Tierpark Dählhölzli Dählhölzli news

The Tierpark received a new pair of lynx last week. A male born in 2018 from zoo Jihlava and a female born 2012 from Port Lympne. Both of them are pure bred Carpathian lynxes and they have breeding recomendation for this spring. Their eventual cubs are destined to be rewilded in Italian Alps.

Source
 
Rock partridges and Western capercaillie have hatched at Tierpark Dählhölzli.

Die ersten 4 Alpensteinhühner sind geschlüpft! Das Brutpaar bei der Bärenburg hat Nachwuchs bekommen. Die flauschigen Federknäuel erkunden unter Mutters Aufsicht bereits die ganze Anlage. Das Alpensteinhuhn trifft man in den Alpen in Höhenlagen von 700 bis 2700 Meter über Meer an. Bevorzugt sind unübersichtliche Steilhänge. Hier ist es dank seiner felsenfarbigen Zeichnung hervorragend getarnt. Sobald sich die Schneedecke schliesst, weicht es in tiefere Lagen aus und taucht auch in Siedlungsgebieten von Bergdörfern auf. In selbst gegrabenen Schneehöhlen verbringt es die kalten Winternächte. Zur Brutzeit (April bis Juni) trifft man die Tiere paarweise an. Das Weibchen brütet die Eier alleine aus. Alpensteinhühner können über weite Strecken laufend fliehen, um sich dann in einer schier unzugänglichen Spalte zu verkriechen. Sie ernähren sich vorwiegend von Wacholder, Preiselbeeren, Heidekraut und Bärentrauben. #TierparkBern #Dählhölzli #Alpensteinhuhn #Bern #Zoo #Tierpark #Zoobesuch #IloveBern | Tierpark Bern, Dählhölzli + BärenPark |
Tierpark Bern, Dählhölzli + BärenPark
 
The new exhibit for Exuma island iguanas was opened this summer. It is located where the Hispaniolan rhinoceros iguanas and chuckwallas used to live. Bern is the 3rd zoo in Europe with this species. Northern curly-tailed lizards are their co-inhabitants.

This year 3 Madagascan flat-tailed tortoises hatched, which after the first breeding in 2021 is the second year in which Bern manages to breed them. This CR species is only kept in 3 European zoos and according to Bern they are currently the only ones breeding them.

Source: Tierpark Bern website.
 
The Tierpark is building some new exciting exhibits for European bee-eaters. To do that, they are refurbishing two existing aviaries : the little grebe outside aviary near the entrance, and the indoor rainforest.

"Today was the start of construction of the new bee-eater enclosure!

For the warmth-loving bee-eater, probably the most colourful bird in Europe, we are building an outdoor enclosure for the warm season (breeding season) and an indoor enclosure for the cold season.

In summer, the bee-eaters live in a 182 m² habitat modelled on a Swiss steppe from the Phynwald in Valais, where visitors to the zoo can gain an insight into the exciting breeding biology of the birds when they build their breeding burrows in a clay wall and raise their young.

In winter, the bee-eaters migrate "to the south", i.e. to the spacious indoor aviary, which with its 100 square metres will represent a habitat in Africa. Our termites will also move in there and hopefully build a new termite mound. The indoor aviary will remain accessible, allowing a 'close-up' experience of the African savannah."

Source and pictures : Tierpark Bern on Instagram
 
Not so long ago the Tierpark produced a new 10 year masterplan which includes the planned construction projects until 2033. The whole plan can be read (in German) here: https://tierpark-bern.ch/web/app/uploads/2023/12/Gesamtplanung_Tierpark_Bern_2023-2033.pdf

Some highlights
- There is a strong focus on reorganizing the zoo with a new entrance and new buildings for the zoo staff, including a management building, kitchens etc. For this the old children's zoo and the wild cat enclosure will disappear.

- The large new entrance will be built at the location where the restaurant and zoo shop are now. This building will also include an exhibition centre on local biodiversity, in particular the Aare river which flows next to the zoo. It isn't quite clear if it will include living animals

- A behind the scenes breeding centre is planned in which all kind of animals can be kept and bred.

- On the site of the current leopard enclosure an Europe house is planned as counterpart to the Vivarium. The Europe house will be designed for (endangered) smaller European species.

- Because the zoo direction and entrance move out of the current Vivarium building, more space there will be available for new animal enclosures, focusing on the tropics.

- On the site of the current grouse aviaries a free flight aviary will be built for native bird species.

- The current wisent path will be enlarged into a full tree-tops path including views of the Aare river valley.

The planning scheme indicates that after completion of the European bee-eater aviary and renovation of the seal enclosure, the focus will first be on infrastructure and buildings for the zoo employees. The new animal enclosures are planned in the last few years leading up to 2033
 
Well, after the retirement of Mr Schildger I thought it could only get better regarding species diversity and attractivity. But now it looks even worse. An why building an "European house" ???? If you need another weather proofed exhibit for visitors beside the Vivarium/Tropical Building, go for a desert house (as there were plans for that, one or two decades ago), instead wasting money for animals that could stand local winters anyway. I wonder how much all this rubbish will cost AT THE END.
So much potential, so less they made with it....
 
zoomaniac said:
Well, after the retirement of Mr Schildger I thought it could only get better regarding species diversity and attractivity. But now it looks even worse. An why building an "European house" ???? If you need another weather proofed exhibit for visitors beside the Vivarium/Tropical Building, go for a desert house (as there were plans for that, one or two decades ago), instead wasting money for animals that could stand local winters anyway. I wonder how much all this rubbish will cost AT THE END.
So much potential, so less they made with it....
Click to expand...

While I also think they put a lot of emphasis on infrastructure that don't include any exhibits, I think that such a Europe house could be a great addition. There are plenty of species (especially Mediterranean, but also ones like the Bavarian pine voles) that are most easily kept indoors. If done well it could be a unique building in the European zoo landscape.

Overall this will still lead to a net increase in species kept, with more room for animals in the vivarium and more small species instead of vipers & leopards. Total costs are now estimated at 33 million CHF.
 
I know what you mean and from the conservation side of view you are absolutely right. However, there is also the general public side of view. And here venomous snakes and leopards win against pine voles and mediterranean critters. Although general entrance (beside the vivarium part) is free at Daehlhoelzli and they got more money from the local gouvernment (canton and/or city) IN RELATION to Zurich (and maybe Basel as well?), they still should handle/invest that money in public interest too. Keep also in mind that Daehlhoelzli has the advantage for being one of the largest zoological institution in Switzerland (Topped afaik only from Wildnis Park Zurich/Tierpark Langenberg). I don't know if they are allowed to use all the space for exhibits/infrastructure (maybe a part of the forest is protected). Still, space/room should not be an issue there normaly.
 
zoomaniac said:
I know what you mean and from the conservation side of view you are absolutely right. However, there is also the general public side of view. And here venomous snakes and leopards win against pine voles and mediterranean critters. Although general entrance (beside the vivarium part) is free at Daehlhoelzli and they got more money from the local gouvernment (canton and/or city) IN RELATION to Zurich (and maybe Basel as well?), they still should handle/invest that money in public interest too. Keep also in mind that Daehlhoelzli has the advantage for being one of the largest zoological institution in Switzerland (Topped afaik only from Wildnis Park Zurich/Tierpark Langenberg). I don't know if they are allowed to use all the space for exhibits/infrastructure (maybe a part of the forest is protected). Still, space/room should not be an issue there normaly.
Click to expand...

Room is very much is an issue as the forest is protected as forest and must remain forest, there are only a few areas which can actually be built upon. The leopards while a large popular mammal don't have the largest enclosure and expansion is hard there... So they wouldn't have a long term future anyway I would say....

I would advise you to read the masterplan as it includes background info on basically all your questions.
 
Persian leopards could have a great enclosure by fencing off part of the forest, similar to Parken Zoo or Bern's own lynx exhibit.

While I love small animals, visitors simply need large and attractive species.
 
KevinB said:
Western capercaillie have hatched.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=380325925047632
Click to expand...
I happy so happy that zoos dedicate space to these iconic forest and meadow/heath birds. Same goes for our bustard species and grouse. Again there is a real conservation story to tell, and where we likely always point the fingers at the infamous 3 - Africa, Asia and South America ... - we too often forget the mess we have left at home and for which there is no European nor North American areas to tell stories about native species under threat or in need of conservation education at home and outside of the realm or sphere of influence of conservation and environmental activisn NGO's - however just and essential their roles are in keeping society healthy and liveable as well as societal, environmental and socio-economically and scientifical-culturally healthy and vibrant -. Zoos in the western world - Europe and North America - need to re-invent that role ..., because at present it is usually a sorry state of affairs.
 
The new bee-eater enclosure was opened yesterday. For now the only birds are 12 European bee-eaters, but once they have established more endangered Swiss bird species will be added (hoopoe are one likely candidate). The indoor enclosure resembles an African savanna and also houses a termite colony and separate enclosures for a few African beetle species.

Farbige Neulinge im Tierpark Bern | Tierpark Bern

Some enclosure pictures can be found here:
Wir bauen eine Anlage für die Bienenfresser | Tierpark Bern
 
Jana said:
The Tierpark received a new pair of lynx last week. A male born in 2018 from zoo Jihlava and a female born 2012 from Port Lympne. Both of them are pure bred Carpathian lynxes and they have breeding recomendation for this spring. Their eventual cubs are destined to be rewilded in Italian Alps.

Source
Click to expand...

In May 2 young were born to this couple! The first lynx to be born in Tierpark Bern in 14 years!


In July a new species arrived at the zoo, namely 2 male Western green lizards (Lacerta bilineata). They live together with the bee-eaters.

On the 16th of July 15 European ground squirrels (Spermophilus citellus) from Tierpark Bern were released into Odolický vrch in the Czech Republic

Sources:
Instagram of Tierpark Bern (03/07/2024)
Instagram of Tierpark Bern (11/07/2024)
Instagram of Tierpark Bern (25/07/2024)
 
0.0.12 Greater Flamingos have hatched this year.
Tierpark Bern on Instagram: "Grau-rosa Spektakel im Tierpark Bern Am 17. Juni 2024 ist das erste diesjährige Flamingo-Jungtier geschlüpft. Unterdessen sind es insgesamt 12 Küken. Werden Flamingoküken grösser, sind sie tagsüber im sogenannten “Kindergarten” und werden von ein paar Erwachsenen betreut bzw. beaufsichtigt. Flamingos werden mit einem geraden Schnabel geboren. Die Jungtiere sind in den ersten Tagen vollständig auf die Kropfmilch (milchiger, leicht roter Saft, der in den Zellen der oberen Verdauungswege produziert wird) der Eltern angewiesen. Mit ca. acht Tagen beginnen die Kleinen im Wasser nach Futter zu suchen. Mit dem geraden Schnabel erwischen sie aber nicht viel Essbares. Erst im Alter von ca. zwei Monaten beginnt sich der Schnabel zu krümmen. Jetzt kann die Technik verfeinert werden, und die Jungen beginnen selbstständig nach Futter zu suchen. Alle Flamingosküken fressen inzwischen schon recht selbständig. Mit der Kropfmilch werden sie aber noch bis in den Winter hinein gefüttert. Wieso Kindergarten? In der Zoologie spricht man von Kindergarten, weil bei den Flamingos alle Einzelküken in einer Gruppe betreut werden. Das bietet ihnen besseren Schutz vor Beutegreifern. Die Eltern erkennen ihre Jungvögel an der Stimme. Da die Jungtiere rasch wachsen, kann man anhand der Grösse sehen, wer von ihnen zuerst geschlüpft ist. In den ersten Wochen ist das flauschige Daunenkleid weiss-grau. Sobald die Deckfedern wachsen, sind diese zunächst hell- und dunkelgrau. Die markante Rosa-Pastelltönung folgt erst durch die entsprechende Nahrung. Rosaflamingos ernähren sich von Kleinst-Krebsen und Insektenlarven. Diese filtern sie “kopfüber” mit ihrem Schnabel aus dem Wasser. Bei der Verdauung zieht ihr Körper rote Farbstoffe, die Carotinoide, heraus und lagert sie in Haut und Federn ein. Die Intensität der Färbung ist genetisch bedingt. Im Tierpark werden diese Pigmente als natürlicher Farbstoff dem Futter beigemischt. #TierparkBern #Dählhölzli #Flamingo #Rosaflamingo #Bern #Zoo #Tierpark #Zoobesuch #MehrRaumFürVielfalt #IloveBern #stadtbern"
 
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