Zoos of Austria
Ah, Felix Austria! Once one of Europe's largest empires, the modern small "Alpenrepublik" of about 8,9 million inhabitants is nowadays (in?)famous for the culinary specialities it took and refined from other countries, holiday activities such as skiing or hiking and its contributions to classical music and psychology. Not to mention internationally recognized actors (with more or less muscular physique), sportsmen and artists; among the latter a very infamous failed painter from Braunau...
While some (Americans) have a hard time differentiating Austria and Australia from one another, the rest of the world is at least aware that Austria and Germany (at least Bavaria) are close to one another, both in regard to distance, language and culture. Even though neither will ever admit this and rather accentuates the differences, as illustrated by Christoph Waltz:
While it cannot compete with Germany's vast diversity and distribution of zoological institutions, Austria has still plenty to offer in regard to zoos and might even beat its big neighbour in regard to certain aspects (such as reptile zoos with venomous snakes).
Please find some of the more noteworthy examples of Austria's contribution to Europe's zoo landscape listed below:
Tiergarten Schönbrunn / Schönbrunn Zoo / Zoo Vienna
The oldest zoo in the world, Anthony Sheridan’s permanent favourite, the undisputed Primus inter pares among Austrian zoos and usually among the Top 10 or even Top 5 of European zoo lists – if you can visit only one zoo during your stay in Austria, the zoo of Austria's capital Vienna might the most obvious choice. One wouldn’t believe that this modern zoo powerhouse was almost closed for good in the 1980s/90s, and only barely survived due to the efforts of back-then zoo director Helmut Pechlaner. Nowadays, this world-class zoo is easily one of the most popular attractions in Vienna, among both the local Viennese and international visitors. Within the international zoo community, Tiergarten Schönbrunn is renowned as as a prime example of how to adopt old zoo buildings to meet today's demands for species-appropriate animal husbandry. Despite its relatively small size, the zoo manages to stay up to date and keeps a great diversity of species. Which encompasses both popular examples of the mammalian megafauna, such as elephants, rhinos, big cats, orang-utans and bears (including reproducing Giant pandas), "standard zoo animals“ such as flamingos, lemurs and giant tortoises, as well as rather unusual, rarely shown species. The latter can usually be found in the various accessible animal houses, including an aquarium / herpetarium complex, an insectarium, a polarium with penguins & seals, a „rat house“ and several more. An additional desert house can be found in close proximity outside of the zoo. Up the hillside, the historic Tirolerhof barn attracts visitors with old endangered Austrian breeds of farm animals, while the central Imperial Pavillon allows you to almost feel like an Austrian royal while enjoying your tea.
Having finished your zoo visit, feel free to stroll through the surrounding historic Schönbrunn park and enter the Schönbrunn castle, former residence of the aforementioned Austrian monarchy.
• Accesibility – Is it accessible by public transport? YES
• Proximity – Is it near any other good zoos? YES. Plenty of animal-related attractions in Vienna (
Haus des Meeres, Natural History Museum, Butterfly House etc.)
• Priority: Should it be a priority for someone visiting 1. Austria and 2. Europe? YES & YES
• Notable Rarities: Long-tailed broadbill, Blue-winged pitta, Grey-headed oliveback, a multitude of small chameleon species.
Alpenzoo Innsbruck
Unlike Vienna's metropolitan zoo, the Alpenzoo does not offer a great international diversity of exotic animal species, but instead focuses solely on the local Austrian alpine fauna. And that in such an expert way that it is among the, if not the best, zoological institution(s) in Europe with such a thematic focus. Given that it is one of the highest elevation zoos in Europe, flat country zoo fans might gasp for air while walking up to the zoo, but are rewarded with a wonderful scenery and a most unusual zoo. The quality of the animal husbandry is on a continously high level, with remarkable highlights in regard to the larger aviaries, the outdoor terraria and unusual exhibits such as the walkthrough Alpine Ibex enclosure. The variety of kept European species puts many larger zoos to shame.
Alpenzoo Innsbruck plays a major role in the reintroduction and conservation of both local wildlife (in particular the Bearded vulture) and old endangered local breeds of farm animals.
• Accesibility – Is it accessible by public transport? YES
• Proximity – Is it near any other good zoos? Not really.
• Priority: Should it be a priority for someone visiting 1. Austria and 2. Europe? YES & YES if you are interested in European fauna and unusual zoos
• Notable rarities: Wallcreeper, Rock ptarmigan, Eurasian wryneck, Black woodpecker.
Haus des Meeres Vienna
The most unusual feature of Austria’s most prominent public aquarium can easily be seen from the outside (and partly climbed upon): the
Haus des Meeres / House of the Sea (HdM) is located within a historic WW2 flak tower in one of the most vibrant areas of Vienna. Which means that any expansion requires a lot of creativity – and money. Nevertheless, the HdM manages to keep a great variety of animals. including komodo dragons, primates, birds, bats, a large tomistoma (that might not appreciate the clear water of its tank as much as the visitors), venomous snakes and an immense diversity of fish and other aquatic species spread over various tanks. Sometimes, this can lead to feeling a bit overcrowded, but in general, the husbandry is modern and highly professional.
As for conservation: the HdM is one of the leading contributors to the conservation of endangered splitfin species.
• Accesibility – Is it accessible by public transport? YES
• Proximity – Is it near any other good zoos? Hey, it’s Vienna…so YES
• Priority: Should it be a priority for someone visiting 1. Austria and 2. Europe? YES & YES if you are already in Vienna, you should visit this remarkable aquarium.
• Notable rarities: Slender-billed red-winged starling, Central American river turtle, Ivory Coast mud turtle, a multitude of splitfin species.
Zoo Salzburg
A lot of zoo nerds tend to ignore Salzburg’s zoo while on their way to the more prominent zoos of Vienna, Munich, Prague etc. Which is a shame, as it is a pretty good zoo that has plenty to offer. Its greatest assets are its colony of free-raging griffon vultures (as well as free-ranging pelicans, ringed-tailed lemurs and, luckily not any longer, cheetahs…) and its unique topography, snuggled right next to a cliff that leads to the large African savannah. To see Southern White rhinos mingle with Grevy zebras and antelopes with the Alps in the background is an one-of-a-kind sight to behold. The old big cat enclosures dating partly back to the 1960s still work remarkably well, and the different accessible animal houses, though no relevations of original creativity, do a decent job and include more or less rather rarely displayed species.
• Accesibility – Is it accessible by public transport? YES
• Proximity – Is it near any other good zoos? The
Haus der Natur is worth a visit. And then there’s this weird little thing called „
Welt der Gifte (WdG)“…
• Priority: Should it be a priority for someone visiting 1. Austria and 2. Europe? YES. If you are already in Salzburg and have some time off, you should give it a go.
• Notable rarities: Kalahari lion, Firethroat anole, Ruby-eyed tree frog.
Haus der Natur Salzburg
This unique multi-storeyed museum, dedicated to natural sciences and many other related topics with a enjoyable local spin, is located within the touristic old city centre of Salzburg. Sporting a reptile zoo and an aquarium, it offers plenty to explore, and not just on rainy days. Both the reptile and the aquarium section display a good variety of species, including various venomous snakes.
• Accessibility – Is it accessible by public transport? YES
• Proximity – Is it near any other good zoos? The aforementioned
Zoo Salzburg. And groovy
WdG…
• Priority: Should it be a priority for someone visiting 1. Austria and 2. Europe? YES. If you are already in Salzburg.
• Notable rarities: Jameson’s mamba, Flat-tailed gecko, a range of fish rarities.
Zoo Schmiding Krenglbach
Imagine that you are a wealthy Austrian guy who has an interest in exotic animals, ethnology and museums as well as good connections to Brazil. So why not play Zoo Tycoon in real life and construct a zoo in the middle of the Upper Austrian countryside that also includes a big ethnological museum full of authentic ethnological artefacts? Among others, real mummies, whole Asian temple sets as well as prehistoric cave painting replicas, fake dinosaurs, fossils etc. etc. The result is a slightly incoherent privately owned zoo with a sister zoo of similar design in Brazil. Unfortunately, these days it appears to be past its prime. The internal power struggle between the founder and his successor / son has led to a noticeable decrease in quality both in regard in to the animal husbandry, staff and visitor amenities. Don’t get me wrong: it’s still a popular zoo that offers the largest walk-through aviary for birds of prey in the world, a mixed species exhibit with white rhinos and cheetahs, the only (bachelor) group of gorillas in Austria as well as said ethnological museum. However, to both zoo nerd and zoo professional, it makes little sense to showcase rare species such as the only Santarem marmosets outside of Brazil in subpar exhibits with subpar signs…Let’s just hope the upcoming renovations will improve the situation for good.
• Accesibility – Is it accessible by public transport? Yes, but it’s not that easy to get there.
• Proximity – Is it near any other good zoos?
Tiergarten Wels is a great little zoo with a special focus on birds and primates – and it’s free of charge.
• Priority: Should it be a priority for someone visiting 1. Austria and 2. Europe? Not really – unless you’re interested in ethnological museums within a zoo.
• Notable rarities: Santarem marmoset, Horned screamer, Silver-eared laughingthrush.
Reptilienzoo Nockalm
Do you like venomous snakes? Like, lots of them, in all kinds of shapes and sizes? Then do yourself a favour, get a car and drive to the so-called Nockalm area, a rather obscure part of the South Austrian federal state Carinthia. Pretty much in the middle of nowhere, park your car at the designated parking lot and walk up the hill to a rather normal looking house. Once you have made it past the occasionally grumpy, yet enthusiastic owner and his equally enthusiastic and far less grumpy head keeper, and the various lovely planted outdoor terraria for local reptiles, you will encounter one of the largest variety of live venomous snakes kept in any zoological institution, among them herpetological rarities you won’t see anywhere else in Europe.
• Accesibility – Is it accessible by public transport? Not really.
• Proximity – Is it near any other good zoos?
Vogelpark Turnersee is Austria’s largest bird park with a good collection of avian species.
• Priority: Should it be a priority for someone visiting 1. Austria and 2. Europe? YES – if you like venomous snakes and if you are a fan of zoological rarities.
• Notable rarities: A large number of unique venomous snake species such as the Djampea Island viper or the Twin-spotted rattlesnake.
Noteworthy mentions:
Tierwelt Herberstein: some decent primate exhibits, the world's first hunting simulator for cheetahs, important breeder of the white Austrian-Hungarian donkey.
Wildpark Cumberland: The most modern example of the various Austrian wildparks dedicated to European fauna. Cooperates with the local Konrad-Lorenz research institute in regard to behavioral studies.
Adlerarena Burg Landskron: The most prominent example of the various bird of prey shows in medieval castles in Austria. Stunning scenery.
Essbarer Tiergarten der Zotter-Erlebniswelt: Connected to the major Austrian chocolate factory "Zotter", the "Edible Zoo" showcases old endangered breeds of Austrian farm animals and allows you to consume the products made out of them in the local restaurant / zoo shop.
Turtle Island: In four different locations (two categorized as zoos), more than 240 species of chelonians, among them some highly endangered ones, can be visited as part of a guided tour, showcasing the ongoing in and ex situ conservation efforts of the organization.
Another characteristic aspect of our country (and the one that makes most of you intrigued to visit) is that we do have a thing for rarities. I sometimes jokingly say: “Close your eyes, open your animal encyclopedia on a random page and point your finger at a random animal, the chance is pretty high that the species you picked was at some point present in Czechia.”