I visited this excellent little zoo again last week. Compared to my visit 5 years ago there have been quite some changes in the animal collection. I have updated zootierliste completely based on my visit, except for fish and domestics it should be up-to-date again. Some notable additions from recent years, often the only ones on public display on the continent include: lesser spotted woodpecker, grey-headed woodpecker, Eurasian crested tit, short-toed treecreeper, wallcreeper and citril finch (in a larger group). The Bavarian pine voles are behind the scenes, but a relatively new mammal on show is the Etruscan shrew. Unfortunately the Eurasian wryneck, European kingfisher and quite some other smaller bird species like Eurasian wren, European robin and blue tit, are not kept anymore. I assume most of these species are rescue birds, so will only be around for a few years.... In the reptile department there are no more Montpellier snake or asp viper on display anymore, but smooth snake has been added.
The upper part of the zoo is also currently closed as red fox and European badger enclosures are under construction. The zoo will also add about 5000 square metres to it's small footprint (currently 4 hectares) in the near future, with plans for a new aviary, a new wolf enclosure and a tree-tops path.
This expansion is very welcome, as though enjoyable as this zoo is, many enclosures are really on the small side and in the case of many birds (passerines and owls in particular) and pine marten are easily just too small. I hope the future will include more (larger) walk-through aviaries showing different biomes and replace the tiny aviaries still on site.
It is nevertheless a wonderful experience to visit this zoo in spring, the focus on smaller birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish is refreshing and especially the ectotherms are very well-displayed, even though the aquarium is starting to show its age. Particular highlights were the wonderful courtship dances of the great crested newts and the fish in spawning mode which transforms even the most boring carp into a fish with many pretty white spots. Visiting the Alpenzoo is never a punishment, but visits during the breeding season in late April-May are probably extra rewarding.
