Berlin Zoo

Pfaueninsel, or Peacock Island, on the Havel river between Berlin and Potsdam was the origin of Berlin's Zoos. The Prussian King Frederick William III developed the island for his summer residence and set up a private zoo with a birdhouse, a waterfowl pond, a bear pit, and enclosures for kangaroos, llamas, deer, and water buffalo. This collection of animals was not only for the king's pleasure, but also open to the public on certain days. Frederick William IV, successor of the founder of the royal menagerie, had very little in mind for the animal residents of the island. When the horticultural director Peter Joseph Lenné, and the Africa explorer Martin Hinrich Lichtenstein joined forces in providing the Berliners with a proper zoo, the king personally decreed that most of the animals on Peacock Island should be donated to this new establishment. The location chosen was an area of the royal pheasantry on the edge of the original menagerie. After a construction period of only three years the zoo opened its doors on 1 August 1844. It was the first zoo in Germany and the ninth in Europe. The new establishment progressed only sluggishly over the following twenty-five years because the Zoo was situated far outside the historical city limits of Berlin, and public transport was a thing of the future. But more importantly the enterprise suffered from lack of money. As a measure to improve its economic base the Zoo in 1845 was granted the legal form of a joint stock company, a form it has maintained to the present day. Nevertheless stock sales did not take off smoothly, because wealth had not yet accumulated in agrarian Germany, where industrialisation had only just begun. In the 1850s and 1860s times changed and the economic situation improved, and when a new series of shares of Berlin Zoo were created they were sold immediately.

In 1869 Heinrich Bodinus was appointed the first full-time zoo director. He had run Cologne Zoo with great success, from where he brought with him a wealth of ideas. These included ornamenting the Zoo with exotic style animal houses as Antwerp Zoo had been doing previously. So, 1871 witnessed the opening of the magnificent Antelope House with four minarets that as one of the principal sights in Berlin even served a few months later as the setting for a meeting between three European rulers: the German Emperor William I, Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria and Hungary, and the Russian Tsar Alexander II. The Antelope House was followed by the Indian style Elephant House, the Egyptian Ostrich House, the Japanese Wader House, the picturesque Elephant Gate, and the Arabian style houses for solipeds. This time of vigorous building also gave rise to numerous music pavilions and the enormous restaurant with its terraces, a setting for the greater part of the German capital's social life. In 1888 Ludwig Heck took over management and paid much attention to the animal collection, which flourished to extent with incredible breeding results. Being methodically and thorough he attached great importance to providing the visitor with as comprehensive an overview as possible of the animal kingdom's diversity. The number of mammals and bird species shown in Berlin could very soon compete with that of London Zoo. In 1913 the great aquarium was opened. Its three storeys were home to sweet- and saltwater fish, reptiles (the crocodile hall on the first floor was the first walk-in animal enclosure inside a building), amphibians, and a large number of invertebrates. The aquarium was planned by Oskar Heinroth, not only an able aquarium manager, but above all an international name in the field of ornithology. He is considered to be the founder of comparative ethology, and Konrad Lorenz always referred to him as his teacher.

World War I and the economic crisis imposed restrictions, but the zoo quickly recovered. Under the management of Lutz Heck (1932-1945), son of Ludwig, the zoo soon got a facelift. Where magnificent buildings once stood there were now naturalistic outdoor exhibits according Carl Hagenbeck's idea of bar-less zoos: seal and penguin rocks, baboon rocks, lion steppe, and mountain animal rocks. Expeditions to Ethiopia, East Africa, Finland, Canada, and Cameroon returned with some interesting and rare animals for the zoo. Unlike WWI, World War II proved fatal to the zoo. The first bombs fell in 1941. Further heavy bombardment came in 1943 and 1944. A large number of buildings were destroyed, the Antelope house survived. Virtually the whole infrastructure was gone. And just 91 animals survived the chaos - including two lions, two hyenas, one Asian bull elephant, one bull hippopotamus, ten hamadryas, one chimpanzee, one Oriental white stork, and one shoebill.

The post-war years were marked by severe financial straits, shortage of food and manpower, the Berlin Blockade, and other adversities. Only the dedication of both Katharina Heinroth (1945-1956) and Werner Schröder (1952-1977) are to thank for laying the foundations for reconstruction. Under the management of Heinz-Georg Klös (1956-1991) the zoo was rebuilt and expanded to plan. The new buildings were the monkey houses, the birdhouse, the service yard, the outdoor bear enclosures, the predator house with its nocturnal animal section, the annex to the aquarium, and the development grounds in the former diplomats' quarter. Also in this period the foundations were laid for many highly successful breeding groups, including African black rhinoceroses, Przewalski's horses, babirusas, collared peccaries, marsh and pampas deer, bongos, gaurs, and many primates and birds. These were followed by extensive tree care measures, faithful reproductions of historical buildings, many animal sculptures, and the founding of the zoo school, to name but a few. A highlight to mention is probably the role Berlin Zoo played in saving the Père David's deer from extinction.

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and German Reunification proved a new turning point for the zoo. Berlin, where the Tierpark was founded in 1955 in the Friedrichsfelde district, suddenly had two zoos. It was clear to all those responsible in politics that they had to be retained and complement each other. A cooperation agreement was concluded that up to the present day has formed the basis of close collaboration. This agreement aims in particular towards maintaining and developing each zoo's quite special character. Like the inner city zoo (Berlin Zoo) with its many animal houses and the great aquarium, and the expansive landscape park (the Tierpark) with large-scale enclosures. The cooperation agreement must be born in mind when evaluating the development over the last few years. The Tierpark stopped keeping apes, and several species of hoofed animals were transferred from Berlin Zoo to the Tierpark, and a number of representatives were no longer replaced after their deaths, e.g. the square-lipped rhinoceros. No doubt the future will see “standard animals” regarded as important to the public being housed in both zoos. In all other cases there should be attempts to avoid any duplicates. Both zoos together are at present home to an animal population whose diversity and rareness cannot even be approached by any other city.

(Sources: website Berlin Zoo; “Zoo and Aquarium History” by Vernon N. Kisling, jr.)

Capturing A Wild Elephant For Berlin Zoo

Filmed in the 1930s, this historical footage shows the capture of a wild African elephant in South Africa, presumably for the Berlin Zoo. The Berlin Zoological Garden (German: Zoologischer Garten Berlin) is the oldest and best known zoo in Germany. It opened its gates in 1844.

Until the 1970s, many zoo animals were captured in the wild and transported from distant regions after long journeys and much stress, as shown in the video. Unfortunately, efforts to breed many species in captivity often failed, or the animals died prematurely. As a result, capturing animals from the wild and trading them remained necessary, further reducing wild populations of some species and putting them at risk of extinction.

To protect endangered species, the CITES treaty came into force on 1 July 1975. This international agreement regulates the trade of protected species. The treaty - which applies in 185 countries - prohibits trade in critically endangered species - such as the grey parrot, snow leopard, red panda and black rhinoceros, and only permits trade in protected species with a permit.

Due to these stricter regulations, zoos found it more attractive to manage their own animal populations effectively rather than navigate the bureaucratic process of obtaining permits for wild-caught animals.

Since then, knowledge of animal species and their needs has significantly increased. Improved housing and enrichment have enabled captive animals to exhibit more natural behaviours, including reproduction. Successful breeding programmes now aim to reintroduce captive-born and raised individuals of endangered species back into the wild. These breeding programmes, in which modern, reputable zoos participate, are designed to prevent the extinction of species. Instead of sourcing from the wild, it is now the other way around, reintroducing captive-born animals into the wild.

(Video source: the Periscope Film LLC archive (http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com))

The weather today is remarkably pleasant - overcast, mild, and dry, with no rain in the forecast. It’s the kind of day that invites leisurely exploration, which is just as well, given the sheer scale of Berlin Zoo. According to its website, it is the world’s most species-rich zoo, a claim that is both impressive and, in my view, somewhat problematic. While the diversity of species is still a selling point of zoos, I can’t help but question whether housing such a vast collection of species might compromise the space and welfare of each animal. More species often mean less surface area per animal, increasing the risk of behavioural and reproductive issues.

Lion Gate and the Elephant House

I enter through the Lion Gate (Löwentor), the entrance closest to the railway station and other stops of public transport. Immediately to my right is the elephant paddock of the Elephant House. Five Asian elephants occupy the space, standing on a sandy substrate that looks like a rather large but dull sandbox, punctuated by a few scattered boulders. The enclosure is surrounded by a dry moat, secured only by electrical wire to keep the animals out of the moat. Several trees dot the area, though all are protected from the elephants’ potential mischief. It’s a functional space, but it feels somewhat sparse and uninspiring - lacking the richness one might hope for in a modern zoo.

On the opposite side of the footpath, a rocky formation simulates the natural habitat of the Siberian ibex, offering a stark contrast to the flatness of the elephant enclosure. Adjacent to this is another alpine habitat, this one home to the Tibetan takin (Budorcas taxicolor tibetana), a striking subspecies of takin or goat-antelope, that is rather unknown due to the inaccessability of its natural mountainous habitat.

At the far end of the elephant enclosure stands a historic building, unmarked on the zoo map, surrounded by steel-wire aviaries. These house a variety of chicken and pigeon breeds, including the bankiva fowl (Gallus gallus), the ancestor of all domesticated chickens. It’s an intriguing but somewhat overlooked corner of the zoo, rich in historical significance but easy to miss if you’re not paying attention.

Antelope House

As I walk around the Antelope House, I first come across a mixed-species exhibit featuring giraffes and Defassa waterbucks. One of the giraffes is involved in ongoing research, which is more or less explained on a notice near the enclosure. The giraffes here include both reticulated and Rothschild’s subspecies.

The Antelope House itself is accessible to visitors, with one section dedicated to the history of the Zoo. The interior is dominated by a glass-domed garden, complete with a water feature, a small waterfall, and a lush variety of vegetation. A path winds through the space, leading past indoor enclosures that house a range of antelope species.

The outdoor enclosures for these other antelope species, such as the southern gerenuk and Lechwe waterbuck (Kobus leche kafuensis), are relatively modest with grass. The Lechwe waterbuck, however, has a much larger enclosure as well on the opposite side of the building, though it is primarily sandy. All the enclosures here feature dry moats with concrete walls, a continuous barrier that separates the animals from visitors.

One exhibit that catches my eye is the sitatunga, sharing its space with the northern ground hornbill. However, the sitatunga or swamp deer has only dry ground and a small pool at its disposal - hardly an ideal environment for a species that thrives in wetlands. It’s a reminder that even in a zoo as renowned as this, not every habitat is perfectly suited to its inhabitants.

Bear Enclosures

For now, I skip the Rhino House and Hippo House, making my way instead toward the Waldschänke restaurant for a morning coffee. But before I reach it, I take a detour to explore the bear enclosures.

The Asian black bear, located opposite a children’s playground near the restaurant, has a varied enclosure at its disposal. A water-filled moat creates a bar-less viewing experience, while trunks, boulders, and a grassy substrate offer some environmental variety. A small stream meanders into the moat, and a single bare tree trunk provides a climbing opportunity. Unfortunately, the bear I observe seems to exhibit stereotypical behaviour, suggesting restlessness or stress.

Next door, the sloth bear enclosure is designed with viewing windows that feature vegetation prints, adding a touch of naturalism to the visitor’s experience. The substrate is mostly grassy, but there are more trunks for climbing, and the enclosure has an amphitheatre-like design with a rockface rear wall. As I continue past the warthogs, I notice an exhibit with another sloth bear, similar in design but only half the size of the first. Further along, I encounter yet another sloth bear enclosure, each one carefully designed to meet the species’ needs. It’s clear that the zoo has gone to great lengths to accommodate its sloth bears, and the attention to detail is commendable.

Continuing my walk, I arrive at the polar bear exhibit, a place I remember well from my previous visit when I saw the famous Knut (see more). The enclosure is a peninsula of bare boulders, surrounded by a deep, water-filled moat and a rockface rear wall. A section of the moat wall has been replaced with glass, offering an unobstructed view of the bears when they are in the water. It’s a well-designed space, though I can’t help but wonder how such an environment compares to the Arctic wilderness these animals are built for.

The Landwehr Canal, das Landwehrkanal

Directly opposite the polar bear enclosure and behind the Pheasantry (Fasanerie), a building that houses an array of bird species, a flat expanse is home to alpacas, which overlook the Landwehrkanal, that interconnects the upper and lower part of the Spree River that winds through Berlin. Further along this edge of the zoo, I come across a beautiful enclosure for African wild dogs. The space includes a water-filled moat that the dogs can access - a feature they make use of by standing in the water on hot days to cool off. Electrical wire at the moat’s exit prevents any potential escapes, and the enclosure is conveniently located near the rear entrance of the Waldschänke eatery, making it easily accessible for visitors taking a break.

Next to the African wild dogs is a walk-through aviary for swamp birds, offering plenty of space for the birds to fly. They can even access the viewing deck, though if they choose not to, close encounters are unlikely.

Opposite the swamp birds and adjacent to the Waldschänke is the enclosure for Humboldt penguins, with a simple but effective design. The penguins share their elongated pool with Coscoroba swans, both species native to southern South America. A viewing window runs along the length of the pool, allowing visitors to observe the animals underwater or even touch them when they swim along - though a sign, of course, prohibits touching.

On the same side as the swamp birds, at the very edge of the zoo grounds, stands an enormous aviary for three Andean condors (Vultur gryphus). The aviary is spectacular, with a rock formation where the birds can roost and survey their domain. A substantially sized pool is also part of the exhibit, adding to the condors’ sense of space and freedom.

Waldschänke restaurant

By now, I’ve worked up an appetite. I make my way to the Waldschänke restaurant, where I allow myself a small break with a coffee and some delicious pastries. The restaurant offers a grand selection of food and beverages, providing the energy I need to continue my tour.

After my break, I take a moment to observe the coatis, which occupy a rotunda with about seven large, accessible trees. The trees offer plenty of climbing opportunities, but no escape route for these inquisitive relatives of the raccoon.

Back at the Bears section

Returning to the bear section, I find an enclosure for wolves - specifically, Hudson Bay wolves (Canis lupus hudsonicus), a subspecies of the grey wolf. The enclosure features undulating grounds, boulders, and a variety of substrates, along with a few trees and shrubs. Much of the fence separating the wolves from visitors is obscured by vegetation, creating a more naturalistic barrier. There are two viewing windows, one of which overlooks a pool. As I pass the enclosure, the wolves suddenly begin to howl, a beautiful and primal sound that I have only heard before in Copenhagen Zoo. Unfortunately, my camera’s microphone fails to capture the howling sound adequately, but the video looks like this:

Pheasantry, Fasanerie

Then it is time to explore the historic site of the Pheasantry. The aviaries on the outer side of the Pheasantry are constructed from steel, a typical design that feels both functional and somewhat industrial. One aviary houses two bald eagles, which, like the alpacas mentioned before, have a view of the waterfront. However, the confined space of their aviary severely limits their ability to express their natural behaviour - flying, a stark reminder of the compromises inherent in keeping such majestic birds in captivity.

Stepping inside the Pheasantry, I’m greeted by a plethora of bird species housed in mixed-species aviaries. Some are extraordinary, like the kagu and the Mindanao bleeding heart dove, while others, such as the red-whiskered bulbul and helmeted guineafowl, are more familiar. All the indoor aviaries provide access to outdoor spaces, ensuring the birds have room to stretch their wings.

At the far end of the Pheasantry, a separate building houses three species of flamingo: the lesser flamingo, the Puna flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi), and the Andean flamingo. They are kept in roofed aviaries with small pools. I can’t tell whether the birds have been clipped to prevent flight, but the younger ones certainly haven’t. Nearby, a small walk-in aviary recreates a coastal ecosystem, and complete with birds such as Inca terns, pied avocets, Indian pond herons and other wading birds. Beach swing benches invite visitors to relax, while artificial surf adds to the immersive experience.

World of Birds

The World of Birds building is, as the name suggests, entirely dedicated to avian species. The zoo adheres to the principle that birds should have both indoor and outdoor aviaries, and this is evident throughout the exhibits. The bird species are grouped by continent, though the Northern brown kiwi is somewhat awkwardly placed in a nocturnal house within the African section.

The aviaries are designed to mimic natural habitats, with vegetation and murals - some delicate and sophisticated - creating an authentic feel. Two walk-through halls recreate distinct environments: one simulates a hot, moist jungle in Southeast Asia, while the other evokes the dry heat of an African habitat, complete with species like the white-fronted bee-eater.

Hippo House and Rhino House

Retracing my steps I now take my time exploring the areas I skipped earlier, the buildings and enclosures for two pachyderm species - the hippopotamuses and Indian rhinoceros. I consider the Hippo House as one of the highlights of Berlin Zoo. Built late 20^th century it has a futuristic design that respect the needs of both the common hippopotamus and the pygmy hippopotamus. The latter of which is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, while the former is classified as Vulnerable. The enormous viewing window allows the visitors to watch the hippos when they are submerged if - a huge if - the water is clean enough. In the outdoor enclosure, the hippos share their space with nyala, a spiral-horned antelope native to Southern Africa.

The Rhino House is a building from times gone by, its interior dominated by small, tiled pens designed for the individual housing of rhinos. The floors are concrete, now covered with straw, and each pen includes a bath where the Indian rhinos can soak and clean their skin. The outdoor paddocks are simple and small, with sandy substrates and reinforced fences to keep the animals securely contained. Despite this, Hagenbeck is honoured by a dry moat, although this time the principle is ineffective regarding unobstructive viewing. Nonetheless it does create distance between the animals and the public, and more peace and quiet for the rhinos. The moat is used more effectively in the tapir enclosure on the opposite side of the Rhino House. Here, it surrounds a space with undulating grounds and two large trees. A wooden cross dangles from a chain on a tree branch, providing enrichment for the two lowland tapirs (from South America) and the Baird’s tapir (from Central and South America). It’s an interesting convergence of continents - Asia and South America meeting in a single exhibit.

Renovations, Panda Garden and Africa

Crossing the zoo grounds toward the main restaurant, I pass the birds of prey section, opposite the Tibetan takin enclosure, and currently undergoing renovation. I manage to take a few photographs of the typical aviaries, though it’s unclear whether these structures will survive the modernisation. In addition I’m able to capture an image of a bearded vulture having collected materials to maintain its nest, as breeding season had ended yet (more information on breeding bearded vulture in captivity here).

Keeping the Antelope House to my right, I arrive at the stylish and expansive giant panda exhibit, known as the Panda Garden. The enclosure is large, with indoor and outdoor facilities, and apparently meets all the giant pandas’ needs. As good quality of the enclosure is one of the requirements set and checked by the Chinese government when they decide that a particular country can get a pair of giant pandas on loan as part of the Chinese panda-politics. While the exhibit is undeniably high-quality, I can’t help but question the ethics of spending vast sums on such an enclosure for a species that, in my view, is something of an evolutionary dead end. Captive breeding of giant pandas does little to ensure their long-term survival in the wild, and the money spent on their upkeep could arguably be better directed toward species - both in captivity and in the wild - that play a more critical role in ecosystem survival.

The Carnivore House is currently closed for renovation, a much-needed update as far as I can remember from my previous visit. So I move on to the large Africa Section, beginning with a mixed-species exhibit housing okapi and red duiker. Their outdoor enclosure has slightly undulating grounds and a water-filled moat on the visitors’ side. Despite the presence of trees and shrubs, the animals remain quite exposed, much like those in the neighbouring enclosures. This section of the zoo is home to a variety of African species, including Kirk’s dik-dik, sable antelope, Grevy’s zebra, scimitar-horned oryx, plains zebra, common eland, and gemsbok. While the Indian rhinoceros is housed in the Rhino House with some historic grandeur, the black rhinoceros here is kept in an enclosure that is, frankly, unimpressive.

Primate House

After a rather late lunch at the zoo restaurant, I make my way back toward the Lion Gate entrance/exit via the Primate House. This building brings together primate collections from the Old World (Africa and Asia) and the New World (Central and South America), but it is far from modern. The indoor enclosures are a throwback to an earlier era, with tiled walls, concrete-coated floors, and cramped spaces - particularly evident in the exhibits for the siamang and spider monkey. The enrichment provided is limited and repetitive, and the outdoor facilities are equally underwhelming. An endless row of exhibits is not what one expects from a zoo of Berlin’s stature. The mandrills are among the more fortunate primates, with an open-top rotunda at their disposal. The siamang - a species that, in the wild, would brachiate effortlessly through the treetops - is confined to a terrible outdoor enclosure. The way this primate is kept strikes me as nothing short of disgraceful.

Fortunately, the great apes fare much better. Though the outdoor space for the chimpanzee troop - five individuals in total - lacks much vegetation, there is plenty of enrichment, including a small pond and waterfall. The enclosure is surrounded by a wire mesh net, including a roof, ensuring the chimps remain secure. The Sumatran orangutans are housed in two similar enclosures, both equipped with enrichment features, including puzzle boxes, to entice them to get active. But the most impressive primate exhibit belongs to the western lowland gorillas, the largest of the great apes. Their enclosure is spacious and bar-less, with vegetation, wooden frames, and ropes for climbing. A waterfall cascades into a water-filled moat, which separates the two outdoor gorilla habitats. The division is reinforced by electrical wire, ensuring the gorillas remain in their designated areas.

End of the visit

My final stop is at the open-top, bar-less enclosure for greater and Chilean flamingos. This brings Berlin Zoo’s flamingo collection to five species - an impressive diversity, that I have not seen in any other zoo so far. Then, as dusk begins to fall, I make my way toward the Lion Gate exit, which implicates that again I managed to miss (or skip) the South America section and Australia section across the Lichtensteinbrücke – named after the Zoo’s founder, as well as the Aquarium due to lack of time.

Final thoughts

Berlin Zoo is a place of contrasts - where historic architecture meets modern conservation efforts, and where the commitment to species diversity sometimes feels at odds with the welfare of individual animals. For example the enrichment provided at the Primate House is limited and repetitive, and both the indoor and the outdoor facilities are equally underwhelming. An endless row of small exhibits is not what a modern self-respecting zoo should use for any species. Is this the consequence of the Zoo’s wish to maintain being the world’s species-rich zoo.

As in many zoos that exist for many decades you’ll see a mix of ideas that reflect the ongoing change the way the Zoo community adapts to the opinion of the general public, regarding conservation, animal welfare, education, and let’s not forget entertainment. In Berlin Zoo, for instance, there is a mix of different ways the enormous species collection is grouped and presented to the public. A mix of exhibits featuring species from a specific geographic region, habitat, or evolutionary lineage. From an educational perspective, this can be confusing. Therefore, I would like to see more unity in the general system of the grouping of species, to increase the impact of a zoo visit on visitors and raising their awareness of species and nature conservation, while at the same time channeling their knowledge on how to maintain the planet’s biodiversity.

The ongoing renovations suggest a move toward improvement, but there’s still much to consider about how zoos can best balance conservation, education, and ethics. As I leave, I see where the Zoo is coming from and what they want to achieve, but this will require much resources and time, so, challenges remain. In my head I'm already planning my next visit to see how they'll be doing in five or six years.

Berlin zoo provides a sense of cleanliness. Indoor enclosures for all felines have basically the same construction: coated concrete floor and tiled walls (both of a greenish colour), which is ok for cleaning, but it does give a very clinical/sterile appearance. Not an environment you expect or wishes for when viewing wild animals. When they have covered the concrete floors, woodchips have been used. Unfortunately, the big cats (lions) have to experience the bareness of the concrete floors in their indoors 'cage'. All enclosures contain places where the cats can observe their surroundings from high up.All monkey enclosure have coated concrete on the floor and tiled walls, too. So, the clinical/sterile look seems to be found just about everywhere. This is stressed by the stainless steel climbing equipment as cage enrichment. Though it does not resemble their natural habitat, the monkeys can play at their hearts content with the materials provided.In their outdoor enclosure's architecture they achieved uniformity by using many times a design of a moat with water, a green or rocky living area and preferably a rock face as background. I didn't get the philosophy / plan behind the design of the zoo. What choices have been made? They do try to keep multiple animals of the species they house and exhibit, that's for sure. But their has not been made a clear-cut decision on how to display all these animals. Their primary objective seems to be endangered species, as in most zoos nowadays. But next to this it seems that they have been negotiating between type of species, habitat and continent as their secondary objective for organising the exhibits. Which led to a mix, with for instance predators from all continents together. The same can be said for the ruminants and the ungulates. But now and again you see a more continental arrangement appear.Furthermore the zoo also has European animals at display that are absolutely not threatened with extinction, like reindeer and the European waterbuffalo. Which gives you the idea of just another animal exhibiton without any higher cause.

A handful of baboon youngsters

After viewing playful activities within the troop of Hamadryas baboon youngsters, you'll see how one of the parents shows a neat trick to control one of these little buggers.

How a chimp gets its juicy leaves

The outdoor enclosure of the chimpanzees doesn't provide a lot of tasteful vegetation for the chimps to enjoy. So, the ape in the video is literally reaching out to pick some juicy leaves from the tree just outside the exhibit.

Gorilla foraging behaviour

This male gorilla is collecting the best grass he can find, after which he retreats to the porch where he silently enjoys his late afternoon snack without sharing some with his female companion.

The voluntary 'One-Sea-Lion-show' in Berlin Zoo

This is one sea lion who likes to be in the centre of attention and does not want to share the audience with its peer. Beware, this is a voluntary performance, although the California sea lion cannot hide its irritation when a leaf gets stuck in its mouth or is this part of the show too?

Footage (August 2013) kindly provided by Androom, edited by MoosMood.

Knut, the polar bear, died in Berlin Zoo

Knut, the polar bear cub that was raised by hand, has suddenly died in Berlin Zoo, yesterday - 19 March. According to several Zoo visitors he had a seizure and dropped into the water and died, but this has not been confirmed by the Zoo's officials. The cause of death will be established by an autopsy, which is carried out to date. Could it have been stress, because Knut's companions, all females, were not very friendly with him and behaved quite agressive towards him. And was this because he behaved differently, due to being raised by hand (his mother rejected him)? Did he became too familiar with human beings, and their behaviour? There has been a huge controversy back then when he was born. Some said that such a large carnivore species should never be raised by human hands and kept alive, because it was a violation of animal protection legislation. I presume it could have disrupted his behavioural development too, which could have made it hard for him to adapt to polar bear behaviour when he grew up. Others said that it would be a waste to kill the cub, because of the dire situation of the polar bear as a species in the wild, and zoos' contribution to species conservation. And perhaps those people were also anxious to keep the cub alive that made them so proud, and supposedly rich? As it was the first polar bear born on their premises, in their city, since 30 years. Knut was supposed to take part in the Endangered Species breeding Programme of EAZA. I reckon he was nearly ready for being sent to another zoo for breeding purposes. Whatever cause there is for his death, let us hope that lessons can be learnt from his life and his death.

(Source: Moos' blog)

The world famous Knut, who unfortunately passed away in March 2011, when he was still a young and playful cub:

(Source: website Berlin Zoo)

As in many zoos, Berlin Zoo is also experiencing a shift in how and what information should be presented to visitors. Renewal of information panels is necessary not only because knowledge about the animal species is changing, but also because the information provided needs to better align with the zoo's evolving mission of nature conservation and education. While Berlin Zoo still sees very few modern technical solutions for information provision, the difference between the old and new information panels at the enclosures is striking. The modern information panel, besides providing information in English as well, mentions the zoo’s participation in the EAZA Ex situ Programmes (EEP) and additionally the species’ IUCN Red List status, the well-accepted universal listing.

Some additional information, such as contact details and involvement in breeding programmes.

Directions to Berlin Zoo

Berlin Zoo is easy to reach because it is located directly next to the train station named after it and is therefore just 2 minutes from the stop for two different underground stations and various commuter train lines. So just leave your car behind and ride to the Zoo in an environmentally friendly way using the commuter train, the underground, the bus or the train.

Address:
Hardenbergplatz 8
10787
Berlin
Germany

public transport

By train

• Regional train (RE1 + RE2 + RE7 + RE14)

• Main-line railway via the main train station

More information on routes, connections, timetables and fares available here.

By S-bahn - local commuter train

• S-Bahnhof Zoologischer Garten (S5 + S7 + S75 + S9)

By underground

• U-Bahnhof Zoologischer Garten (U2 + U9)

• U-Bahnhof Kurfürstendamm (U1 + U9)

By bus

• approx. 15 bus services

• Express shuttle bus to the airport

A very good trip planner for any available kind of public transportation you can find here.

by bicycle

Cycling is fairly easy in Berlin and the best way to explore the city. So, rent a bike and go for it. An interesting bicycle rental system is with 'nextbike', a public bike sharing system. You can find nextbike bicycles in more than 30 German cities, including Berlin, and in 14 countries. Although cycling is getting more popular in Germany in general, it is not the safest mode of transport. You should be aware of German car drivers who do not like that they have to share their road with cyclists - or are just ignorant about it. Therefore, cyclists in Berlin demand a better and safer cycle infrastructure. Every last Friday of the month the Critical Mass movement organises a rally by touring the City of Berlin on bike, starting at what they call 'cycle hell' Kreuzberg. Just to show the City the power of the cyclists.

by car

There are various options for reaching the Zoo by car. Choose the route that suits you best by using a route planner.

The Bahnhof Zoologischer Garten (Zoo railway station) is well signposted - they will direct you to Hardenbergplatz where you can find parking as well as the Lion Gate entrance.
You will find parking spots for a fee all around the Zoo. However, those are very limited directly at Hardenbergplatz, as it is often jammed with traffic due to visitors arriving at and leaving the Zoo train station.

Please be patient while looking for a parking spot or else make use of one of the nearby parking garages for a fee.

• Nürnberger Straße parking garage (2 minutes from the Elephant Gate entrance and Aquarium)

• Budapester Straße parking garage (2 minutes from the Elephant Gate entrance and Aquarium, 5 minutes from the Lion Gate)

Go to the interactive zoo map here.

Download the zoo map here.