Berlin Zoo Berlin Zoo news 2024

Al said:
There is quite a large area behind the bongo/okapi where black rhino etc used to be held. Is this to be extended for them or one would think that might be a suitable area for a new gorilla habitat?
Click to expand...

They state that there will be a new location for the gorillas behind the bridge (when you cross the small channel "Landwehrkanal"). Before that they considered the area of elephants for the gorillas (whereas the elephants were supposed to move to the area now designated for the apes) or to change the layout of the monkey building. They just keep changing plans, but the area near the okapis didn't come up yet.

But I guess all I really know is that they will keep redesigning the zoo landscape. My general impression is that they will aim at generous and impressive enclosures for the biggest and most popular species, even if that means less of the smaller ones or repeatet adjustments of plans. At the same time they still try to also maintain a considerably high diversity to represent the whole animal kingdom. It will be quite interesting to see how they are going to go about this.
 
Fallax said:
The elephant plans being ditched is interesting, surely there must be some kind of plan long term? I can't see the zoo keeping the current elephant enclosure in the long run.
Click to expand...
One idea which I personally am fine with ...
Many people who visit Zoo Berlin also visit Tierpark Berlin.
So the two near-encyclopaedic collections really complete each other ...
So I could see it that Tierpark Berlin is the one with elephants in future whilst the area at Zoo Berlin now is redeveloped for something else.
 
dillotest0 said:
Many people who visit Zoo Berlin also visit Tierpark Berlin.
Click to expand...

I doubt that, certainly the tourists don't.

Zoo Berlin is a prestigious zoo, such a zoo without elephants is just not going to happen. The encyclopaedic part will be that Asian elephants remain in the zoo and the tierpark focusing on Africans. Aside from that in recent years there has been quite an increase in the number of mammal species that are held at both locations, reversing a long policy of keeping as few as possible species at both locations.
 
Al said:
I wonder with the gorillas moving that whole area including the lake could in theory be developed to an expanded elephant enclosure!
Click to expand...

I thought about this, too. It could be a nice area for Asian elephants. But who knows what they'll come up with...
 
Al said:
I wonder with the gorillas moving that’s whole area including the lake could in theory be developed to an expanded elephant enclosure!
Click to expand...

Space gain appear minimal in this area IMO, as well as the black rhino and okapi area. The whole extension on the other side of the canal is a bit redundant in my opinion and was the perfect place for the elephants as it is the biggest chunk of the zoo you can get without destroying historical buildings.

Only issue I would imagine is related to truck access for moving elephants in and out. Current exhibit is really poor. Given the lack of space available, I would advocate that Berlin build an exhibit for surplus bulls.
 
lintworm said:
And in a surprising twist of turns Zoo Berlin has recently received a 6 year old male gaur to accompany their females. Nothing official has been communicated yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if we will see a 3rd European breeding group (again).
Click to expand...
Do you know where this young gaur male came in from (I suspect many of the current gaur stock in Europe are directly related to the Berlin Zoo founder stock)?

Therabu said:
Space gain appear minimal in this area IMO, as well as the black rhino and okapi area. The whole extension on the other side of the canal is a bit redundant in my opinion and was the perfect place for the elephants as it is the biggest chunk of the zoo you can get without destroying historical buildings.

Only issue I would imagine is related to truck access for moving elephants in and out. Current exhibit is really poor. Given the lack of space available, I would advocate that Berlin build an exhibit for surplus bulls.
Click to expand...
I am a little surprised that the break into the extension area is made for gorilla's and take them outside the traditional Primate House area alltogether.

It will be interesting to see what is next for the elephants' or the Primate House (which I think would have to be a priority for renovation or refurb). I am also not so sure I particularly like the idea of Big Animals ... Grand over the diversity of deemed "less(er)" species in the heart of the zoo. I certainly deplore how the Cervidae-deer section has been cut to a fine degree ... and quite a few species (and now the white-tailed deer) have been lost.
 
Last edited:
Al said:
There is quite a large area behind the bongo/okapi where black rhino etc used to be held. Is this to be extended for them or one would think that might be a suitable area for a new gorilla habitat?
Click to expand...
I was gonna suggest putting the elephants where the okapi, bongo, and former black rhino is

Then move okapis and bongos to the old elephant space. That space in total should be a handsome sum
 
tigris115 said:
I was gonna suggest putting the elephants where the okapi, bongo, and former black rhino is

Then move okapis and bongos to the old elephant space. That space in total should be a handsome sum
Click to expand...
That's actually a fairly smart plan. Would provide all species will plenty of space and allow for a more clear 'African forest' theme if the ungulates shared a house - although it would likely require the demolition of the architecturally lovely elephant house.

I do pity whichever species gets the current bull paddock though. The fact they continue to hold two elephants there is a travesty.
 
cerperal said:
That's actually a fairly smart plan. Would provide all species will plenty of space and allow for a more clear 'African forest' theme if the ungulates shared a house - although it would likely require the demolition of the architecturally lovely elephant house.

I do pity whichever species gets the current bull paddock though. The fact they continue to hold two elephants there is a travesty.
Click to expand...
Tbh, I'd demolish those outdoor exhibits and redo them as yeah, they're a travesty. When I first saw Victor, I was impressed as hell to see a bull in person but I also thought "Man, if this was in America, people would be pissed."

Maybe squeeze in some African monkeys around the area too.
 
Last edited:
Kifaru Bwana said:
Do you know where this young gaur male came in from (I suspect many of the current gaur stock in Europe are directly related to the Berlin Zoo founder stock)?
Click to expand...

Nothing official, but according to Zoofreunde Forum members it could very well be one of the 2 bulls originally imported by Zlin (they were imported as 1.5 year old animals in 2019), there aren't too many other options for sure.

tigris115 said:
I was gonna suggest putting the elephants where the okapi, bongo, and former black rhino is

Then move okapis and bongos to the old elephant space. That space in total should be a handsome sum
Click to expand...

The okapi, bongo, black rhino area was slated for an expanded okapi complex. This whole area is just under 9000 square metres, so wouldn't be enough anyway to create a large enough and there is more room for expansion around the current elephant house. Expanding the current exhibit towards the south and the current gorilla exhibits is the only location in the zoo where there is enough space for a elephant complex that has any long-term future. But I am not sure how much work can be done on the artificial lake that lies there...
 
lintworm said:
I doubt that, certainly the tourists don't.

Zoo Berlin is a prestigious zoo, such a zoo without elephants is just not going to happen. The encyclopaedic part will be that Asian elephants remain in the zoo and the tierpark focusing on Africans. Aside from that in recent years there has been quite an increase in the number of mammal species that are held at both locations, reversing a long policy of keeping as few as possible species at both locations.
Click to expand...

I remember similar comments being made when Asian elephants were transferred from London Zoo to Whipsnade. One visitor said that a zoo without elephants wasn't a zoo. Berlin is spending a lot of money on a new home for the Tierpark's elephants. The distance between Berlin Zoo and Tierpark Berlin is a lot less than that between London Zoo and Whipsnade.
 
Dassie rat said:
I remember similar comments being made when Asian elephants were transferred from London Zoo to Whipsnade. One visitor said that a zoo without elephants wasn't a zoo. Berlin is spending a lot of money on a new home for the Tierpark's elephants. The distance between Berlin Zoo and Tierpark Berlin is a lot less than that between London Zoo and Whipsnade.
Click to expand...
I think the key difference is that Tierpark's elephant house is specifically built for an African breeding herd, and the zoo can afford to give space to a group of Asians - something London could not. That's not to mention it's culturally unthinkable to me for Berlin to lose elephants, as Lintworm said. Which is a shame for the elephants until they eventually get a new sufficiently sized exhibit.
 
Dassie rat said:
I remember similar comments being made when Asian elephants were transferred from London Zoo to Whipsnade. One visitor said that a zoo without elephants wasn't a zoo. Berlin is spending a lot of money on a new home for the Tierpark's elephants. The distance between Berlin Zoo and Tierpark Berlin is a lot less than that between London Zoo and Whipsnade.
Click to expand...

You may have a point. But honestly, I don't ever see this happen. They will rather kick out a number of less significant ungulates and knock down a number of smaller buildings, before they give up on a prestigious species like elephants. I bet they will always find funds and space for a species like that. We are talking about a zoo which won't give up ANY of their four ape groups (not even one out of chimps and bonobos). Or which now even builds a larger complex for polar bears to keep and breed them again. Or that build a whole new Panda complex from scratch for quite a few millions to have them return to Berlin Zoo.

Not to forget, the iconic "Elefantentor" entrance is the most popular symbol of the zoo. And apparently, nothing pi..es their zoo donors off as much as the prospect of losing a popular species (in particular so, if it is to be "given" to/kept by the Tierpark instead).

All I actually could see would be a temporary transfer to another zoo so they can build a new enclosure for them. But I am quite sure they will soon present some new plans for their elephants and that these plans will be rather spectacular. It may be a while after they secured enough funds and got somewhat ahead with their monkey and polar bear plans. But it will certainly happen.

By the way: London zoo has 14 hectares, Berlin zoo has 34.
 
markmeier said:
But I am quite sure they will soon present some new plans for their elephants and that these plans will be rather spectacular.
Click to expand...

Money doesn't buy space in the current zoo setup and elephants need quite a lot even if it's far from sufficient for their wellbeing. Again, I do not see any bigger chunk of space in the zoo than the whole extension (which is barely enough by today's standards for a new exhibit). Bringing gorillas there seems a strategic mistake to me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top