A DeBrazza monkey was born at this small zoo 
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.Tierpark Wittenberg
- Thread starter vogelcommando
- Start date
Pygmy marmoset born at the beginning of October .
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Again a DeBrazza monkey has been born ( on Oct. 5 ) .
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And again a DeBrazza monkey born at Wittenberg .
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Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Visited today, very much unexpectedly, but after realising that a free-to-enter zoo was right beside by accommodation, and that its early opening hours (9:30) made it the ideal place to kill some time before the town’s significant lamdmarks opened, how was I to resist?
As far as free-to-enter collections of this scale go, Tierpark Wittenberg is in fact of a fairly high standard. The highlight is the Aquarium, which is almost entirely devoted to species of the River Elbe which runs through Wittenberg, with four, fairly spacious, well-landscaped freshwater tanks with impressively clear water housing an impressive selection of native fish. There are also three species of native amphibians (including my first European Fire-bellied Toad) and a saltwater tank housing Small-spotted Catsharks among others, which, although a little out of place, is still native species to an extent, with all the inhabitants being found in the North Sea. Given that my visit to Wittenberg was part of a trip along the Elberadweg (a major cycle route along the Elbe, from Hamburg to Prague), being able to see up-close and put names to the fish that I had been seeing from above water up until now was very nice.
The only notable lifetick I got from this visit was the European Mink, which is fairly common in continental collections (especially German ones), but entirely absent from the British zoos. I was delighted to see a very curious and active mink in a well-landscaped, although perhaps a little small, enclosure adjacent to the aquarium. Also in this area of the zoo were meerkats and several aviaries. However, with Gundi, Mongolian Jird, Rock Hyrax and Black-rumped Agouti, small mammal lovers will find quite a lot to like in this zoo’s collections.
The exhibit quality, however, is what stood out to me the most, with several enclosures that exceeded what you would expect from a small and free zoo in a park. The Rock Hyrax and Gundis, for example, had an excellent outdoor enclosure with a rock outcrop that was entirely netted over so as to allow for more climbing. A gorgeous pond with lily pads was home to European Pond Turtles, and all three owl aviaries (Ural, Snowy and European Eagle) were all far larger than most enclosures for such birds in zoos (although given how poor owleries usually are, that isn’t saying much). I also loved the callitrichid and monkey enclosures with overhead tunnels.
I was delighted by this small zoo. Comparing it to other free-to-enter zoos in parks (such as one of my locals, Crystal Palace) and it feels much more like a genuine zoo, with some great native species aquaria and cold water fish tanks, a fair few rarities and some generous enclosures for smaller species. I would recommend a visit to any enthusiast in the area.
As far as free-to-enter collections of this scale go, Tierpark Wittenberg is in fact of a fairly high standard. The highlight is the Aquarium, which is almost entirely devoted to species of the River Elbe which runs through Wittenberg, with four, fairly spacious, well-landscaped freshwater tanks with impressively clear water housing an impressive selection of native fish. There are also three species of native amphibians (including my first European Fire-bellied Toad) and a saltwater tank housing Small-spotted Catsharks among others, which, although a little out of place, is still native species to an extent, with all the inhabitants being found in the North Sea. Given that my visit to Wittenberg was part of a trip along the Elberadweg (a major cycle route along the Elbe, from Hamburg to Prague), being able to see up-close and put names to the fish that I had been seeing from above water up until now was very nice.
The only notable lifetick I got from this visit was the European Mink, which is fairly common in continental collections (especially German ones), but entirely absent from the British zoos. I was delighted to see a very curious and active mink in a well-landscaped, although perhaps a little small, enclosure adjacent to the aquarium. Also in this area of the zoo were meerkats and several aviaries. However, with Gundi, Mongolian Jird, Rock Hyrax and Black-rumped Agouti, small mammal lovers will find quite a lot to like in this zoo’s collections.
The exhibit quality, however, is what stood out to me the most, with several enclosures that exceeded what you would expect from a small and free zoo in a park. The Rock Hyrax and Gundis, for example, had an excellent outdoor enclosure with a rock outcrop that was entirely netted over so as to allow for more climbing. A gorgeous pond with lily pads was home to European Pond Turtles, and all three owl aviaries (Ural, Snowy and European Eagle) were all far larger than most enclosures for such birds in zoos (although given how poor owleries usually are, that isn’t saying much). I also loved the callitrichid and monkey enclosures with overhead tunnels.
I was delighted by this small zoo. Comparing it to other free-to-enter zoos in parks (such as one of my locals, Crystal Palace) and it feels much more like a genuine zoo, with some great native species aquaria and cold water fish tanks, a fair few rarities and some generous enclosures for smaller species. I would recommend a visit to any enthusiast in the area.
It isnt free-to -enter,you`re supposed to buy a ticket(inexpensively) from a small vending machine upon entry (or you did 18 months ago). I liked this tiny zoo very much,though i dont know about the mink enclosure being too small - it looked fine to me. The most common complaint on Zoochat,by far,is that this enclosure ,or that enclosure,is too small.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Certainly no such ticket machine on my visit, only a small donation box that strongly suggested a €3 donation, with which we of course complied. I thought the mink enclosure was too small given how hyperactive such animals tend to be, although not knowing much about their general behaviour and the standard of exhibitry for them, I of course can’t really comment.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
The ‘donation box’ was fairly machine-like and even accepted card, so chances are that it is the same machine, only that the ticker dispenser was removed, presumably due to the zoo deciding it was pointless. I suppose the tickets were only so that staff could check if you had one on you elsewhere in the zoo?