Berlin Zoo Berlin Zoo news 2025
- Thread starter Haliaeetus
- Start date
Die Felsenpinguine teilen sich bei uns ihr Zuhause mit den Königspinguinen. Danke ans Pinguin-Team für diese süßen Aufnahmen! New arrival in the penguin neighborhood! On April 30th, a little chick hatched among our rockhopper penguins. With a bit of luck, you might already catch a glimpse of the young one. 
cerperal
Well-Known Member
From the Malayan Tapir in Europe thread - a Malayan tapir named Rakiju (1.0, born 14/09/2023) is moving to Zoo Berlin this week from La Boissière.
I can't find an official statement from either collection yet but no reason to doubt the information. Very unexpected news but it will be fantastic to have the species back at the zoo. Any reasonable suggestions for where he may go in the zoo? Mixing with the other tapirs seems unlikely
I can't find an official statement from either collection yet but no reason to doubt the information. Very unexpected news but it will be fantastic to have the species back at the zoo. Any reasonable suggestions for where he may go in the zoo? Mixing with the other tapirs seems unlikely
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caprasibirica
Member
It seems likely that the Malayan tapir will be housed in the rhino house. There are two outdoor enclosures available there, so in principle, both species could be kept separately but nearby.
An alternative could be that the lowland tapirs return to the South America section. However, according to current plans, that area is intended to be relocated to the space currently occupied by the sable antelopes, near the restaurant.
An alternative could be that the lowland tapirs return to the South America section. However, according to current plans, that area is intended to be relocated to the space currently occupied by the sable antelopes, near the restaurant.
Are the sable antelopes then to be phased out from the zoo's collection?
Joker22Hero
Well-Known Member
Sorry to be unaware, but what are the plans for the extension area if the south American animals are leaving?
cerperal
Well-Known Member
The okapi's current exhibit is to be expanded, with the work due to start soon (if it hasn't already). I can't remember if the bongo will also have their enclosure expanded but it may also be the case
Depending on the shape and structure of the project, smaller "filler" animals I would say: the whole area is not too big, adequate but not particularly generous for Gorillas, do not expect The Bronx's exhibit.
Bit worried too...., perhaps shift to Tierpark?
They seem to have just three females remaining currently
Per Google Maps, the extension area covers approximately 12,500 m² - which rather belies your suggestion that it is "not too big" and "not particularly generous for Gorillas" when one looks at some of the largest exhibits for the species in other European zoological collections
even bearing in mind the fact that not *all* of that area will be used for the gorilla exhibit itself.For comparison....
Zoo Leipzig - 2,000 m²
Zoo Praha - 1,350 m² + 2,600 m²
Zoo Antwerpen - 2,050 m²
caprasibirica
Member
I’m not sure, and in recent times, many developments at the zoo have only been communicated to the public after they were already implemented
Per Google Maps, the extension area covers approximately 12,500 m² - which rather belies your suggestion that it is "not too big" and "not particularly generous for Gorillas" when one looks at some of the largest exhibits for the species in other European zoological collections
For comparison....
Zoo Leipzig - 2,000 m²
Zoo Praha - 1,350 m² + 2,600 m²
Zoo Antwerpen - 2,050 m²
I think Leipzig is even slightly larger and that's the net area outdoors.
While Antwerp's gorilla outdoor area is officially only 918m² and even that is flattered.
Total of 2050m² is indoors (380), outdoors (918m²) and public (730m²) combined.
I must have made a pretty major error with my Google Map area calculation then, as I definitely didn't include the indoor area when posting the above, and *thought* I'd excluded the public areas
Either way, the general point remains that the available area in the extension region of Zoo Berlin would be more than sufficient for a new gorilla development!
Depending on what your expectations are. I would say the entire "Erweiterungsgelaende" has far enough space for at least Gorillas and Bonobos or Okapis plus some smaller "filler" species. And I estimate it has at least the size of Bronx' Congo exhibit.
The total square meterage of Bronx' outdoor gorilla exhibits are ~ 2043.867 sq m and ~ 2601.285 sq m respectively - leaving ~ 7,854.848 sq m of room to play with if Berlin wanted to give their gorillas that amount of space to play with. Bronx dedicated 6.5 acres of land to Congo, or ~ 26,304.567 sq m in total. Given the extension's 12,500 sq m, a lot less room to play with in that aspect. Given EAZA requirements to house both a bachelor troop and a family troop, that space would be eaten up fairly quickly.