Berlin Zoo Berlin Zoo news 2025

does anyone know of any mixed african herbivour species exhibits at berlin zoo

Eland + beisa + Grevys zebra
Blesbok + springbok + greater kudu (+ ostrich + guineafowl)
Okapi + yellow-backed duiker
Bongo + red duiker
Gerenuk + Kirks dikdik
Giraffe + defassa waterbuck
Common hippo + nyala

Sitatunga, kafue lewche, scimitar-horned oryx, gemsbok, black sable antelope, forest buffalo, warthog and pygmy hippo were all kept in single-species enclosures (or mixed with non-ungulates) when I was there in april.
 
I saw comments on a photo of the polar bear enclosure being renovated? Do we know if this is for their return or a new species?
 
I think the enclosure is too small to house polar bears these days, but getting rid of the moat and redeveloping for another species would be a good idea.

I also think this about the Tierpark, too. Hopefully redeveloping that is high on the list of priorities there.
 
It is on a post in the following Facebook page-

ZooAnlagen - onlyExhibits

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One person has commented that the polar bears will no longer come and the enclosure will be developed for sloth bears
Interesting, nice to see some work happening at least. If that's really the case about the bears then I'd expect a press release soon - I'm really happy though if it is true. As much as polar bears are part of the history of Zoo Berlin, the work required to make it a serviceable exhibit for them and the potential loss of the sloth bears seemed more like pleasing any funding sources as opposed what was best for the zoo.

I think the enclosure is too small to house polar bears these days, but getting rid of the moat and redeveloping for another species would be a good idea.

I also think this about the Tierpark, too. Hopefully redeveloping that is high on the list of priorities there.
100%, if I'm remembering right part of the Tierpark masterplan featured an expansion of the polar bear area while that section of the zoo is turned into a properly "American" themed section. I'm not sure if that has been the plan for a decade or so though. Certainly one of them needs a modern polar bear facility and Tierpark Berlin makes a lot more sense
 
I had thought of the sloth bear were removed the polar bear enclosure could have been extended to take over their current enclosures too. However with polar bears already at the tierpark I’m glad the sloth bears would remain! If they are to get this enclosure too perhaps they will mix them with another species like golden jackal. Alternatively granted it lacks indoor viewing but the old polar bear exhibit would make a cracking space for giant otters!
 
I'm visiting the Berlin Zoo next week, and before that, I'd like some additional information.
Is there a specific time of day when it's best to see kiwis, sloth bears, northern narrow-striped boky, and eastern ring-tailed vontsira?
Also, around what time do the lights in the night house go out? Is it better to go there during daylight hours or nightlight hours to see the animals?
What other interesting species should I keep a close eye on, especially birds, but also at the aquarium?
I'm spending a full day at the zoo and a morning at the aquarium.
Thank you in advance for all your answers!
 
I'm visiting the Berlin Zoo next week, and before that, I'd like some additional information.
Is there a specific time of day when it's best to see kiwis, sloth bears, northern narrow-striped boky, and eastern ring-tailed vontsira?
Also, around what time do the lights in the night house go out? Is it better to go there during daylight hours or nightlight hours to see the animals?
What other interesting species should I keep a close eye on, especially birds, but also at the aquarium?
I'm spending a full day at the zoo and a morning at the aquarium.
Thank you in advance for all your answers!
Both times I went to the zoo it was pure luck, first time I missed most rare animals, while second time I was with a friend and she was my lucky charm - saw Kiwi, Malagasy carnivores, echidna, Kagu and Tuatara all very well and photogenic (at least for me to have recognisable photos on my phone).
 
I'm visiting the Berlin Zoo next week, and before that, I'd like some additional information.
Is there a specific time of day when it's best to see kiwis, sloth bears, northern narrow-striped boky, and eastern ring-tailed vontsira?
Also, around what time do the lights in the night house go out? Is it better to go there during daylight hours or nightlight hours to see the animals?
What other interesting species should I keep a close eye on, especially birds, but also at the aquarium?
I'm spending a full day at the zoo and a morning at the aquarium.
Thank you in advance for all your answers!
The kiwis are active all day, all you need is a bit of patience (mainly with the idiots that come into the room making noise and with their phone torches on, not with the birds themselves). Their off-show area is to the left of the exhibit, and in my experience they tend to prefer that side of the exhibit due to its denser planting as well. I usually try to listen for them as they are very noisy, that generally leads you to spotting them.

As for the sloth bears, boky and vontsira, again in my experience they're active all times of the day and it just depends on when they fancy a nap on the day. Visiting them again later in the day if you miss them first time is definitely worth it, but the sloth bears especially are pretty much always out.

As for the nocturnal house...the lights go off generally when the zoo opens at 10am, but depending on what the keepers need to do they can be on as late as 11am from some of my visits. Unless you're particular worried about getting slightly better photos, you won't miss anything if the lights are off and most of the exhibits - the Australasia sections especially - are only really active with the lights off anyway. The echidna is very active but he was only actually released into the exhibit when the lights went off last time I visited.

I agree totally with what @Mickey has said though - there's a lot of luck involved! But with a full day you can definitely do another loop of the zoo at the end of the day should you miss anything.

As an aside - does anyone know the status of the kiwis at the Pheasantry? I know they're still signed there but I have no idea if any are still even held over there. Certainly they wouldn't be out during visitor hours if they are!
 
Thank you, Mickey and cerperal, for your information.

I'll post a short report on the zoo and aquarium on the thread, as well as on the Tierpark, in two weeks, when I return from my trip.
 
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