European (Tea)Cup - Bonus Match 2 - Zoo Berlin vs Cologne

[TeaLovingDave]

As promised, after a short break I've got a few bonus matches for fun planned before we resume the Cup in earnest on my return from an interrail trip around the continent all revolve around various "what if" scenarios relating to categories, leagues and competitors.

The first two (this match, and the other one I'm launching at the same time) will look at whether the categories in the final two League C matches, had the random selection gone the other way around, would have led to Cologne progressing at the expense of Berlin, both progressing at the expense of Beauval, or the status quo remaining as it ended up in reality.

As such, we now look at a world in which Zoo Berlin and Cologne competed in the category of ECTOTHERMS rather than Africa as canonically happened.....

 

[CrashMegaraptor]

I don't want to completely shoot down Cologne, but Berlin's aquarium is just way more memorable for me.

 

[remar]

Maybe a hot take, but imo Colognes aquarium is everything that a modern zoo building should be.

The terrarium section at the aquarium building is the flagship of Colognes large In-situ project at Vietnam so visitors can get in touch with this project. Beside the focus on the fauna of Vietnam, there are several other endangered species there (especially freshwater fish), where the zoo participates at breeding programs. All the exhibits seems to be large enough for their inhabitants. Furthermore there are large backstage ares for breeding purposes. (At a scale, that would most likely not be built anymore at new aquarium houses nowadays). The Aquarium is a prime example how In- and Ex-situ conservation are going side by side.

Berlins Aquarium isn't bad, but beside the uncountable amount of (rare) species there is nothing that unique. (Although i confess that the architecture is nice). Some fish also seems to be quite large for their aquariums.

While i can't think of any ectotherm outside the aquarium at Berlin, Cologne also have some at the Hippo- and Tropical house.

I'm not sure how my final vote will be, but i think even a 4:1 for Cologne would be justified because of the amazing theming and conservation work at their aquarium, which is kind of lacking at Berlin.