History
Copenhagen Zoo is a typical big city zoo, old style. Originally built in the outskirts of the city, but now relatively close to the city-centre. It is an old zoo that, as most zoos nowadays, has been modernised again and again. Everytime trying to reach state of the art. Good examples thereof are to be seen across the road in the giraffe, antilope enclosure and in the zoo's newest asset, the new elephant house.
The new elephant house designed by architect Norman Foster, was officially for the first time occupied by the elephants in March 2008. When thinking of a new elephant house the managing director of Copenhagen Zoo wished for a building not being dark but light and absolutely not a dull concrete block . During a visit to London in 2001 the newly designed glass dome of the British museum (by Foster) inspired the director to contact Norman Foster. So, Foster became the zoo's architect fot the elephant house. And the new building became two self-sustaining glass domes which provided lots of daylight in the stables leaving the visitor areas in relative darkness. The outside enclosure faces the Frederiksberg park and the pool is the sole boundary between zoo and park at this spot.
But why so ambitous? (source Copenhagen Zoo website): "Many safari parks built simple barns for the elephants, and of course the Zoo could have done that too. However, the Zoo is not a safari park with sufficient space to hide primitive and simple buildings from the visitors. Within its limited area the Zoo needs to ensure that the new houses built also constitute an experience to the Zoo visitors without compromising animal welfare and the security of the staff..... An old, urban zoo is not only working towards nature conservation - the Zoo is also a cultural institution on a par with museums and theatres that provide experiences which also includes recreation and reflection. This is where good architecture plays a role and of which Copenhagen Zoo has a long tradition..... The Zoo believes that good architecture adds value to the visitors' experience of the animals, just like the well-designed art museum adds value to the museum's art collection...... We are convinced that Norman Foster's Elephant House will attract focus and add value to the Zoo's group of Asian elephants, the exhibition and nature conservation." (see also: The Guardian's ' wait till you see our swimming pool!' and picture gallery)
Copenhagen Zoo is the only zoo outside of Australia that has Tasmanian Devils in captivity.
Visit(s)
10.01.2010
At the time of visit it has been freezing cold since two weeks. So, the moats around the outdoor enclosures were frozen over. This could lead to escapes if not well designed, but as you might expect in a Scandinavian country they created a second barrier in most enclosures: a wall to keep the Houdini's in. Additionally, there was a thin layer of snow, which provided fun-time for all the young adolescents, like the amur tiger cubs, the lion cubs and especially the two brown bear cubs. I shot some great footage of the two bears playing.
The zoo is situated in a park in the borough Frederiksberg. All is well organised: nice restaurants, clean restrooms, informative guidebook for sale (of course also available in English), lots of sponsors for the animals and notification at the signs whether the zoo takes part in a species EEP or not. All seems up-to-date.You can still recognise this zoo is old, but they have done a great job in modernising it.
Recently (2008) the elephants are housed in a new enclosure designed by the renown architect sir Norman Foster. The new elephant house is based on green principles, regarding recycling water, use of solar energy and environment friendly building materials. Next to this, the house is beautiful with lots of daylight coming in through the glass roof. It seems like a perfect environment for the 7 elephants, of which the breeding male and the young male were individually separated from the females (3) with young.The zoo has clearly made a decision to not try and have as much different kind of species as possible in captivity, but nevertheless display animals from all the continents. They expanded old enclosures by combining two or more and give more space and hide-outs for the animals. So, the brown bear mother and her cubs seemed perfectly at ease. As were the two polar bears. I liked the enclosure for the Amur tigers (5 of which 2 cubs). It provided the animals with the opportunity to choose between resting spots and also the possibility to wander around and hide from the public. Perhaps a resting (check-out) point on a higher level would do to improve, still. As you can imagine the tigers were outside. Their genes will still remember that cold is not something to be afraid of.That's different for the African lions of course. Nevertheless they were outside too. Only they were provided with a straw bedding in one of the corners of the enclosure. And there they cuddled together. All 8 of them (1 male, 2 females, 5 cubs). Must have been nice and warm.As Copenhagen zoo is European studbook holder for the chimpanzee I expected a large group of animals. I was not disappointed, but it was not exceptional. The eldest of the group of 10 was born in 1970 and wild catch, still. The youngest two were born in Copenhagen zoo in 2007, according to the signs. There is no outside enclosure.The zoo is divided in two parts which are separated by the big road that lead into the town-centre. The two parts are joined together by a tunnel. So, you can walk underground from the old zoo in the north to the 'new' zoo in the south, which has quite a different set-up. Here they planned a zoo conform the new ideas. House animals together, which in the wild also occupy the same terrain. So you see savanne animals together in one large meadow: wildebeast, ostriche, giraffe, impala, zebra and more. Africa is also represented here with the rhinoceros (3), hippopotamus (2) and the caracal (was inside its cage and could not be seen), all separately housed. The cage for the caracal was surprisingly simple and not fit for purpose to my opinion, for such a long legged carnivore hunter. On this side of the tunnel there were also representations from Australia (kangaroo, emu), New Zealand (kea) and Galapagos Islands (galapagos tortoise).
All in all: a well organised and well planned zoo, that can be covered in half a day. Interesting feature during the visit was the use of christmas-trees as toys in the enclosures. I mean old christmas-trees were gathered and just thrown in the enclosures. Unfortunately there are still a few enclosures that do not really fit the modern ideas of how animals should be housed, but the zoo should be given the benefit of the doubt. Because great improvements are being made, and for instance although the indoor gibbon enclosure was a shame, the outdoor island looked very nice. It was only too cold to let them out.
Most of the animals were outside even though it was freezing. The animals that did decide to stay in were all coming from the warmer climates (kangaroo, ring-tailed maki, giraffe, caracal, mongoose, ..). Furthermore, they tried hard to group the animals by continent, but they did not really succeed. Like the elephants and African lions being strangers in the 'old' (northern) part of the zoo.
Gallery
Video
More info
Rhino breeding
Rhino reproduction at Copenhagen Zoo
After 35 years Copenhagen Zoo welcomed another rhinoceros birth on 24 January 2015. A white rhino (Ceratotherium simum) birth is a rare and important event not only for Copenhagen Zoo but throughout the international zoo world. Each calf that is born in captivity is of great importance for the international breeding programme and the conservation of this endangered species in the wild. Therefore the whole process from courtship to birth was closely watched at the Zoo.
It starts with courtship and mating
It can take up to three weeks of flirtation by the male rhino before the female is prepared to accept him, or in other words becomes ready to mate. When she's finally ready, the male is allowed to rest his chin on the female's buttocks after which he can mount her and proceed with the actual mating.
Here you can see the mating that took place in Copenhagen Zoo, which has been captured by the Zoo's vet on his cell phone in the summer of 2013.
(Source: Copenhagen Zoo YouTube channel)
Birth of a white rhinoceros at Copenhagen Zoo
The gestation period within rhinoceros species is about 15-16 months. It is difficult to predict the exact time of birth of rhinoceros calves, but a continuous and significant drop in the female's level of the hormone progesterone, as measured by the veterinarian, is a good indication. Another good indication of an impending birth are the typical signs rhinoceros females will show about 48 hours preceding the birth, such as unrest, decline in appetite, udder swelling and softening in the pelvic region.
On 21 January the progesterone level started to drop significantly, announcing the impending birth. And the long awaited rhinoceros calf was finally born on 24 January. Shortly after his birth the male calf stumbled onto his feet, while after a few hours he became more sure-footed and started to suckle.
Footage of the birth process:
(Source: Copenhagen Zoo YouTube channel)
Some interesting facts about rhinoceroses you can find here.
Zoo details
Some additional information, such as contact details and involvement in breeding programmes.
Location
Directions
Directions to Copenhagen Zoo
Address:
Roskildevej 32
DK-2000
Frederiksberg
Copenhagen
Denmark
public transport
by train
Valby Station is a 15 minutes walk from the Zoo, or you can catch bus 4A .
by metro
The closest Metro stations are Frederiksberg nearby the Frederiksberg Center and Fasanvejen on Nordre Fasanvej. Both are a 15 minutes walk from the Zoo.
by bus
Several buses have a stop right outside the Zoo's main entrance - others have a stop quite close to the Zoo.
- The 4A bus from Svanemøllen Station, Nørrebro Station, Solbjerg Metro Station and Søndre Fasanvej, has has a stop at the traffic lights at Søndre Fasanvej/Roskildevej. More information here.
- The 6A bus from Nørreport Station, Rådhuspladsen, Vesterport Station, Hovedbanegården (main station), Vesterbrogade and Roskildevej (the Zoo), has a stop at the Zoo's main entrance at Roskildevej. More information here.
- The 26 bus from Østerport Station, Kongens Nytorv, Rådhuspladsen, Hovedbanegården (main station) and Sdr. Fasanvej (the Zoo), has a stop at the traffic lights at Pile Allé/Roskildevej. More information here.
- The 832 servicebus in Frederiksberg has a stop at the Zoo's main entrance at Roskildevej. More information here.
Information on tickets and travelcards can be found here.
by bicycle
Copenhagen is Europe's cycling city number one, so it's a must that you try and navigate the city on your bicycle. The numerous cycle paths and green wave of traffic lights invite you to use your bike to get to the Zoo. Copenhagen citizens are very fit and have quite a high average cycle speed, and the roads are not always flat. So, it's a challenge, but one you should take, because it is as healthy as it is environment friendly. There's a bicycle parking right outside the Zoo's main entrance.
by car
Approach the Zoo from Vesterbrogade, Pile Allé, Roskildevej or Søndre Fasanvej. Parking along Roskildevej and Søndre Fasanvej. Please do not forget to pay and display your parking ticket.
Zoo map
