Nordens Ark

Nordens Ark
This park reminds me a lot of the wildlife parks in Germany, but honestly done even better. I’d say this is one of the best parks in Sweden, possibly the best.

What really sets Nordens Ark apart is that it’s genuinely focused on conservation. They work actively with endangered species, both Scandinavian and international, and have been involved for years in breeding and reintroduction projects for native animals that are threatened or extinct in the wild, like green toad, white-backed woodpecker, European tree frog, sand lizard, and more.

The enclosures here are on another level. I’ve heard people call this “the Swedish model”, meaning very natural enclosures with little to no artificial elements like fake rocks or heavy structures. That fits perfectly. Most exhibits are spacious, built directly into hillsides and cliffs, and feel more like real landscapes than zoo enclosures.

Two of the newer highlights are in the wetland area. On the ground floor you’ll find SköldpaddsArken, a professional breeding facility focused on endangered turtles. This is a really well-designed space with several rare species, including spotted pond turtle, black-breasted leaf turtle, northern Vietnamese box turtle, and Vietnamese big-headed turtle, the last one being unique to this park.

Upstairs is AmfibieArken, which mainly houses frogs and newts, along with some lizards and spiders. Here you can see species like mountain chicken frog, lemur leaf frog, and Vietnam crocodile newt.

Elsewhere in the park you’ll find species such as Tajik urial, Tajik markhor, Scottish wildcat, European ground squirrel, and white-backed woodpecker. They also work with old Swedish farm animal breeds, which fits nicely into their broader conservation focus.

Overall, this is not just a zoo, it’s a serious conservation park with exceptional enclosure quality and a strong species selection. For me, Nordens Ark stands out as one of Sweden’s strongest wildlife collections, combining rare species, proper conservation work, and some of the most natural enclosures you’ll find in the country.