Ring-tailed lemurs in Berlin?

[Alexa]

Hi!

I live in Uruguay and I'm visiting Europe for the first time.

I visited Pairi Daiza in Belgium and fell in love with the lemurs in the lemur island.

Yesterday I visited the Prague Zoo and although there is a Lemur Island, none were outside their enclosure

My next and final stop is Berlin. I'm visiting the Berlin zoo on Saturday but know there's also the Tierpark zoo.

My question is: is there a Lemur island or something similar in any of these 2 zoos?

Thank you!

 

[lintworm]

Hi!

I live in Uruguay and I'm visiting Europe for the first time.

I visited Pairi Daiza in Belgium and fell in love with the lemurs in the lemur island.

Yesterday I visited the Prague Zoo and although there is a Lemur Island, none were outside their enclosure

My next and final stop is Berlin. I'm visiting the Berlin zoo on Saturday but know there's also the Tierpark zoo.

My question is: is there a Lemur island or something similar in any of these 2 zoos?

Thank you!

Zoo Berlin doesn't have ring-tailed lemurs, but the Tierpark has ring-tailed lemurs. These lemurs are not in a walkthrough (I guess that is what you mean), but the Tierpark does have a walkthrough for ruffed lemurs.

 

[Alexa]

Zoo Berlin doesn't have ring-tailed lemurs, but the Tierpark has ring-tailed lemurs. These lemurs are not in a walkthrough (I guess that is what you mean), but the Tierpark does have a walkthrough for ruffed lemurs.

Yes, that's what I meant. Thank you for confirming! I'm kinda sad now.

 

[lintworm]

Yes, that's what I meant. Thank you for confirming! I'm kinda sad now.

Zoo Dresden, which is midway between Prague and Berlin does have a ring-tailed lemur walkthrough though, so that is maybe an alternative?

 

[Alexa]

S

Zoo Dresden, which is midway between Prague and Berlin does have a ring-tailed lemur walkthrough though, so that is maybe an alternative?

Sadly we can't change our itinerary at this point. We were not even looking for lemurs, but fell in love with them at Pairi Daiza.

I'm still very excited to meet the rest of the animals at Berlin.

Also in January we'll be visiting Mexico (where I'm from) and you can feed Lemurs in Africam Safari I always thought it was kinda expensive but now I know it's totally worth it!

 

[markmeier]

Yes, that's what I meant. Thank you for confirming! I'm kinda sad now.

Or maybe you'll eben fall in love with the ruffed lemurs as well. Personally, I love both but I actually find the ruffed lemurs even slightly more fascinating and not any less adorable. In Tierpark Berlin they have three different subspecies (some Red and some Black and White) which are climbing up and jumping between rather large trees, run around the ground area or balance on the small fence or even the bench.

And you may even get real close, if they feel like it. Had some examine my backpack as I had sat down for a while. And once, a tourist from Scandinavia even had one jump on his back pack (without the man sitting down) and rest up there for quite some time. I still remember this, because the daughter wouldn't stop laughing and smiling the entire time and this made me really happy. Having said that, you shouldn't expect too much. It always depends on the day/mood. Good weather certainly helps, though.

 

[zoogeekmaelstrom]

Zoo Berlin doesn't have ring-tailed lemurs, but the Tierpark has ring-tailed lemurs. These lemurs are not in a walkthrough (I guess that is what you mean), but the Tierpark does have a walkthrough for ruffed lemurs.

Surprising that one of the most species heavy zoo doesn't have ring tailed lemur.

 

[markmeier]

Surprising that one of the most species heavy zoo doesn't have ring tailed lemur.

For a time, Berlin Zoo and Berlin Tierpark tried to avoid keeping a specific species in both institutions. This meant, if one already kept a species the other one wouldn't also start keeping it. And if both held a specific species, they often ended one holding (for popular species this usually meant, the Tierpark had to give it up).

However, this approach has since been softened. They now make some exceptions both for (more or less critically) endangered species as well as very popular species. Instead, they try to have a different overall approach:
- Berlin Zoo: classic systematic approach with complexes for fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, certain types of mammals such as carnivores etc
- Berlin Tierpark: focus on continents and/or habitats like Himalaya, African Savannah or Madagascar

So Berlin Zoo may well end up keeping ring-tailed lemurs. Having said that, they likely never will hold them in a walk-through exhibit. It's far more likely that Berlin Tierpark will have a second walk-through exhibit with lemurs or that they may add more species to the existing one (it's actually not that crowded and they only keep males in there to reduce aggressions anyways).

But like I said, the ruffed lemurs are also very attractive. If you have somewhat lucky timing, this exhibit can be a real highlight. So I think people should just give it a try.

 

[Mickey]

For a time, Berlin Zoo and Berlin Tierpark tried to avoid keeping a specific species in both institutions. This meant, if one already kept a species the other one wouldn't also start keeping it. And if both held a specific species, they often ended one holding (for popular species this usually meant, the Tierpark had to give it up).

However, this approach has since been softened. They now make some exceptions both for (more or less critically) endangered species as well as very popular species. Instead, they try to have a different overall approach:
- Berlin Zoo: classic systematic approach with complexes for fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, certain types of mammals such as carnivores etc
- Berlin Tierpark: focus on continents and/or habitats like Himalaya, African Savannah or Madagascar

So Berlin Zoo may well end up keeping ring-tailed lemurs. Having said that, they likely never will hold them in a walk-through exhibit. It's far more likely that Berlin Tierpark will have a second walk-through exhibit with lemurs or that they may add more species to the existing one (it's actually not that crowded and they only keep males in there to reduce aggressions anyways).

But like I said, the ruffed lemurs are also very attractive. If you have somewhat lucky timing, this exhibit can be a real highlight. So I think people should just give it a try.

People who know both zoos always debate wether the zoo or the TP is better but in my modest opinion I regard them as one, they complement each other and they're within the same city, not even in a different town like San Diego and Escondido (which I also regard as complementary), which is why I don't get the discussions of the sponsors about big and famous animals "leaving" the Zoo's collection when they're simply changing address but staying in the same city; also aren't both now under one organisation and owned by the city?

 

[markmeier]

People who know both zoos always debate wether the zoo or the TP is better but in my modest opinion I regard them as one, they complement each other and they're within the same city, not even in a different town like San Diego and Escondido (which I also regard as complementary), which is why I don't get the discussions of the sponsors about big and famous animals "leaving" the Zoo's collection when they're simply changing address but staying in the same city; also aren't both now under one organisation and owned by the city?

I basically agree with everything you write.

The Tierpark is a 100% daughter of the Zoo and the latter is virtually independent from the city. However, the city gives funds to the Tierpark so they do get somewhat of a say in a number of issues.

 

[Alexa]

Or maybe you'll eben fall in love with the ruffed lemurs as well. Personally, I love both but I actually find the ruffed lemurs even slightly more fascinating and not any less adorable. In Tierpark Berlin they have three different subspecies (some Red and some Black and White) which are climbing up and jumping between rather large trees, run around the ground area or balance on the small fence or even the bench.

And you may even get real close, if they feel like it. Had some examine my backpack as I had sat down for a while. And once, a tourist from Scandinavia even had one jump on his back pack (without the man sitting down) and rest up there for quite some time. I still remember this, because the daughter wouldn't stop laughing and smiling the entire time and this made me really happy. Having said that, you shouldn't expect too much. It always depends on the day/mood. Good weather certainly helps, though.

Next time I'm in Berlin, I'll definitely visit Tierpark. Actually, I plan on visiting a couple other German zoos next time I'm there. I fell in love with Germany as well.

In Pairi Daiza lemurs also jumped to our backpack and were overall very social and curious. I had never had such an experience at a zoo so I kept thinking about those lemurs my whole trip.

 

[PossumRoach]

Next time I'm in Berlin, I'll definitely visit Tierpark. Actually, I plan on visiting a couple other German zoos next time I'm there. I fell in love with Germany as well.

In Pairi Daiza lemurs also jumped to our backpack and were overall very social and curious. I had never had such an experience at a zoo so I kept thinking about those lemurs my whole trip.

You should keep an eye out for Apenheul in the Netherlands next time you visit Europe. The park/forest environment is a delightful sight to see lemurs and other primates.