cerperal
Well-Known Member
They must be the first collection to house them!
Unsure of exactly how many (or what species) but several pelican chicks hatched around the new year as well.
Berlin Tierpark Tierpark Berlin News 2024
Unsure of exactly how many (or what species) but several pelican chicks hatched around the new year as well.
JurassicMax
Well-Known Member
There are actualy 14 holders of Roloway monkeys in Europe, 16 if you include the UK, according to ZTL. So I am not really sure what you mean with "the first collection to house them".
This is however a zoo first breeding for Tierpark Berlin, but they have been bred before in other European zoos.
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Monkeys yes (and I'm pretty sure we're still part of Europe). These new Roloway meerkats, however...Surely one-of-a-kind?
Guenons are called Meerkatzen in German, so not really funny just a translation error.
Yup, I somehow remembered this one incorrectly. Sometimes, I am to lazy to look up the popular name in English for each single species again. So thanks for correcting me.
The Berlin Senate has once again archived an interesting report with some good and some not so good news.. https://www.parlament-berlin.de/adosservice/19/Haupt/vorgang/h19-0753.B-v.pdf
These are some of the main points (but feel free to use deepl.com, google translate etc to read them yourself, there is quite a lot of text with more detailed information):
1) Financial development 2023:
The year 2023 was economically successful despite some difficult factors.
Ticket sales rose by an estimated 11% (after +16% in the previous year). This should easily top the year with the polar bear offspring (2019).
The figures developed as follows in the last couple of years:
- 2021: 638,842 tickets incl. annual passes corresponded to 1,265,569 visitors
- 2022: 738,842 tickets (+16%) corresponded to 1,606,220 visitors (+27%)
- 2023: so +11% tickets correspond to approx. 820,000 tickets and presumably at least 1.8 to 1.85 million visitors
In 2019 with little polar bear Hertha, they had 1,726,143 visitors - and that represented the best result in decades. Their best year ever was 1989 with 3.2 million visitors, then in 1990 it dropped to 2.2 million (they reached similar heights in the 60s) and in 1995 it was down to 1.2 million. Since then, it has usually been between 800,000 and 1.2 million visitors, until they reached higher numbers from 2016 onwards.
As to ticket revenue, there even was an estimated 19 per cent increase in 2023. The development here appears as follows:
- 2021: 7,16 Mio
- 2022: 8,81 Mio (+23%)
- 2023: ca. 10,45 Mio (ca. +19%)
2) Asia exhibit:
- As of 19 December, construction was scheduled for completion at the end of 2023, so I'm pretty confident they'll manage to open on time for the start of the 2024 season.
3) Elephant building:
- Negative:
- It seems they had some bad luck with a planning company (there was talk of critical measurement errors, among other things) and had to retender. In the new tender, there was exactly one applicant in addition to the old company (which was successfully excluded).
- If I understood the rest of the comments, however, the Berlin branch of this new planning company is now being wound up. But this may also refer to an entirely different company for technical construction. Either way, this really hit the whole process.
- Positive:
- Apparently, they succeeded at saving some crucial expertise, even though two of the key companies got lost.
- In addition, numerous shortcomings of the malfunctioning planning company have been ironed out in the meantime.
- AND the contract for the new roof has also been successfully tendered and awarded! This is pretty much THE most important bottleneck so that the technical interior work can begin promptly.
- The new signage and didactics are already finished and have now been put into storage for the time being.
- Conclusion:
It's still quite a struggle, but at least the construction site is not at a complete standstill (anymore). Unfortunately, the new schedule for completion says 2026 and this may not even be the final word...
t.b.c.
These are some of the main points (but feel free to use deepl.com, google translate etc to read them yourself, there is quite a lot of text with more detailed information):
1) Financial development 2023:
The year 2023 was economically successful despite some difficult factors.
Ticket sales rose by an estimated 11% (after +16% in the previous year). This should easily top the year with the polar bear offspring (2019).
The figures developed as follows in the last couple of years:
- 2021: 638,842 tickets incl. annual passes corresponded to 1,265,569 visitors
- 2022: 738,842 tickets (+16%) corresponded to 1,606,220 visitors (+27%)
- 2023: so +11% tickets correspond to approx. 820,000 tickets and presumably at least 1.8 to 1.85 million visitors
In 2019 with little polar bear Hertha, they had 1,726,143 visitors - and that represented the best result in decades. Their best year ever was 1989 with 3.2 million visitors, then in 1990 it dropped to 2.2 million (they reached similar heights in the 60s) and in 1995 it was down to 1.2 million. Since then, it has usually been between 800,000 and 1.2 million visitors, until they reached higher numbers from 2016 onwards.
As to ticket revenue, there even was an estimated 19 per cent increase in 2023. The development here appears as follows:
- 2021: 7,16 Mio
- 2022: 8,81 Mio (+23%)
- 2023: ca. 10,45 Mio (ca. +19%)
2) Asia exhibit:
- As of 19 December, construction was scheduled for completion at the end of 2023, so I'm pretty confident they'll manage to open on time for the start of the 2024 season.
3) Elephant building:
- Negative:
- It seems they had some bad luck with a planning company (there was talk of critical measurement errors, among other things) and had to retender. In the new tender, there was exactly one applicant in addition to the old company (which was successfully excluded).
- If I understood the rest of the comments, however, the Berlin branch of this new planning company is now being wound up. But this may also refer to an entirely different company for technical construction. Either way, this really hit the whole process.
- Positive:
- Apparently, they succeeded at saving some crucial expertise, even though two of the key companies got lost.
- In addition, numerous shortcomings of the malfunctioning planning company have been ironed out in the meantime.
- AND the contract for the new roof has also been successfully tendered and awarded! This is pretty much THE most important bottleneck so that the technical interior work can begin promptly.
- The new signage and didactics are already finished and have now been put into storage for the time being.
- Conclusion:
It's still quite a struggle, but at least the construction site is not at a complete standstill (anymore). Unfortunately, the new schedule for completion says 2026 and this may not even be the final word...
t.b.c.
Well, I really hope they will get everything right eventually. I think this is the most important project under the new administration. Quite a lot may depend on how well this turns out: Continuing economic success, funding for additional large projects and last but not least the visiting experience. I never liked the old architecture, but this could become a real attraction.
Speaking of attractions. The way it now looks, there won't be any major attractions in 2024 or 2025. But I hope the Asia exhibit will be a success. It does look nice. But a lot will depend on how the different species get along. And I'm quite curious what they'll think of for 2025. May be they can start work on some other exhibits a bit earlier (the lions were scheduled for 2026, but they could perhaps try to get them for 2025, as they now plan with the elephants for 2026)...
On the other hand, I do look forward to a year without any major construction sites in addition to the elephant complex. Although I love seeing developments, the park is quite amazing the way it is.
JurassicMax
Well-Known Member
Recently 26-year old female Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus) Julia was euthanised, her health deteriorated rapidly last weekend with epileptic seizures and she also suffered from age-related illnesses. She was born in Tierpark Berlin in 1997 and also raised young in the park.
Currently Tierpark Berlin has only a male Spectacled bear.
Source:
Instagram of Tierpark Berlin (31/01/2024)
Currently Tierpark Berlin has only a male Spectacled bear.
Source:
Instagram of Tierpark Berlin (31/01/2024)
The male specimen is about 20 years younger. But I'm still wondering, if they are still going to plan with that species or even get a new female bear. The area belongs to the North American zone anyway. I think they could well use it for American black bears (again) or perhaps cougars. But I haven't heard about any plans.
The Tierpark temporarily received 1.0 bear cuscus from Usti to breed with one of their females (Iit would be the last offspring, as the mother already has a new youngster).
Source: Facebook page of Usti Zoo
So it should be 2,2,1 bear cuscus for the time being. But I guess, the second couple probably isn't visible.
Source: Facebook page of Usti Zoo
So it should be 2,2,1 bear cuscus for the time being. But I guess, the second couple probably isn't visible.
The official numbers for 2023 are out:
- Berlin Tierpark counted 1.792.271 visitors which represents a new record for the last couple of decades and a plus of more than 180.000 visitors compared to 2022.
- They also reported the number of 7.797 animals (8.055 in 2022) and 632 species (639).
- Further, they officially announced the opening of the new Asia enclosure for the Easter holidays (so around March 22nd (last school day) or 25th (first official day of school holidays).
- Berlin Tierpark counted 1.792.271 visitors which represents a new record for the last couple of decades and a plus of more than 180.000 visitors compared to 2022.
- They also reported the number of 7.797 animals (8.055 in 2022) and 632 species (639).
- Further, they officially announced the opening of the new Asia enclosure for the Easter holidays (so around March 22nd (last school day) or 25th (first official day of school holidays).
Just a very minor update from a short visit:
They were quite busy with the former enclosure of the snow leopards near the Brehm building (at least 3 people and a lot of material). Unfortunately, the workers were not allowed to reveal what is going to move in. However, I suspect that the enclosure will be ready by the start of the season along with the new Asia/Indonesia/ Sulawesi enclosure. There already is a frame for the species sign.
Also, I found a short video of the newly born Bear Cuscus:
And they have a new type of traditional chicken breed at their farm section:
They were quite busy with the former enclosure of the snow leopards near the Brehm building (at least 3 people and a lot of material). Unfortunately, the workers were not allowed to reveal what is going to move in. However, I suspect that the enclosure will be ready by the start of the season along with the new Asia/Indonesia/ Sulawesi enclosure. There already is a frame for the species sign.
Also, I found a short video of the newly born Bear Cuscus:
And they have a new type of traditional chicken breed at their farm section:
Several pelican chicks have been born at the Tierpark, including a spot-billed pelican being raised by a pair of brown pelicans after it's egg fell out of it's parents nest. Tierpark Berlin on Instagram
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Fi-nal-ly, there is an official update on the elephant building which includes some really interesting news and pictures. I'll just drop it for now. But this really made my day!
Translated with DeepL.com (free version) / small modifications by myself
Source: Wer zieht in das Elefantenhaus?BUILDING SITE UPDATE from 29th of February 2024
WHO WILL MOVE INTO THE ELEPHANT HOUSE?
It still looks rather spartan on the site of the former pachyderm house at the zoo, but the next stage is about to begin.
The building shell of Europe's largest elephant house is almost complete and the 3500 square metre foil cushion roof is due to be finished in spring. In addition to elephants, honey badgers, rock hyraxes, weaver birds and various reptiles will move into the elephant house.
Picture: Tierpark Berlin
Habitats for reptiles and weaverbirds are located in the centre of the entrance hall. Guests will be able to observe the latter building their typical spherical nests. A large water basin is located in the centre of the elephant complex - here visitors can watch elephants splashing and swimming at close range.
Picture: Tierpark Berlin
The honey badger - which eats far more than honey and is considered an omnivore - has found a new habitat in the elephant house. In future, the elephants will be kept in protected contact and animal keepers will not stand together with elephants in the same enclosure. The large concrete pillars serve as a barrier between guests and elephants.
Picture: Tierpark Berlin
The natural sand floor for the elephants has already been laid out. And the first preparatory work for the animals' activities can also be seen on the walls. With their trunks, the grey giants will be able to find one or two hidden delicacies here.
Picture: Tierpark Berlin
A near-natural design with plant islands and artificial rocks is being planned, and the outdoor facilities have also been merged, thus expanding the area for the elephants. A total area of 7000 square metres is being created.
Picture: Tierpark Berlin
Translated with DeepL.com (free version) / small modifications by myself
