Berlin Zoo has the greatest collection of animals of any zoo on the planet, and yet at least 50% or more of them are kept in what are substandard exhibits. A postage stamp zoo that is gradually becoming a 21st century institution.
Berlin Zoo has the greatest collection of animals of any zoo on the planet, and yet at least 50% or more of them are kept in what are substandard exhibits. A postage stamp zoo that is gradually becoming a 21st century institution.
@Sun Wukong: there are over 400 photos from the zoo here at ZooChat, plus many books and other images that can be seen by anyone who wishes to see the zoo without actually paying admission. Why don't you show me the top 2-3 habitats at the zoo, because I can certainly show you numerous carnivore, primate, bear and hoofstock enclosures that are merely adequate at best. The animal collection is staggering, but where is the world class exhibitry? Name 2-3 top class exhibits.
@Animal: the photo link to the indoor ape house looks almost identical to the photo above, except for some minor renovations and an improved visitor's perspective. The second link shows new gorilla quarters that don't appear to be any different from the ape house. There are many zoos around the world that have a handful of truly world class exhibits, and while I admire the Berlin Zoo's animal collection I'd like to see far better enclosures than the many crappy ones that are shown here at ZooChat. I do understand that the zoo is gradually changing its image, but it is known for the amazing number of species rather than its animal habitats.
Frankfurt has used natural ground and natural trees in some of the older bathromm-like indoor cages for the apes and monkeys, to give them more opprtunities for climbing and more enrichment, and the terrible bathroom-look dissappered, so I can't understand, why they didn't do the same in berlin, it would be possible and would costs not very much.
But if you have seen the indoor cages of the new african primate house at the Berlin Animalpark(I've posted some pictures of it in the Gallery)with the knowledge, that both zoos have now the same director, everyone knows why they didn't change the look and structure of the ape and monkey indoor cages at the zoo....
@snowleopard. Give the berlin zoo a change and don't jude the zoo without to have seen the zoo by yourself...Never judge a book by its cover....But I agree with you, they just started to build better exhibits for the animals, and they have to do a lot...They must reduce the animal inventory to get more space for the other animals.
@Zebraduiker: it sounds like you and I actually agree quite a bit on the Berlin Zoo in terms of paring down its collection and then having more room for spacious and naturalistic exhibits. I just don't have the patience that you do, and I truly feel that the zoo should have demolished many of its old cages decades ago. There are zoos that I've visited where perhaps 80% of the enclosures are of very high quality, or even 90% of the enclosures are above average and only about 10% should be changed. Woodland Park Zoo, the Bronx Zoo and Columbus Zoo are three excellent examples where almost all of the exhibits are at least average or better. But at the Berlin Zoo I'd guess that at least 50% of the exhibits are terrible and should be discarded or renovated, while 50% are quite good. This conversation could go on forever, but at least the zoo is finally building a few decent habitats for its massive animal collection. I hope that they keep getting better in the future!
seal and penguin complex
hippo house
African wild dog enclosure
Slowly this behemoth of the zoo world is reigning in its collection, and updating enclosures, it was not so long ago the antelope house had about 20-30 enclosures surrounding it, nowadays there are about 6, things are changing for the better.
And it is old fashioned i know but i am a huge fan of this collection and its diversity.
