Die Hippos vom Rhein - Cologne Zoo documentary

[Shirokuma]

I watched this DVD last night and enjoyed it very much. It is in German but has German subtitles so if, like me, you can't speak the language perfectly but have some knowledge it isn't too difficult to follow.

There is lots of footage of the zoo, both from today and from its history including a brief segment on the mountain gorillas from Rwanda.

You can see a clip at this link.

To summarise the link:

Cologne Zoo celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2010. it is considered the most progressive zoo in Germany. In terms of animal husbandry, education, research and conservation, it is exemplary and pioneering.

Cologne Zoo and its history are a good example of the transition from menagerie to internationally recognized conservation facility. The elephant enclosure is unique in Europe, the jungle and rain forest buildings delight visitors and zoologists alike, and also the new Hippodom sets international standards.

This documentary accompanies Zoo Director Theo Pagel and his team in their daily work in Cologne and in a conservation project in Swaziland, which is closely connected with the Cologne Hippodom.

The film shows the transformation of the zoo and highlights its role in the 21st Century. Why are zoos today more important than ever? How can the Cologne hippos help their counterparts in Africa?

The questions explored by this entertaining and informative documentary mean it goes beyond the usual zoo docu-soaps.