Construction Site(s) ahead...
In previous years many (including me) have been disappointed about the lack of new projects in the park. While you always had the occasional spectacular new species added to the collection, there hardly were any nice new enclosures for years (the main reason being lack of funds).
Well, let's say that it was for a reason, when Mr. Knieriem was welcomed with a helmet typically worn by construction workers in 2014. But it seems like initially he spent most of his time behind his desk planning, organizing, negotiating with the notorious 'Berliner Verwaltung' (city administration).
At the moment, however, visitors may feel prompted to bring along a helmet as well. As the main season just ended some weeks ago, virtually all over the park work commences or picks up pace:
-The
pachydermy building now received some signs, announcing construction work to begin by 2020.
But preparations are already all under way with two spectacular species gone (Indian rhino, manatee) among others and negotiations on transferring elephants in the air (German sources:
Bekommt der Augsburger Zoo Elefanten aus Berlin? and
Umzug nach Augsburg: Ist das Tauziehen um die neuen Elefanten entschieden?).
above: one of said signs, below: the last manatee bull leaving the park
Copyright W Dreier, with kind permission
Now German zoo forum users also spotted some red barriers ready to be put up. So presumably, here won't be much more left to see rather soon.
-As the goal always has been to finish
Brehm building and surroundings before starting actual work on the pachydermy building, they have to be quick now. Some bits already look quite good, whereas there still remains much to do. Apparently, the remodelling of the large vulture aviary progesses well at the moment:
Copyright: W Dreier, with kind permission
Let us hope everything will be complete here by Spring 2020...
-As for
Himalaya everything seems to indicate construction to commence in 2020 as well. The donations being collected for the François langur enclosure represent the official funding project of Tierpark supporters for 2020. In recent months German zoo forum users already spotted both measuring procedures and increased tree felling in the area. As of today, there is little official information on the project, though.
-Besides these three large (or rather huge) projects there could well be
complementing projects soon (e.g. the African savannah which also is part of the big Africa project just about to commence with the elephant building and which is going to be huge as well). But this is just me speculating.
-In the meantime, the park uses the off season to renovate
pedestrian walks, toilets etc. in many areas of the park. (A German zoo forum user writes there is virtually more construction workers and vehicles in some areas now than there are visitors or animals). Actually this also is a long planned for project amounting to millions of Euros, which also should include completely new, bilingual (German and English) information signs at the individual enclosures (or at least this was the original plan, but who knows about the funding...).
In short: If you are not so much interested in transformation processes you may want to wait a bit before visiting the Tierpark. Or you could visit the new Christmas lights show (pre-booking of tickets required) which focuses on the historic park around Friedrichsfelde castle with its alleys, water channels and bridges etc., including a small Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market) or ice skating near the castle, but does not feature any animals (website
Start | Weihnachten im Tierpark):
Sorry, I could not decide for one, as they all complement each other and give a nice illustration of the park as it is normally not experienced.
