Europe's 100 must see exhibits

[lintworm]

@lintworm do you have a list of the inhabitants, just before the WWII?

@TeaLovingDave did already provide a list of just before WWII, but the collection has changed a lot over the years, the early years saw quite a number of wild equid species too and I would think this was also the location where the now extinct bubal hartebeest was kept. The central area, which now houses only palms has been used for aquaria before the current aquarium building opened, as well as for a whole range of other animals, including as indoor holding of some birds.

There is a map with all inhabitants of the early years in the book "der Berliner Zoo im Spiegel seiner Bauten", which I will post here.

 

[lintworm]

81. African panorama
Tierpark Hagenbeck, Hamburg, Germany
Opened: 1907
Size: 9400 square metres
Inhabitants: Barbary sheep, lion, plains zebra, ostrich, warthog, eland, flamingo and several waterfowl species

It is no hyperbole to call this the most important zoo exhibit to have been created ever. By doing away with cages and taxonomic order, and bringing in geographical exhibits, dry moats, sight lines and heaps of mock rock the zoo world has been transformed forever. From its lower viewpoint the panorama still works perfectly with 4 enclosures being seemingly connected without obvious visible barriers. Especially the lion enclosure, the first without bars did set a trend that was widely copied throughout the zoo world. But as with other trends, it did take a decade before more major zoos started to copy its design. That such a monumental exhibit is still standing seemingly unchanged is a blessing for us zoo enthusiasts. For the inhabitants, especially the lions it is less optimal. Their grotto was a game changer 115 years ago, but is now considered far too small for these big cats. The realised sightline is of a very high level, which many modern interpretations fail to achieve. This exhibit really is a gem from a historic viewpoint and one wonders what zoo exhibits would look like today if Hagenbeck wouldn’t have been around.

@Animal

@James27

@twilighter

@twilighter

@lintworm

Similar exhibits: Hagenbeck interpretations are common everywhere, but no relatively young zoo makes as heavy use of smart sight lines as Bioparc Valencia, Spain. A multitude of exhibits are visually connected, but separated by (dry) moats, including multiple carnivore enclosures around the main savannahs.

@Maguari

@MagpieGoose

@zootiger

 

[aardvark250]

81. African panorama
Tierpark Hagenbeck, Hamburg, Germany
Opened: 1907
Size: 9400 square metres
Inhabitants: Barbary sheep, lion, plains zebra, ostrich, warthog, eland, flamingo and several waterfowl species

It is no hyperbole to call this the most important zoo exhibit to have been created ever. By doing away with cages and taxonomic order, and bringing in geographical exhibits, dry moats, sight lines and heaps of mock rock the zoo world has been transformed forever. From its lower viewpoint the panorama still works perfectly with 4 enclosures being seemingly connected without obvious visible barriers. Especially the lion enclosure, the first without bars did set a trend that was widely copied throughout the zoo world. But as with other trends, it did take a decade before more major zoos started to copy its design. That such a monumental exhibit is still standing seemingly unchanged is a blessing for us zoo enthusiasts. For the inhabitants, especially the lions it is less optimal. Their grotto was a game changer 115 years ago, but is now considered far too small for these big cats. The realised sightline is of a very high level, which many modern interpretations fail to achieve. This exhibit really is a gem from a historic viewpoint and one wonders what zoo exhibits would look like today if Hagenbeck wouldn’t have been around.

@Animal

@James27

@twilighter

@twilighter

@lintworm

Similar exhibits: Hagenbeck interpretations are common everywhere, but no relatively young zoo makes as heavy use of smart sight lines as Bioparc Valencia, Spain. A multitude of exhibits are visually connected, but separated by (dry) moats, including multiple carnivore enclosures around the main savannahs.

@Maguari

@MagpieGoose

@zootiger

This is probably one of the most historic significance zoo exhibits. Even if Hamburg zoo isn't in the best form now, Hagenbeck really do change what zoo have been and could been.

 

[snowleopard]

The recent selections (#79, 80 and 81) are a trio of predictable yet perfect choices. I visited Zurich Zoo in the fall of 2003, shortly after the impressive Masoala complex opened to the public, and I was shocked at how good it looked. Eventually, I'd love to head back to Switzerland and see how lush the jungle is now and how it stands up in my memory.

I visited Berlin Zoo's Antelope House in the summer of 2019 and the building is magnificent. I'm not sure if it is still there, but adjacent to the indoor quarters for the animals there was also an informative historical exhibition that detailed the history of Berlin Zoo in a series of a photos and articles posted on signs.

Lastly, Tierpark Hagenbeck was my 500th zoo in 2019 and so I naturally have fond memories of my visit there. The zoo has several poor sections (swaying elephants begging for food from visitors, a small polar bear exhibit, an atrocious lion enclosure), but also a lot of great stuff (most of the Eismeer complex, Tropen-Aquarium, historical Bird House, orangutans, etc.) and the African panorama is a must-see for any zoo nerd.

Zurich, Berlin, Hagenbeck...three of the most legendary zoos of all time.

 

[Fallax]

How big actually is the lion section of the panorama? I never realised how small it is until now.

 

[lintworm]

The recent selections (#79, 80 and 81) are a trio of predictable yet perfect choices. I visited Zurich Zoo in the fall of 2003, shortly after the impressive Masoala complex opened to the public, and I was shocked at how good it looked. Eventually, I'd love to head back to Switzerland and see how lush the jungle is now and how it stands up in my memory.

I visited Berlin Zoo's Antelope House in the summer of 2019 and the building is magnificent. I'm not sure if it is still there, but adjacent to the indoor quarters for the animals there was also an informative historical exhibition that detailed the history of Berlin Zoo in a series of a photos and articles posted on signs.

Lastly, Tierpark Hagenbeck was my 500th zoo in 2019 and so I naturally have fond memories of my visit there. The zoo has several poor sections (swaying elephants begging for food from visitors, a small polar bear exhibit, an atrocious lion enclosure), but also a lot of great stuff (most of the Eismeer complex, Tropen-Aquarium, historical Bird House, orangutans, etc.) and the African panorama is a must-see for any zoo nerd.

Zurich, Berlin, Hagenbeck...three of the most legendary zoos of all time.

We have indeed come to some more obvious choices, there will still be a surprise here and there still. But the coming entries will mostly be ones that should not be too surprising...

How big actually is the lion section of the panorama? I never realised how small it is until now.

I measured it on google maps and it is about 170 square metres (except the inaccessible dry moat).

 

[TeaLovingDave]

How big actually is the lion section of the panorama? I never realised how small it is until now.

I measured it on google maps and it is about 170 square metres (except the inaccessible dry moat)

Or, to put it another way which May will find easier to visualise, it is almost exactly the same size as the dwarf mongoose enclosure at Chester (which is 165 square metres).

 

[felis silvestris]

Or, to put it another way which May will find easier to visualise, it is almost exactly the same size as the dwarf mongoose enclosure at Chester (which is 165 square metres).

And the dwarf mongoose enclosure at chester is a pretty average size for meerkats/mongooses too!

 

[Fallax]

Or, to put it another way which May will find easier to visualise, it is almost exactly the same size as the dwarf mongoose enclosure at Chester (which is 165 square metres).

Thank you for the visualisation, my lord that is absolutely tiny! How are lions are still exhibited there?

 

[Tim May]

Giant Panda (1939 only)
The lattermost of these was a temporary exhibit in March and April 1939, located within the central hall of the Antelope House, which took place when the first individual of the species to be displayed in Europe toured several collections throughout the continent - from memory, these were Tierpark Hellabrunn, Zoo Leipzig, Zoo Berlin, Zoo Köln, Zoo Hannover, Paris Vincennes, Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo, not necessarily in this order.

The giant panda that toured round various European zoos in 1939 was 'Happy', one of the five specimens that arrived at London Zoo just before Christmas in 1938. After being exhibited in several German zoos and in Paris, 'Happy' was sold to St. Louis Zoo. (In addition to the German zoos already mentioned 'Happy' also spent time at Nuremburg Zoo.)

Of the other four specimens, one called 'Grandma' died soon after arriving in London. London Zoo retained the other three giant pandas 'Baby’, 'Grumpy’ and ‘Dopey’, renaming them ‘Ming’, ‘Tang’ and ‘Sung’ respectively, so that they had oriental names. These three London pandas all spent sometime at Whipsnade during World War II but I don't think 'Happy' ever went to Whipsnade as he was in St. Louis by the time the war started.

 

[lintworm]

82. Giant salamander house
Zoo Prague, Czechia,
Opened: 2014
Size: 200 square metres
Inhabitants: Chinese giant salamander, Mangshan pit viper, impressed tortoise

From a zoo that takes pride in displaying unusual species, this might be the best example of how to highlight the unknown. From the outside this unobtrusive house blends in perfectly into the landscape. The inside is managed in a slightly different day-night cycle than outside, with darkness coming in the early afternoon, giving a higher chance to see active salamanders. The salamanders themselves are kept in 5 tanks, which can be connected, and together these tanks form a small stream. Several impressive specimens are kept and viewing options are good, so even regular visitors should be able to get good views of this species, which can be surprisingly hard to properly see despite its size. Prague would not be Prague if they would not cram in some more rarities. Here two terraria showcase endangered and rarely kept Chinese reptiles: Impressed Tortoise and Mangshan Pit Viper. Unfortunately for us, but probably better for the salamander, photography is officially forbidden inside and this is normally well policed. Only in the Czech republic could one probably find someone whose job it is to tell people not to take pictures of rare ectotherms…

@lintworm

@Nasua

@Nasua

@Nasua

Similar exhibits: Good large salamander displays are hard to find, but the hellbender exhibit in Zoo Basel, Switzerland is excellent. Replicating a little stream, water flows through 3 connected tanks, of which the middle one consists of 4 separate enclosures for breeding purposes. No pictures have been uploaded to the gallery yet, but there are some on their website (Schlammteufel – eine selten in Zoos gehaltene Amphibienart). Zoo Prague has two more houses with plenty of terraria and a giant tortoise house in the lower part alone, but the other ectotherm highlight here is clearly the Gharial house. Another fine small house showing rarely displayed reptiles, including several critically endangered turtle species. And fortunately photography is not forbidden there.

Zoo Prague:

@Robaque

@zootiger

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Here two terraria showcase endangered and rarely kept Chinese reptiles: impressed tortoise and impressed tortoise.

Want me to fix the proofreading error here?

Unfortunately for us, but probably better for the salamander, photography is officially forbidden inside and this is normally well policed.

At one point a few years ago, this was partially relaxed in order to permit photography of the tortoise and viper (with a line on the ground to mark the point beyond which photography was allowed again) but I don't know if this has been revoked again or not.

 

[Dassie rat]

Want me to fix the proofreading error here?

I'm impressed

 

[lintworm]

Want me to fix the proofreading error here?

That would be most kind Always impressed to see how easily such unmissable things are missed when reading a document 3 times....

 

[aardvark250]

82. Giant salamander house
Zoo Prague, Czechia,
Opened: 2014
Size: 200 square metres
Inhabitants: Chinese giant salamander, Mangshan pit viper, impressed tortoise

From a zoo that takes pride in displaying unusual species, this might be the best example of how to highlight the unknown. From the outside this unobtrusive house blends in perfectly into the landscape. The inside is managed in a slightly different day-night cycle than outside, with darkness coming in the early afternoon, giving a higher chance to see active salamanders. The salamanders themselves are kept in 5 tanks, which can be connected, and together these tanks form a small stream. Several impressive specimens are kept and viewing options are good, so even regular visitors should be able to get good views of this species, which can be surprisingly hard to properly see despite its size. Prague would not be Prague if they would not cram in some more rarities. Here two terraria showcase endangered and rarely kept Chinese reptiles: impressed tortoise and impressed tortoise. Unfortunately for us, but probably better for the salamander, photography is officially forbidden inside and this is normally well policed. Only in the Czech republic could one probably find someone whose job it is to tell people not to take pictures of rare ectotherms…

@lintworm

@Nasua

@Nasua

@Nasua

Similar exhibits: Good large salamander displays are hard to find, but the hellbender exhibit in Zoo Basel, Switzerland is excellent. Replicating a little stream, water flows through 3 connected tanks, of which the middle one consists of 4 separate enclosures for breeding purposes. No pictures have been uploaded to the gallery yet, but there are some on their website (Schlammteufel – eine selten in Zoos gehaltene Amphibienart). Zoo Prague has two more houses with plenty of terraria and a giant tortoise house in the lower part alone, but the other ectotherm highlight here is clearly the Gharial house. Another fine small house showing rarely displayed reptiles, including several critically endangered turtle species. And fortunately photography is not forbidden there.

Zoo Prague:

@Robaque

@zootiger

I think the turtles might be impressed
But hey,it's a chinese giant salamander house! I would be impressed too.

 

[ralph]

I visited Hagenbeck's Tierpark for the first time this year. The zoo was high on my list because of its historical relevance.The African panorama is so iconic I just had to see it for myself.

The lion enclosure left a bad taste in my mouth though. It's one of the worst enclosures for any animal I've ever seen. The indoor enclosure is equally bad.
(Also I'd rather see the greater flamingos and the Caribbean/Chilean flamingo switched places in the park, because the latter two species do not belong in an African panorama)

I love the Chinese giant salamander house in Prague. Not many zoos would build something like this for a species that's not exactly among the fan favorites of the general public.
Unique buildings like these combined with the very interesting collection are probably why Prague Zoo is often stated as Europe's best/most favorite zoo. I've been to Prague 3 times now and I'm still eager to go again. Especially now they got the pangolins.

 

[HOMIN96]

photography is officially forbidden inside and this is normally well policed. Only in the Czech republic could one probably find someone whose job it is to tell people not to take pictures of rare ectotherms…

Yup, the staffing policy regarding these "exhibit guards" in Prague works really well.

 

[lintworm]

83. Siberian tiger enclosure
Kristiansand Dyrepark, Norway
Opened: 2002
Size: 7000 square metres
Inhabitants: Siberian tiger

In a country with some of the highest animal welfare standards, being a popular but big mammal has some advantages when it comes to getting housing. Norway’s only tigers are housed in what is basically a fenced in part of forest, creating something as close to the natural habitat as possible. Perfect for the tigers, with plenty of water, space and hiding places, but less optimal for the visitors. Even though there are visitor paths on most sides of the enclosure, seeing one is not necessarily easy. By having a hidden visitor bunker-path running through a part of the enclosure, you stand a better chance of seeing these big cats up-close. Seeing an active tiger here is obviously a true highlight and this is a good example on how to create a large natural enclosure, while ensuring visitors at least have a reasonable chance to see an animal properly. That visitors actually want to se an animal seems to be forgotten quite often in the new trend of creating huge big cat enclosures. Unfortunately proper separation options seem to be lacking here, as in many other big cat enclosures, with only one spacious outdoor enclosure being available.

@twilighter

@twilighter

@twilighter


Similar exhibits: There were quite some options to fill in this slot. When it comes to tigers specifically there are two other exhibits to highlight, both are however a good deal smaller (though still >4000 square metres). The most bizarre is the Siberian tiger coliseum in Zoo Eberswalde, Germany, and there is the Siberian tiger enclosure in the Highland Wildlife Park, Kingussie, UK too. For lions the 1.2 hectare enclosure in Zoo Wuppertal, Germany, is a clear highlight, it is simple, but with some interesting Kopje landscaping. France is probably leading the way in creating large/oversized cat exhibits with the new lion complex in the Zoo Boissiere du Dore being noteworthy as well as the large number of huge enclosures in Parc des Felins, Nesles for lions and tigers. These French enclosures are huge, but a very simple affair. Such enclosures and especially the French ones, can open the debate on whether an enclosure can actually be too big.

Zoo Eberswalde

@lintworm

@Animal

Highland Wildlife Park

@felis silvestris

Zoo Wuppertal

@Malayan Tapir

Boissiere du Dore

@lintworm

Parc des Felins

@Maxime

@Arizona Docent

 

[aardvark250]

83. Siberian tiger enclosure
Kristiansand Dyrepark, Norway
Opened: 2002
Size: 7000 square metres
Inhabitants: Siberian tiger

In a country with some of the highest animal welfare standards, being a popular but big mammal has some advantages when it comes to getting housing. Norway’s only tigers are housed in what is basically a fenced in part of forest, creating something as close to the natural habitat as possible. Perfect for the tigers, with plenty of water, space and hiding places, but less optimal for the visitors. Even though there are visitor paths on most sides of the enclosure, seeing one is not necessarily easy. By having a hidden visitor bunker-path running through a part of the enclosure, you stand a better chance of seeing these big cats up-close. Seeing an active tiger here is obviously a true highlight and this is a good example on how to create a large natural enclosure, while ensuring visitors at least have a reasonable chance to see an animal properly. That visitors actually want to se an animal seems to be forgotten quite often in the new trend of creating huge big cat enclosures. Unfortunately proper separation options seem to be lacking here, as in many other big cat enclosures, with only one spacious outdoor enclosure being available.

@twilighter

@twilighter

@twilighter


Similar exhibits: There were quite some options to fill in this slot. When it comes to tigers specifically there are two other exhibits to highlight, both are however a good deal smaller (though still >4000 square metres). The most bizarre is the Siberian tiger coliseum in Zoo Eberswalde, Germany, and there is the Siberian tiger enclosure in the Highland Wildlife Park, Kingussie, UK too. For lions the 1.2 hectare enclosure in Zoo Wuppertal, Germany, is a clear highlight, it is simple, but with some interesting Kopje landscaping. France is probably leading the way in creating large/oversized cat exhibits with the new lion complex in the Zoo Boissiere du Dore being noteworthy as well as the large number of huge enclosures in Parc des Felins, Nesles for lions and tigers. These French enclosures are huge, but a very simple affair. Such enclosures and especially the French ones, can open the debate on whether an enclosure can actually be too big.

Zoo Eberswalde

@lintworm

@Animal

Highland Wildlife Park

@felis silvestris

Zoo Wuppertal

@Malayan Tapir

Boissiere du Dore

@lintworm

Parc des Felins

@Maxime

@Arizona Docent

Does the third photo have a tiger in it? I cant tell
Northern europe just have so much space

 

[felis silvestris]

Does the third photo have a tiger in it? I cant tell
Northern europe just have so much space

It doesn’t but in one of the 3 photos I took of the enclosure, the female and her cubs were very active on the other side of the enclosure.