I am not a fan of the coldness of stark, bare concrete either. But I think it is good remember that the more warm and natural feeling mock rocks that are very common in zoos are also made of concrete, just in a very different form.
Europe's 100 must see exhibits
- Thread starter lintworm
- Start date
I am not a fan of the coldness of stark, bare concrete either. But I think it is good remember that the more warm and natural feeling mock rocks that are very common in zoos are also made of concrete, just in a very different form.
19. Aquarium
Zoo Berlin, Germany
Opened: 1913
Size: 3000 square metres (ground floor)
Inhabitants: over 700 species of reptile, amphibian, fish and invertebrates
Europe’s most species rich zoo building really is a parade of the ectotherm diversity that life has to offer. The building has 185 separate enclosures (thank you @snowleopard for counting them), neatly separated by taxonomy: fish and aquatic life on the ground floor, reptiles on the first floor and amphibians and terrestrial invertebrates on the second floor. This is no place for huge immersive enclosures, but rather an overload of smaller well-designed tanks and terraria. The literal centrepiece of the building is the tropical crocodile hall, which can be viewed from all floors and is the only attempt at immersion. Even if one doesn’t care about the immense diversity, this is still a lovely building. From the iconic Iguanodon statue at the entrance, to all the intricate glasswork above the aquariums, one could spend hours alone appreciating the details of the building. But it is certainly worth paying at least as much attention to the collection, it is hard to find a better building to celebrate the diversity of ectotherm life from tuatara to jellyfish. And after the Shedd aquarium there is no zoo building houses more species anywhere in the world.
@Tarsius
@Tarsius
@lintworm
@lintworm
@Goura
@lintworm
Similar exhibits: more on that later.
Zoo Berlin, Germany
Opened: 1913
Size: 3000 square metres (ground floor)
Inhabitants: over 700 species of reptile, amphibian, fish and invertebrates
Europe’s most species rich zoo building really is a parade of the ectotherm diversity that life has to offer. The building has 185 separate enclosures (thank you @snowleopard for counting them), neatly separated by taxonomy: fish and aquatic life on the ground floor, reptiles on the first floor and amphibians and terrestrial invertebrates on the second floor. This is no place for huge immersive enclosures, but rather an overload of smaller well-designed tanks and terraria. The literal centrepiece of the building is the tropical crocodile hall, which can be viewed from all floors and is the only attempt at immersion. Even if one doesn’t care about the immense diversity, this is still a lovely building. From the iconic Iguanodon statue at the entrance, to all the intricate glasswork above the aquariums, one could spend hours alone appreciating the details of the building. But it is certainly worth paying at least as much attention to the collection, it is hard to find a better building to celebrate the diversity of ectotherm life from tuatara to jellyfish. And after the Shedd aquarium there is no zoo building houses more species anywhere in the world.
@Tarsius
@Tarsius
@lintworm
@lintworm
@Goura
@lintworm
Similar exhibits: more on that later.
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What a silly question, of course @snowleopard counted them all during his 2019 road trip (and posted the exact numbers of exhibits per floor). It’s what he does
It’s on page 30, about here: Snowleopard's 2019 Road Trip: Netherlands, Belgium, France & Germany
This building is probably in anyones top three if they would make a similar list? I haven’t been yet (a disgrace, I know) but it’s even high up in my list based on reputation alone.
19. Aquarium
Zoo Berlin, Germany
Opened: 1913
Size: 3000 square metres (ground floor)
Inhabitants: over 700 species of reptile, amphibian, fish and invertebrates
Europe’s most species rich zoo building really is a parade of the ectotherm diversity that life has to offer. The building has 185 separate enclosures (thank you @snowleopard for counting them), neatly separated by taxonomy: fish and aquatic life on the ground floor, reptiles on the first floor and amphibians and terrestrial invertebrates on the second floor. This is no place for huge immersive enclosures, but rather an overload of smaller well-designed tanks and terraria. The literal centrepiece of the building is the tropical crocodile hall, which can be viewed from all floors and is the only attempt at immersion. Even if one doesn’t care about the immense diversity, this is still a lovely building. From the iconic Iguanodon statue at the entrance, to all the intricate glasswork above the aquariums, one could spend hours alone appreciating the details of the building. But it is certainly worth paying at least as much attention to the collection, it is hard to find a better building to celebrate the diversity of ectotherm life from tuatara to jellyfish. And after the Shedd aquarium there is no zoo building houses more species anywhere in the world.
@Tarsius
@Tarsius
@lintworm
@lintworm
@Goura
@lintworm
Similar exhibits: more on that later.
The leaded glass fish artworks above the tanks are beautiful, such a nice intricate detail.
The aquarium gallery has some echoes of Antwerp for me - and the aquarium there dates from around the same time, and also has reptiles on top of it, albeit in a separate building. And while the Antwerp aquarium has been very successfully renovated, I doubt it would make it onto a must see exhibits list.
On the very off chance I ever make it to Berlin, I think I would likely spend hours in this building alone - and I actually more of an endotherm person with a particular interest in birds and hoofstock. I loathe to think about how much time I would need for such a species-rich zoo...
Given your love of photography, I think it is safe to assume that you would likely need two full days at each of the Berlin collections
you would definitely love both of them, I suspect.
This is a familiar problem for any zoo enthousiast visiting this zoo: where do I start en what time do I spent in each building. Last time I went there, I bought a two-days ticket. The first day I started in the Aquarium (and spent half of the day) and afterwards the zoo. The second day I started in the birdhouse & pheasantry, and ending in the Aquarium.
The same applies to the Tierpark (now mainly a problem of walking distance after the closing of the Crocodile farm and the Reptile House, but still).
In every sense a right choice as a must see exhibit, few will dispute this I assume
Given your love of photography, I think it is safe to assume that you would likely need two full days at each of the Berlin collections
At this point I don't know if any plans or ideas for the future, especially abroad, will ever be able to be realized. But it looks like I will definitely have to put Berlin on my list.
Ofcourse that will be possible. And Berlin is an excellent choice, both as zoo and city tripper (at least when you have a broad interest in culture and politics/history).
Not feasible right now due to personal and practical stuff and with all the Covid restrictions.
I actually do have some broader cultural and historical interest, and indeed Berlin would be good place for some of that too. And then there is also the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin. I would need to spend a lot of time in Berlin! Not sure if I could, I'm not a city person at all.
The Berlin Aquarium is a fantastic choice and one that is not divisive in any shape or form. Every single zoo nerd who visits is enthralled at the staggering diversity on offer. For example, there are more species to see in one building than in the entire 100 acres at the San Diego Zoo. To have 185 exhibits spread over 3 floors is astonishing. Berlin Zoo really does have a wide range of the entire animal kingdom, which is lacking in so many other major zoos. To go from the aquarium floor (approximately 80 tanks and hundreds of species) to the reptile floor (34 exhibits and almost 60 species) to the amphibian room on the third floor (30 exhibits and 33 species) to the invertebrate section (42 exhibits and 51 species) is extraordinary.
Cologne Zoo has 170 exhibits in its similar building, but some of the quality and 'grandeur' is missing. Cologne has a fantastic complex...Berlin has one that is stupendous. It is full of animals in high quality exhibits.
Cologne Zoo has 170 exhibits in its similar building, but some of the quality and 'grandeur' is missing. Cologne has a fantastic complex...Berlin has one that is stupendous. It is full of animals in high quality exhibits.
Culinary-wise as well, given the diversity of international (often inexpensive) dining options.
I wouldn't want to live permanently there, though...
Worth noting that with 185 exhibits the exhibit count is over twice as high as the whole of Burgers' (or 4 times Doue la Fontaine), which are zoos one could spend a whole day easily too.
Despite being most species rich, the building with most exhibits has to be the Wroclaw reptile house, with well over 200 separate exhibits.
Thank you. I do enjoy these predictions, especially because no one ever seems to get a (near-)perfect score
and it is interesting how different people would answer this question.
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20. Leopard enclosure
Nordens Ark, Hunnebostrand, Sweden
Opened: 2014
Size: ?
Inhabitants: Persian leopards
Compared to other big cats, leopards always seem to get the short end of the stick, not so in Nordens Ark. Built on a cliff-side with full access to a large number of real trees there is no complaining about a lack of space or limited enclosure height. Equally important, there are also multiple large enclosures, so if necessary good separation options are available for these solitary animals. It is strange that these separation options all too often still seem to be lacking in other zoos. The amount of (vertical) space might make finding the animal difficult, but the search is part of the thrill here. And if you get to see a leopard active, it will likely be a thrilling experience.
@Tsweham
@Tsweham
@Tsweham
@twilighter
Similar exhibits: the snow leopards and Siberian tigers at Nordens Ark are equally lucky. Several other leopard enclosures exist where the animals can access real trees, but often have a smaller footprint. These include Parken Zoo, Eskilstuna, Sweden and CERZA, Lisieux, France. The Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Branton, UK, has an English interpretation of trees.
Parken Zoo
@Daniel Sörensen
CERZA
@Maguari
Yorkshire Wildlife Park
@Mr.Weasel
Nordens Ark, Hunnebostrand, Sweden
Opened: 2014
Size: ?
Inhabitants: Persian leopards
Compared to other big cats, leopards always seem to get the short end of the stick, not so in Nordens Ark. Built on a cliff-side with full access to a large number of real trees there is no complaining about a lack of space or limited enclosure height. Equally important, there are also multiple large enclosures, so if necessary good separation options are available for these solitary animals. It is strange that these separation options all too often still seem to be lacking in other zoos. The amount of (vertical) space might make finding the animal difficult, but the search is part of the thrill here. And if you get to see a leopard active, it will likely be a thrilling experience.
@Tsweham
@Tsweham
@Tsweham
@twilighter
Similar exhibits: the snow leopards and Siberian tigers at Nordens Ark are equally lucky. Several other leopard enclosures exist where the animals can access real trees, but often have a smaller footprint. These include Parken Zoo, Eskilstuna, Sweden and CERZA, Lisieux, France. The Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Branton, UK, has an English interpretation of trees.
Parken Zoo
@Daniel Sörensen
CERZA
@Maguari
Yorkshire Wildlife Park
@Mr.Weasel
20. Leopard enclosure
Nordens Ark, Hunnebostrand, Sweden
Opened: 2014
Size: ?
Inhabitants: Persian leopards
Compared to other big cats, leopards always seem to get the short end of the stick, not so in Nordens Ark. Built on a cliff-side with full access to a large number of real trees there is no complaining about a lack of space or limited enclosure height. Equally important, there are also multiple large enclosures, so if necessary good separation options are available for these solitary animals. It is strange that these separation options all too often still seem to be lacking in other zoos. The amount of (vertical) space might make finding the animal difficult, but the search is part of the thrill here. And if you get to see a leopard active, it will likely be a thrilling experience.
@Tsweham
@Tsweham
@Tsweham
@twilighter
Similar exhibits: the snow leopards and Siberian tigers at Nordens Ark are equally lucky. Several other leopard enclosures exist where the animals can access real trees, but often have a smaller footprint. These include Parken Zoo, Eskilstuna, Sweden and CERZA, Lisieux, France. The Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Branton, UK, has an English interpretation of trees.
Parken Zoo
@Daniel Sörensen
CERZA
@Maguari
Yorkshire Wildlife Park
@Mr.Weasel
Great inclusion, indeed @lintworm !
Their big cats, the Persian Leopard and the Siberian Tiger also living in a similar, spectacular exhibits.
20. Leopard enclosure
Nordens Ark, Hunnebostrand, Sweden
Opened: 2014
Size: ?
Inhabitants: Persian leopards
Compared to other big cats, leopards always seem to get the short end of the stick, not so in Nordens Ark. Built on a cliff-side with full access to a large number of real trees there is no complaining about a lack of space or limited enclosure height. Equally important, there are also multiple large enclosures, so if necessary good separation options are available for these solitary animals. It is strange that these separation options all too often still seem to be lacking in other zoos. The amount of (vertical) space might make finding the animal difficult, but the search is part of the thrill here. And if you get to see a leopard active, it will likely be a thrilling experience.
@Tsweham
@Tsweham
@Tsweham
@twilighter
Similar exhibits: the snow leopards and Siberian tigers at Nordens Ark are equally lucky. Several other leopard enclosures exist where the animals can access real trees, but often have a smaller footprint. These include Parken Zoo, Eskilstuna, Sweden and CERZA, Lisieux, France. The Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Branton, UK, has an English interpretation of trees.
Parken Zoo
@Daniel Sörensen
CERZA
@Maguari
Yorkshire Wildlife Park
@Mr.Weasel
Didn't knew this, looks fabulous.
Too bad Antwerp Zoo doesn't use the hights of their Jubileum Complex to construct two enclosures for 1 climbing cat species (maybe the rather difficult fencing for that species would have been too prominent compared to the rest of the garden).
Couldn't agree more.
20. Leopard enclosure
Nordens Ark, Hunnebostrand, Sweden
Opened: 2014
Size: ?
Inhabitants: Persian leopards
Compared to other big cats, leopards always seem to get the short end of the stick, not so in Nordens Ark. Built on a cliff-side with full access to a large number of real trees there is no complaining about a lack of space or limited enclosure height. Equally important, there are also multiple large enclosures, so if necessary good separation options are available for these solitary animals. It is strange that these separation options all too often still seem to be lacking in other zoos. The amount of (vertical) space might make finding the animal difficult, but the search is part of the thrill here. And if you get to see a leopard active, it will likely be a thrilling experience.
@Tsweham
@Tsweham
@Tsweham
@twilighter
Similar exhibits: the snow leopards and Siberian tigers at Nordens Ark are equally lucky. Several other leopard enclosures exist where the animals can access real trees, but often have a smaller footprint. These include Parken Zoo, Eskilstuna, Sweden and CERZA, Lisieux, France. The Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Branton, UK, has an English interpretation of trees.
Parken Zoo
@Daniel Sörensen
CERZA
@Maguari
Yorkshire Wildlife Park
@Mr.Weasel
One candidate for future consideration on the list of similar exhibits could be the amur leopard enclosure at Combe Martin Wildlife Park in the UK.
The exhibit is (or at least was at the time of my last visit) "off show" however is visible at great distance from visitor paths near the primates and capybara etc. I have never seen a leopard in the enclosure personally.
The enclosure is extremely well vegetated and set high on a steep hillside with multiple trees and other vegetation as pictured at Nordens etc. As well as multilevel platforms.
I believe the intention was to extend this exhibit down the hill further adding to the area open to the pair. Size of the exhibit is hard to judge but does appear slightly small currently.
The current "floorplan" of the exhibit does not seem to utilise that much of the hill but would be fantastic if/when it does much like Norden's.
Segregation options I don't know about as it appears to be a shared exhibit with unknown indoor holding.