3 project poster

PDF, 1 A3 page, 0.2 MB, in Greek

The poster with the project details, as required by the Programme's publicity obligations, displayed at the project location.

Poster text (accessible version)

The poster is in Greek. Text in English:

Competitive and Smart Europe. ECOZOO - Scientific Theme Park.

ECOZOO is an original, transportable theme park on wild and domestic animals, nature and environmental protection. It includes 30 life-size moving animal replicas, interactive exhibits and digital applications, offering a modern hands-on experience. It aims to strengthen educational tourism and create an innovative, exportable product.

Duration: 01/2021 - 10/2023. Total budget: 391,205.00 €. Eligible budget: 339,561.00 €. Programme “Central Macedonia 2021-2027”. NOESIS Science Center and Technology Museum. Co-funded by the European Union, ESPA 2021-2027.

Download PDF (0.2 MB)
Cover of the EcoZoo presentation: a puma in a jungle, a magnifying glass with the ECO ZOO logo and the title “The world's first captivity-free zoo”

Presentation

EcoZoo theme park presentation

PDF, 30 A3 pages, 5.9 MB, in Greek

A detailed presentation of the concept, the thematic sections and the exhibits of the park, with photos from the exhibition.

Content summary (accessible version)

The presentation is in Greek (30 pages) and describes the concept and the route of the theme park, with photos from the exhibition:

  • Eco Zoo, the idea: a captivity-free animal park with life-size robotic animals, movement and sound, and one continuous “story” in which the visitor is the protagonist.
  • What travellers will “meet”: the animals of every continent as a starting point for the environment, climate change and biodiversity.
  • Exterior: the park entrance and the “Time Machine”.
  • Section 1, Time Machine: projection room with an introductory video and the first electronic information station.
  • Section 2, Extinct species: dinosaurs, mammoths and, for the first time in Greece, marine dinosaurs.
  • Section 3, Animals today: Europe, Asia, Africa, America, Oceania and the Poles.
  • Section 4, Information stations and games: touch-screen stations and interactive knowledge games.

The front and back covers carry the “Co-funded by the European Union, ESPA 2021-2027, Programme Central Macedonia” identity.

Download PDF (5.9 MB)

The four-page brochure includes practical visit information (opening hours, tickets) that applied only to the exhibition period at NOESIS and is no longer valid.

The project in the media

Selected TV and press coverage of the EcoZoo exhibition. Links lead to third-party content, in Greek.

TV and video

Press

Contact

Contact & partners

Contact details

BeneficiariesEKSAGON GREECE Ι.Κ.Ε., ΝΟΗΣΙΣ, DREAM WORKERS
Emailinfo@ecozoo.gr

Details per partner are listed in the “Partners” section.

Project location

NOESIS Science Center and Technology Museum
6th km Thessaloniki Thermi road, Thermi 57001