Berlin Tierpark Animal husbandry and educational efforts at Tierpark

[markmeier]

My starting Thesis (which of course reflects my point of view): The husbandry of animals in Berlin Tierpark is far from perfect as goes for most zoos, while it is rather adequate or even excellent for a great number of species. Of course there are some concrete aspects that should be improved rather sooner than later as well as potential for more substantial improvements. At the same time an overly harsh critique that completely ignores the financial basis of the park as well as the amount of poor enclosures in the early nineties and the actual progress since then is neither balanced nor productive.

My starting data base:
I decided not to include any own pictures or such from other websites. Instead I checked the entire gallery for pictures on enclosures and also some on the animals themselves and their behavior (since the behavior was partially perceived as dull, monotonous, stereotypical, I particularly looked for behavior that is “out of the ordinary” in a positive way). I also checked youtube for some particularly striking clips that I still remembered. It took hours and it’s definitely not a comprehensive collection, but I think I came up with a decent listing that reflects upon our current discussion. So if anyone really feels like discussing it in depth, give it a look and comment on it.

Small mammals (random species):
-For me these enclosures mostly fit the category decent, yet not impressive. Having said so, I'm not exactly an expert for such small animals and their behavior.
http://www.zoochat.com/141/enclosure-elephant-shrews-292319/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/porcupine-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-01-09-a-237055/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/hyrax-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236565/

Ungulates (somewhat representative selection):
-First some pictures of the rhinos and their exhibit. They enjoy taking a bath and can find places with shade. There are some rocks etc. and different height levels, but still there could be more structuring. Space seems fine to me, though. Sorry, but I simply enjoyed the baby pictures too much and I have watched scenes like this myself (believe me I didn’t nearly pick all of them even if I would have wanted to)
http://www.zoochat.com/141/rhino-paddocks-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236959/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/end-mud-bath-140843/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/mud-rhino-family-140840/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/indian-rhinoceros-calf-berlin-tierpark-9th-239412/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/playing-rhino-calf-140696/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/kids-can-punishment-140698/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/indian-rhino-calf-235174/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/betty-2-day-old-calf-229341/
There also is a short video by the Tierpark that shows the rhino enclosure:

-It's quite similar for the elephants. Lots of space, some opportunity for baths or playing with soil/ sand, some structuring and shady spots as well as some branches etc. once in a while, yet it could perhaps be more. Whenever I watch the elephants they seem to be at ease and in a good mood and company. Particularly the young ones are rather playful but even the older ones seem to enjoy themselves and sometimes even interact with the visitors.
http://www.zoochat.com/141/asian-elephant-paddocks-tierpark-berlin-30-a-236960/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/view-african-elephant-paddocks-235173/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/african-elephants-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236957/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/elephant-calfs-140709/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/elephants-140710/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/drinking-elephant-calf-140836/
bathing outside (short, very nice clip):

-The inside section isn't exactly up to date which particularly goes for the amount of space (unfortunately restructuring seems virtually impossible, though). At least they do get out a lot as long as the weather somehow allows for it and they bath them regularly inside (with a hose each morning and at the weekend they also enter the pools).
http://www.zoochat.com/141/elephant-training-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236561/
-The giraffes seem to have a rather good exhibit both outside and indoor (space, natural light). I always enjoy watching the group.
http://www.zoochat.com/141/giraffe-paddock-house-tierpark-berlin-30-a-236543/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/giraffe-house-interior-tierpark-berlin-30-a-236961/
-The bison have huge enclosures with both trees and wide open space. They also enjoy using the moat. Besides there are some trunks, rocks etc. and it just seems about perfect to me. It is great to watch the two groups.
http://www.zoochat.com/141/european-bison-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-a-235255/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/bison-paddock-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-237026/
The buffalos obviously enjoy their moat even more:
http://www.zoochat.com/141/water-buffalo-74293/
-Some enclosures for takin and musk oxen. They partially could do with more hills, rocks, trunks etc. but otherwise they seem just fine to me:
http://www.zoochat.com/141/mishmi-takin-paddock-tierpark-berlin-30-a-236975/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/golden-takin-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-a-236976/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/berlin-tierpark-2004-musk-oxen-exhibit-134398/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/musk-oxen-140846/
Again there is a short clip on the takin:

-The Asian wild horses/ asses have enclosures with moats, lots of open space, some shade and at times some slightly hilly areas. They run around a lot and drop to the soil to get a good rub. Seems quite like their native habitat to me. They are bred highly successfully by the way.
http://www.zoochat.com/141/kiang-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236994/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/kiang-takes-drink-223613/
-Some enclosures for sheep, goat etc. Again they seem quite adequate to me:
http://www.zoochat.com/141/bharal-paddock-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236969/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/berlin-tierpark-2004-rocky-mountain-goat-134396/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/marco-polo-sheep-paddock-tierpark-berlin-236967/
-Some gazella paddocks. Of course some more rocks, slight hills etc would be nice, but it probably still suits their most important needs and resembles their natural habitat:
http://www.zoochat.com/141/gazelle-paddock-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236966/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/addax-paddock-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236963/
-The dear deer often (yet not always) get such enclosures as those on the following pictures. They seem alright to me as it looks just like a real old forest. In fact it is (part of) one:
http://www.zoochat.com/141/deer-paddock-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-237025/
-Last but not least some pictures of the paddocks for camels. They are huge and also contain some elements of structuring which may not be visible on the pictures:
http://www.zoochat.com/141/camel-paddock-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236956/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/camel-paddock-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236944/

Primates/ Monkeys:
-I’ll start by one of my favorite monkey exhibits (mainly for aesthetic reasons). The Berber macaques always seem active and play a lot. They also regularly have offspring. It's a pleasure to watch them (even for hours).
http://www.zoochat.com/141/macaque-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236962/
-Another one of my favorites. The geladas have an outside box that connects to a large island with rocks/ trunks and natural vegetation. The group seems harmonious, shows a broad repertoire of behavior and they have good breeding successes.
http://www.zoochat.com/141/gelada-bridge-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236974/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/berlin-tierpark-2004-moat-gelada-baboon-134400/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/berlin-tierpark-2004-outdoor-gelada-baboon-134399/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/gelada-baboon-theropithecus-gelada-male-260510/
-The Japanese Macaques also seem to enjoy their enclosure. They use all the structure even the walls of their inside boxes and they obviously love the extensive fences!
http://www.zoochat.com/141/macaque-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-235265/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/macaque-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236995/
-Inside the monkey house. The boxes mostly have some nets, ropes, boards etc. and most monkeys also use the fences for climbing (just once watch the lars which reside there in winter – unfortunately I didn’t find a picture of the lar islands which are located elsewhere in the park). By the way, the building is often criticized (mainly the size, design and equipment of the boxes) but again: Do most other INDOOR boxes look/ suit the residents much better? In fact many cannot even be accessed.
-These are some of the outside boxes now. They are large and contain some equipment but I agree: It definitely could be some more.
http://www.zoochat.com/141/monkey-house-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236972/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/patas-monkey-nov-2010-a-187890/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/berlin-tierpark-2004-outdoor-enclosure-monkey-134406/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/berlin-tierpark-2004-other-side-monkey-134404/
-The kattas have some islands with grown vegetation. They climb up there a lot but also use the ground level. Interaction always seemed perfectly normal to me and they breed on a regular basis.
http://www.zoochat.com/141/lemur-house-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236992/
-Now some pictures of the b/w-ruffed and red-ruffed lemurs (Lemur Island and small part of the Lemur forest - there also is a breeding center behind the scenes):
http://www.zoochat.com/141/lemur-island-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236950/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/view-lemur-island-235171/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/curious-lemur-september-2008-a-121921/
A short video gives a far better impression of the lemur forest:

Carnivores:
-The worst bear enclosure you get in the Tierpark is for the sun bears and like the cages of the Brehm-building it is actually going to be replaced as soon as funds suffice. Just follow the discussion below the picture. But what should be done with these rare animals that breed regularly and which isn't kept by many other zoos. By the way they do climb a lot in this enclosure and altogether seem more occupied than most polar bears even in modern exhibits. Food enrichment is applied.
http://www.zoochat.com/141/sun-bear-outdoors-65958/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/berlin-tierpark-2004-malayan-sun-bear-134391/
-The inside is perhaps even worse and they pace quite a bit in there even though they also climb and sometimes get pine trees etc. to rip them apart natural light is a plus in my eyes (and again you don't know how well other boxes for bears really are as you often cannot see them)
http://www.zoochat.com/141/malayan-sun-bear-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-237017/
-The polar bears are somewhat better off: Quite some space for swimming, a floating island and food enrichment exist. Unfortunately, there is no significant variety of substrates, however, and no toys other than pieces of wood etc. which still are readily accepted by the bears. I wrote on this subject.
http://www.zoochat.com/141/polar-bear-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-a-235258/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/polar-bear-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-a-235259/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/polarbear-enclosure-berlin-tierpark-274002/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/polarbear-enclosure-33203/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/polarbear-tierpark-berlin-197221/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/berlin-tierpark-1995-polar-bear-cub-196318/
Animal activists from PETA created a video that is to suggest the bears only show stereotypical behavior (they even count swimming and walking as such. But then even bears in the wild should be shot to end their trauma!). In contrast I linked a second video that illustrates some of the playful behavior:
PETA:

Second perspective:

-The spectacled bears have a spacious exhibit with several substrates, a pool, climbing structures etc. I have watched them display a great variety of behavior and hence I consider the exhibit as the best bear exhibit in the park:
http://www.zoochat.com/141/spectacled-bear-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-a-235256/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/spectacled-bear-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-a-235257/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/spectacled-bear-cubs-229336/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/spectacled-bear-cub-229335/
Short video clip:

-The bear window for the American black bears or baribals is somewhat similar and probably it is a good enclosure as well, but it isn't quite as well designed and spacious as the one for spectacled bears. I didn’t find a good picture, though.
http://www.zoochat.com/141/bear-window-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-a-235201/
Of course the Brehm-building mostly is outdated for the housing of the big cats. Fortunately, there are current plans for restructuring. Here are some pictures of the inside and outside boxes. I’m not happy with the situation, but in my opinion the animals don’t suffer badly (at least it does not seem so to me).
http://www.zoochat.com/141/fishing-cat-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-a-236235/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/clouded-leopard-berlin-tierpark-128981/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/alfred-brehm-house-59239/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/leopard-cages-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236539/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/puma-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236238/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/alfred-brehm-house-59278/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/afred-brehm-house-marmot-exhibit-tierpark-236240/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/stretching-his-legs-223611/
-This is the INSIDE of the significantly larger tiger and lion exhibits (show me a better one in Sweden or anywhere). They get quite some water to swim, some places to hide, much natural light and the space is sufficient for an inside area (unfortunately the outside part isn't larger though despite some more natural vegetation and stuff to play with). They could of course have put in some more trunks, wooden toys etc. for the inside as well. And they should slightly reduce the number of animals so they always(!) can use both parts of their enclosures.
http://www.zoochat.com/141/indoor-tiger-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-a-235338/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/malayan-tiger-indoors-tierpark-berlin-59243/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/indoor-lion-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-a-236234/
-outside exhibits:
http://www.zoochat.com/141/lion-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236247/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/lion-enclosure-223051/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/alfred-brehm-house-59251/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/berlin-tierpark-1995-sumatran-tiger-196322/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/tigers-play-berlin-tierpark-145222/
Again, I found a selective video that complains the miserable life of the cats. And I found a contrastive one:
Criticism:

Potential positive response:

-Other cats like the lynx, snow leopards etc. also don't have massive amounts of space, but they have a bit more by comparison and generally also do get some structures for climbing/ hiding, a small pond etc.
http://www.zoochat.com/141/altai-lynx-2010-a-280967/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/altai-lynx-cub-berlin-tierpark-9th-237853/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/altai-lynx-cub-berlin-tierpark-9th-237852/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/altai-lynx-cubs-tierpark-berlin-30-a-236968/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/snowleopard-exhibit-berlin-tierpark-75024/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/berlin-tierpark-2004-beautiful-snow-leopard-134472/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/berlin-tierpark-2004-beautiful-snow-leopard-134469/
-The hyena exhibits seem adequate to me. The behavior always seemed quite natural to me:
http://www.zoochat.com/141/spotted-hyaena-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-a-236949/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/berlin-tierpark-2004-spotted-hyena-exhibit-134388/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/hyena-down-under-33336/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/brown-hyaena-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-a-236948/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/striped-hyaena-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-a-236947/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/east-african-aardwolf-proteles-cristatus-septentrionalis-260512/
-Wolf exhibit. Also no extensive pacing etc. here for as much as I am aware of:
http://www.zoochat.com/141/wolf-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236945/
-Dingos, marten and other small carnivores. A variety of great, adequate and not so well enclosures in my eyes, but I haven't seen any animals suffer:
http://www.zoochat.com/141/dingo-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-235261/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/wolverine-enclosure-050910-a-186075/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/wolverine-140724/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/marten-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236946/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/yellow-throated-marten-050910-a-186051/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/raccoon-enclosure-050910-a-186541/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/skunk-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236943/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/bushdog-cubs-140674/

Birds:
-These are some of the SMALL cages/ aviaries for birds of prey, (please get out the measuring stick next time, petthebird) It's also more than one or two branches, but I agree it could be more (though they apparently get rearranged/ replaced at times)
http://www.zoochat.com/141/bald-eagle-2010-a-280964/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/view-bird-prey-aviarys-235177/
-Here are some of the medium sized aviaries (still single species):
http://www.zoochat.com/141/eagle-aviary-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236971/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/lammergeier-aviary-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236970/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/siberian-eagle-owl-aviary-050910-a-186546/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/aviary-secretary-birds-140855/
-And this is by far the largest aviary - a mixed-species exhibit:
http://www.zoochat.com/141/raptor-aviary-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236243/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/raptor-aviary-cliffs-tierpark-berlin-30-a-236245/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/view-inside-bird-prey-aviary-235168/

-These are the smallest aviaries/ boxes for tropical birds/ parrots which I am aware of, but they are mostly for rather small species:
http://www.zoochat.com/141/alfred-brehm-haus-interior-tierpark-berlin-235334/
-Here is one of the medium sized aviaries for parrots. Again it's perhaps not impressive, but is your breeding center really that much better? Parrots mainly are bred behind the scenes by the way, but they mostly seem to have adequate outside aviaries (as with the lemurs the outside boxes are partially visible).
http://www.zoochat.com/141/macaws-2010-a-280969/
-This is one of the lucky tropical birds that can use a whole tropical hall to fly around, yet it is a territorial bird that mostly uses some spots and is hardly to be seen
http://www.zoochat.com/141/andean-cock-rock-rupicola-peruviana-peruviana-260511/
-Finally here's a picture of the other tropical hall for birds which is even bigger but presently is closed down due to construction work.
http://www.zoochat.com/141/free-flight-area-tierpark-berlin-01-a-237068/

-I’ll continue with some penguins and other water fowl (many are roaming freely though, e.g. ducks, swans):
http://www.zoochat.com/141/penguin-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236242/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/penguin-exhibit-tierpark-berlin-30-08-a-236241/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/seagull-aviary-050910-a-186058/
-These (among others) finally are birds like pelicans or peacocks that are roaming freely in the park and can be found at different places - at times even inside of outside enclosures:
http://www.zoochat.com/141/pelikan-berlin-tierpark-274003/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/pelicans-tierpark-berlin-30-08-11-a-237019/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/pelicans-nov-2010-a-187895/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/berlin-tierpark-1995-free-ranging-peacocks-196323/

Large Reptiles:
-These alligators of course should not be kept inside all year and their enclosure isn't huge or greatly structured. Again I don’t think they suffer. But I still would like to see them replaced by smaller tropical crocs:
http://www.zoochat.com/141/american-alligator-2005-a-280963/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/crocodile-house-interior-tierpark-berlin-30-a-237015/
-The giant tortoises seem to have enough space and some variety created by different substrates, a pond and some stones, branches etc. yet the structuring seems open for improvement. Altogether I'd still say it's still alright for them, though.
http://www.zoochat.com/141/giant-tortoise-house-tierpark-berlin-01-a-237028/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/giant-tortoise-house-tierpark-berlin-30-a-236996/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/giant-tortoise-house-tierpark-berlin-30-a-236996/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/turtle-house-nov-2010-a-187894/


Education:
-There also were pictures with some of the large boards which complement the mostly informative and well-written but visually boring regular signs (see below).
http://www.zoochat.com/141/lama-board-237042/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/oryx-addax-sign-tierpark-berlin-30-a-236965/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/berlin-tierpark-july-08-a-33309/

Finally some of said regular signs: They consist of scientific and popular name, map of distribution, extensive text in German as well as the date of birth or hatching of the newest offspring. Only some (esp. for birds, small turtles etc. in mixed species-exhibits) also contain a drawing. In fact, the longish texts are often written by the director himself and they seem to address people who are into the matter rather than regular folks who just enjoy a random day out at the zoo (though they can understand everything if they take the time to read it and some regular visitors seem to enjoy the amount of information)…
http://www.zoochat.com/141/signage-example-234455/
http://www.zoochat.com/141/aviary-sign-140665/

As petthebird correctly pointed out, there usually is but sparse information on breeding programs or the status of the wild population. Often such data is embedded into the German texts, whereas Berlin zoo uses catchy icons both for threatened animals and for breeding programs. The website for the Tierpark is more informative, however. Here you learn about the international and European studbooks kept by the Tierpark as well as the amount of European breeding programs for threatened species (120+) which don’t even include all international breeding programs. It further lists species that have been bred successfully and then reintroduced to the wild and permanent participation in in situ projects. Again this does not mention rare animals that are given to other zoos or breeding centers or sporadic contribution to in situ projects (the last collections, for example were for the habitat of red pandas and the destroyed okapi breeding center in Congo). Unfortunately, much of the information is not available in English, though.

______________
If you want to state disapproval or agreement or if you wish to add any new items/ raise any additional issues, feel free to do so. Food and other services for visitors perhaps better should be dealt with separately, though. I also didn't intend to overly discuss or evaluate the aesthetic qualities of individual exhibits. This may be a worthwhile topic for another discussion-thread, though.

 

[dublinlion]

Great post mark.
I had read negative comments on the tierpark and although visiting berlin several times, avoided visiting this Zoo. So when I eventually did get to see it I was surprised to find a fantastic collection of well kept healthy animals in fairly decent enclosures. There are of course a few areas where there is room for improvement, but the same could be said about any other Zoo.

 

[DavidBrown]

One thing that strikes me about the Berlin Zoos is that they seem to have almost no presence or stature as conservation organizations. It seems like every zoo that is considered "world class" now either contributes money and personnel to conservation field programs or has a field research division of its zoological society (e.g., ZSL, WZCS, San Diego's CRES, Zurich, Frankfurt, Chester). Berlin seems to be invisible in this regard, at least at an international level. Do they have any kind of field conservation program?

 

[markmeier]

@David Brown:
Gosh, I hoped I would be free of any additional research for a while Well, I kind of asked for it, didn't I? We were only discussing the Tierpark so far, but David you seem to be curious about Berlin zoo as well and in fact this concern cannot be adequately addressed without considering the zoological landscape of Berlin in general (my response will start with the Tierpark and return to it in the end, though).

Professor Dathe set up the Tierpark as a scientific institution. He established a proper institute called the "Research Station for Vertebrate Research (FWF)" next to the public grounds of the Tierpark. After Germany's reunification, this institute became independent from the Tierpark, however, and was incorporated into one of Germany's largest research associations (Leibnitz association), but it's still cooperating with the Tierpark - in fact it is still located in the old rooms right next to the Tierpark area. In the process of restructuring, the institute received a new name as well as a widened scope. On the website the "new" institute states the core of this work - which includes extensive field work and studies - as follows:

The Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) is an interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to developing the scientific basis for novel approaches to wildlife conservation.

In the current era of the Anthropocene, virtually all ecosystems in the world are subjected to man-made impacts. As yet, it is not possible to predict the response of wildlife to the ever-increasing global change. Why are some wildlife species threatened by anthropogenic change, while others persist or even thrive in modified, degenerated or novel habitats?

To answer this and related questions, the IZW conducts basic and applied research across different scientific disciplines. We study the diversity of life histories and evolutionary adaptations and their limits, including diseases, of free-ranging and captive wildlife species, and their interactions with people and their environment in Germany, Europe and worldwide.

The institute currently has a staff of about 170. It is a member of the Leibniz Association and the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V.
​

Welcome - IZW Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Reasearch in the Forschungsverbund Berlin e. V.
History of the institution: History - IZW Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Reasearch in the Forschungsverbund Berlin e. V.
For more information on the work of the institute, I suggest browsing the website a bit.

Today they have a staff of 170 people (some 6,6 mio yearly funds) and are globally recognized for their contributions (also many German zoos send in animals that died of diseases to find out more). None of this would have happened, however, if the institute had remained fully integrated into the Tierpark which is financially strained anyways.

Besides the IZW, the Leibnitz association also runs the (largely complementary) Berlin museum for Naturkunde or natural history (one of the largest of such scientific institutions in Germany). Short quote from the website again:

The "Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung" (Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz Institute for Research on Evolution and Biodiversity) is a research museum within the Leibniz Association. It is one of the most significant research institutions worldwide in biological and geo-scientific evolution research and biodiversity.

The Collections of the Museum are directly linked to research. They comprise more than 30 million items relating to zoology, palaeontology, geology and mineralogy, which are highly significant for science as well as for the history of science. [...] The exhibitions are complemented by extensive educational programmes for all ages.​

Museum für Naturkunde: Museum für Naturkunde
Museum für Naturkunde: About us
Museum für Naturkunde: Research
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_f%C3%BCr_Naturkunde"]Museum für Naturkunde - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

Berlin's universities do some important work in related fields as well (e.g. veterinary sciences). This also explains why Berlin has no additional zoological association/ society directly linked to the zoos. It's more a network of cooperation and this actually seems rather efficient to me. So in my eyes the question is more how the Berlin zoos define their part in the larger picture and how their contribution actually enhances the rest.

Zoo and Tierpark in fact cannot be seperated as the latter belongs to the former (full 100%). As the website of Berlin zoo has an English version I will just cite their own answer (which lists some of said cooperations) to that question for further discussion:

The zoo’s tasks

The tasks our zoos of today are faced with are many and diverse. And there is more than one reason to keep animals. Since 1844 visitors to Zoo Berlin can relax and learn. Comparable with a living, green oasis the zoo today lies directly at the heart of the city. Here you can relax and learn new facts about the most diverse zoological subjects as your interest takes you.

In an environment close to nature, animals of various shapes, sizes, and origins can be observed from the direct vicinity. The visitor’s attention is drawn to details worthy of note and is given ideas on how, where, and what to observe. At the zoo people of all ages can get to know unknown living beings. This in turn benefits the animals in the wild, because only what you know is worth preserving.

Besides the pure communication of theoretical wildlife preservation Zoo Berlin also funds with contributions donated by visitors the preservation of nature in the native countries of many animals.

WWF projects

Germany has been the venue for a number of projects implemented in collaboration with the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature). One of the more notable ventures concerns the international park Unteres Odertal, one of the last flood plain landscapes of Central Europe that are the wintering grounds for well over 100,000 geese and ducks every year. Other projects include e.g. the reintroduction of water to the drained moors of North Germany and the purchase of land for protecting the extremely rare broods of the black stork.

In-situ nature preservation activities

For a number of years Zoo Berlin has been active with other organisations in protecting natural habitats on site (“in situ”). Zoologische Gesellschaft für Arten- und Populationsschutz e. V., a zoological association for protecting species and populations in Munich, is our partner for activities in the Philippines. Our endeavours started with funds for investigating the population area of the threatened Philippine spotted deer, and we also financed a poster for the protection of Asian pigs. Since 1994 Zoo Berlin has been providing essential funds for saving threatened cloud rats in the Philippines. Thanks to the donations of our visitors West Visayas State University could set up research enclosures for taking up confiscated animals. This also pays native biologists investigating in situ the habits of the cloud rat.

Nature preservation in Madagascar

Another field of in-situ activity involves nature preservation in Madagascar. In 1995 Zoo Berlin undersigned a partnership agreement with Tsimbazaza Zoo in Antananarivo, the capital city of Madagascar. A joint scientific project attempts to research the biology of viverrids and other small mammals and to optimise the conditions for keeping and care. In 1996 the first ring-tailed mongooses were imported, followed by the first pair of narrow-striped mongooses in 1997. Both species could breed successfully several times in Berlin. In 1999 the first of the narrow-striped mongooses born here was returned to Madagascar.

Preservation of threatened species

How many other species are kept at Zoo Berlin is closely linked to our nature preservation work in the animals’ home countries. We give special emphasis to measures for safeguarding the severely threatened population of okapis, a short-necked giraffe species of the African primeval forest, and to our support for nature conservation projects protecting the bamboo forests of China where the giant panda is at home.

Studbooks

The tasks assigned to nature conservation also include contributions to the preservation of species in human care. An initial step towards the international management of animal populations involved the introduction of studbooks. The first such list of animals was the studbook for the European bison in 1923. Since 1966 Berlin has been collecting data for the two African rhinoceros species and the gaur, a wild ox of Asia. The studbook keeper coordinates the transfer of animals for preserving the genetic variety in the population. Studbooks can also contain recommendations for improving keeping conditions.
European Breeding Programmes

In 1985 the studbooks were joined by so-called European Breeding Programmes (EEPs). These regulate breeding projects within the European subpopulations of some particularly threatened species. Zoo Berlin supervises the EEPs for the African black rhinoceros and the gaur and is successfully participating in numerous other EEPs. A number of species kept at Zoo Berlin could be returned to the wild after years in intensive human care.

Research

In spite of these particularly encouraging successes we must not lose sight of the fact that every animal kept also contributes to our scientific knowledge. The discipline zoo biology is dedicated in particular to the research of factors affecting how each species can be kept. Biological and veterinary knowhow are today the foundation on which wild animals can be successfully kept and thanks to which in many cases the life expectation and reproduction rate of animals in zoos are greater than those in the wild. Zoo Berlin is closely collaborating on this scientific field with a large number of universities, research institutes, and of course other zoos.
​

Zoo - The Company - Tasks

So which of these points applies for the Tierpark as well or at least are supported by the Tierpark? I'm not sure, but I will list the information I do know:

-WWF projects:
The Tierpark does collect money for such projects, but I don't know to which extend.

-In-situ nature preservation activities and Preservation of threatened species:
The Tierpark supports some projects for monkeys in the Amazon rain forest and birds in Northern Africa. Of course they don't keep giant pandas or okapis like the zoo so they presumably also don't support these projects either. Alongside the zoo, however, they collected money for the destroyed okapi breeding (and research?) center in Congo and they participated in the world red panda day by informing the public about the habitat and collecting money for its preservation. As for Madagaskar I only know that a red-ruffed lemur bred in the Tierpark was handed to zoo in Antananarivo for breeding.

Studbooks & European Breeding Programmes (EEPs):
According to its own (mainly German) website, Tierpark Berlin keeps five international and European studbooks (two species of each deer and wild asses and one species of birds) and they participate in some 120 EEPs. Some species were returned to their natural habitats in Europe, Africa and Asia (I hope the name's somehwat correspond as there is no translation available and I'm not aware of all english names): mhorr(?) gazella, Mendes(?) antelope, scimitar oryx, przewalski-horse, Alpine ibex, European wildcat, ural owl and bearded vulture. At least for the latter they also send their own staff to conduct/ support the project (picture: http://www.tierpark-berlin.de/typo3temp/pics/3a68b57844.jpg ).

Sources:
Hauptstadt Zoo - Tierpark - Tiere & Wissenswertes - Artenschutz
Hauptstadt Zoo - Tierpark - Tiere & Wissenswertes - Artenschutz - Artenschutzprojekte
-Facebook page for Tierpark Berlin
-display at big cat house in zoo Berlin
-collection "pandas" at big animal buildings in Tierpark Berlin

 

[DavidBrown]

Thanks much for the information Mark. It looks like Berlin is actually quite involved in conservation projects and is affiliated with a research/conservation organization, but in an arrangement a bit different than other zoos, which may be why it is not well known - at least here in the U.S.

 

[markmeier]

You are very welcome. I believe the IZW is well known by informed cyrcles, it may just not be closely associated with the Tierpark (which in fact it isn't any more) and the same may be true for the other institutions. Generally speaking, I always assumed Berlin Zoo and Tierpark would be quite well-recognized abroad (the latter perhaps even more than in Germany). At least this was my impression so far. Am I wrong?

 

[snowleopard]

@Mark Meier: Thanks very much for your hard work on this thread, and the time it must have taken you to put it all together boggles my imagination. The two Berlin zoos are often hailed as amongst the greatest zoological establishments in the world and yet a great many zoo nerds criticize them for lacking some of the modern marvels found at various other zoos. I appreciate you taking the time to analyze Berlin Tierpark!

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

You are very welcome. I believe the IZW is well known by informed cyrcles, it may just not be closely associated with the Tierpark (which in fact it isn't any more) and the same may be true for the other institutions. Generally speaking, I always assumed Berlin Zoo and Tierpark would be quite well-recognized abroad (the latter perhaps even more than in Germany). At least this was my impression so far. Am I wrong?

That is the one issue I have ... It is really sad that this institute is no longer associated with either one of Berlin's Great Zoos!

 

[markmeier]

They do cooperate with the Tierpark, however, for obvious reasons such as proximity. But they would never receive sufficient funding for their excellent work if they were still part of the Tierpark as they used to be. The Tierpark runs on minimum funds for some decades now. That is sad stuff to me!

 

[markmeier]

Anyone who really is interested in this matter and who is capable of reading German (or use a translation tool) may feel inclined to read what Stuttgart's zoo director has to say about the enclosures modernized and designed in the Blaszkiewitz-era (which soon will end to his explicit regret). I copied an entire letter that mainly deals with Blaszkiewitz release and his achievements and emphasized the relevant (bold):

Brief Dieter Jauch
Ein beschämender Vorgang

Berlin – In einem Brief an den Aufsichtsrat des Zoo beklagt der Direktor der Stuttgarter Wilhelma, Dieter Jauch, den Umgang mit Tierparkchef Bernhard Blaszkiewitz. Der Rat hatte beschlossen, den Vertrag von Blaszkiewitz nicht zu verlängern.

Die Entscheidung des Aufsichtsrats vom vergangenen Mittwoch, den Vertrag des Direktors von Zoo und Tierpark nicht zu verlängern, erinnert daran, unter welch unwürdigen Umständen vor Jahren die große Zoodirektorin Katharina Heinroth aus dem Amt gedrängt wurde. Ohne Katharina Heinroth gäbe es heute den ältesten und traditionsreichsten deutschen Zoo möglicherweise nicht mehr. Frau Heinroth hatte den kriegszerstörten Garten mit viel Einsatz wieder aufzubauen begonnen und für ihre Zeit mustergültige Tierhäuser errichtet. Sie war international geachtet. Der Aufsichtsrat hat ihr das nicht gedankt und sie mit 60 Jahren in die Wüste geschickt. Jetzt wiederholt sich dieses Spiel erneut.

Mit Dr. Bernhard Blaszkiewitz muss der Mann gehen, dem Berlin vermutlich zu verdanken hat, dass der Tierpark Berlin-Friedrichsfelde nach der Wende nicht abgewickelt werden konnte, weil er sich mit aller Kraft und Beharrlichkeit, ein Fels in der Brandung, wie es eben seine Art ist, als Tierparkdirektor allen Bestrebungen dieser Art widersetzt hat.

Damals wurde sehr wohl überlegt, ob man den Tierpark nicht schleifen könne. Als das nicht ging, hat man versucht, den Tierpark nach und nach zu schwächen. Ich erinnere hier nur an die beabsichtigte und vom Zoo im „Westen“ betriebene Schließung der sogenannten „Schlangenfarm“, in der das Zooaquarium offenbar eine Konkurrenz sah. Die unbestrittenen Haltungserfolge unter primitivsten Verhältnissen hatten wohl am Selbstbewusstsein der Verantwortlichen dort genagt.

Blaszkiewitz hat hier nicht nur für den Erhalt des Tierparks gekämpft. Mehr noch, er hat das Werk des großen Tiergärtners Heinrich Dathe fortgesetzt. Bei aller Verehrung für Dathe darf nämlich nicht vergessen werden, in welchem Zustand viele Teile des Tierparks nach der Wende waren...

Wenn man heute durch den Tierpark geht, dann sieht man davon nichts mehr, sondern findet eine Menge neuer und absolut tiergerechter Anlagen, die eine Verschärfung der Mindestanforderungen an die Haltung von Tieren, wie sie derzeit diskutiert werden, keinesfalls zu fürchten brauchen. Und auch im Zoo hat er die Modernisierung der Gehege und Tierhäuser nach längerer Zeit des Stillstands fortgeführt, während der man vorzugsweise über Riesenräder spekuliert hat, die nicht ... in einen Zoo gehören...

Bernhard Blaszkiewitz hat sich als begeisterter Zoologe der Tendenz zur grenzenlosen und entwürdigenden Vermarktung seiner Tiere beharrlich widersetzt und dafür, wie das Beispiel „Knut“ gezeigt hat, auch bösartige Kritik in Kauf genommen. Blaszkiewitz ist konservativ, was ja bekanntlich nicht „böse“, sondern „bewahrend“ heißt. Aber das wusste man auch schon, als man ihn 2007 zum Direktor beider Zoos machte. In einer Zeit, die geprägt ist von oberflächlicher „Verspaßung“ und Kommerzialisierung kann ihm dafür nicht genug gedankt werden, dass er versucht hat, den Zoo als Oase der Ruhe und der würdigen Begegnung mit der Kreatur zu erhalten...

Dass der Aufsichtsrat die Arbeit von Bernhard Blaszkiewitz so wenig würdigt und ganz offensichtlich aus Opportunismus der „Political Correctness“ folgend, ihn... in die Wüste schickt, ist beschämend – vor allem, wenn man bedenkt, dass Blaszkiewitz im nächsten Jahr sechzig wird und es sicher... würdigere Möglichkeiten gegeben hätte, die Zusammenarbeit zu beenden.

Oder wollte der Aufsichtsrat nur seine Ruhe vor den Attacken der Grünen Abgeordneten im Berliner Abgeordnetenhaus Claudia Hämmerling haben, die es offenbar als einzige Aufgabe ansah, Bernhard Blaszkiewitz jahrelang mit wenig Sachverstand, aber viel blindem Hass zu verfolgen und aus dem Amt zu treiben? Dann hätte es sich der Aufsichtsrat doch zu einfach gemacht!

Brief Dieter Jauch: Ein beschämender Vorgang | Berlin - Berliner Zeitung

This is basically what I also tried to stress whenever I defended the park as Blaszkiewitz and his priorities, but here it obviously comes from some one much more knowledgable and capable than myself.