Berlin Tierpark Tierpark Berlin News 2024

Unfortunately, I can't really help with this. But I asked a more frequent and experienced Tierpark visitor for advice and will let you know.

Some other news: After the really amazing arrival of the red-headed vultures there seem to be some more arrivals. For a start, they (temporarily) moved the Marabou Storks from Berlin Zoo to Berlin Tierpark. And according to rumors, they will also move (some of) the hornbills over to the Tierpark.
 
Unfortunately, I can't really help with this. But I asked a more frequent and experienced Tierpark visitor for advice and will let you know.

Some other news: After the really amazing arrival of the red-headed vultures there seem to be some more arrivals. For a start, they (temporarily) moved the Marabou Storks from Berlin Zoo to Berlin Tierpark. And according to rumors, they will also move (some of) the hornbills over to the Tierpark.
MMMM, Looking forward to that.
 
I just read about two weeks worth of news and I got to say, some of this stuff is absolutely astonishing! I mean red-headed vultures, Bavarian pine vole births AND Northern white rhino projects?! o_O

Thank you @markmeier and to everyone else who has posted news here recently, it has been an absolute joy to read through. I can barely wait for further updates! :D
 
Some other news: After the really amazing arrival of the red-headed vultures there seem to be some more arrivals. For a start, they (temporarily) moved the Marabou Storks from Berlin Zoo to Berlin Tierpark. And according to rumors, they will also move (some of) the hornbills over to the Tierpark.
Are these the same storks held with the pelicans in the giraffe paddock or are they two separate groups? I'm yet to see the ones in with the giraffes
 
Hello, do you have any tips how/ when to see Asian golden cats and Red and white giant flying squirrels?

Well, it appears to be even more tricky than I already figured based on my own experience...

Giant Flying Squirrels: Apparently, they seem to stick out their heads when it gets too hot for them inside their hollow tree trunks. But despite the increased group size (now 4.1) it's still is a matter of luck. The person I asked visits the Tierpark virtually every week. He said he has been lucky about once every 30 visits...
My ratio has been a bit better. I saw them once in my last 4 or 5 visits. But this actually was when the park was about to close and the sun was actually LESS bright and strong... :confused:

Golden Cats: Better chances but also a matter of luck. It helps when there is a small dog nearby or if the get fed (obviously). Unfortunately, for most animals there aren't any set schedules, WHEN they get fed.
Again, my own experience wasn't bad. I think I saw at least one golden cat 1 out of 2 times, but I didn't recognize a specific pattern, what makes it more or less likely...

So I'm really sorry, I'm not sure how helpful this is. I'm afraid you have to try for yourself and hope for a lot of sun - or no sun at all (flying squirrels) or maybe for a zoo keeper or dogs coming along (golden cats)... ;)

Either way: I hope you'll have a great visit, even if you miss a species or two on your list...
 
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Well, it appears to be even more tricky than I already figured based on my own experience...

Giant Flying Squirrels: Apparently, they seem to stick out their heads when it gets too hot for them inside their hollow tree trunks. But despite the increased group size (now 4.1) it's still is a matter of luck. The person I asked visits the Tierpark virtually every week. He said he has been lucky about once every 30 visits...
My ratio has been a bit better. I saw them once in my last 4 or 5 visits. But this actually was when the park was about to close and the sun was actually LESS bright and strong... :confused:

Golden Cats: Better chances but also a matter of luck. It helps when there is a small dog nearby or if the get fed (obviously). Unfortunately, for most animals there aren't any set schedules, WHEN they get fed.
Again, my own experience wasn't bad. I think I saw at least one golden cat 1 out of 2 times, but I didn't recognize a specific pattern, what makes it more or less likely...

So I'm really sorry, I'm not sure how helpful this is. I'm afraid you have to try for yourself and hope for a lot of sun - or no sun at all (flying squirrels) or maybe for a zoo keeper or dogs coming along (golden cats)... ;)

Either way: I hope you'll have a great visit, even if you miss a species or two on your list...
Thanks for the info. I'll just try my luck. :) And if not, it doesn't matter, there is still a lot to see in the Tierpark (I hope to find my favorites. ;)).
 
RE the Asian golden cats, I spent a considerable amount of time at the ABH last week and only saw one once, late afternoon - perhaps 4pm. I find myself often going between the golden cats and Javan leopard enclosures, though the leopards are usually more active. By nature of their exhibit, the golden cats are more difficult to spot at the best of times and of course have no indoor viewing.

I do think the Tierpark could benefit from creating a more detailed map of the ABH, as I have bumped into quite a few people who entirely miss the leopard, golden cats and sun bears due to the maze-like arrangement of the area.
 
RE the Asian golden cats, I spent a considerable amount of time at the ABH last week and only saw one once, late afternoon - perhaps 4pm. I find myself often going between the golden cats and Javan leopard enclosures, though the leopards are usually more active. By nature of their exhibit, the golden cats are more difficult to spot at the best of times and of course have no indoor viewing.

I do think the Tierpark could benefit from creating a more detailed map of the ABH, as I have bumped into quite a few people who entirely miss the leopard, golden cats and sun bears due to the maze-like arrangement of the area.
Not unsurprising given that most smaller to mid sized felids are crepuscular or nocturnal by activity budgets in nature, so would not behave otherwise in a zoo (yet I would very much advocate for these species within our zoological collections both for educational purposes and conservation breeding ... et cetera).

BTW: even the larger Panthera species ... like our jaguar (in my home zoo) are ONLY active around first hours of light and late afternoons and early eves ... when zoo visitors lay low(er).
 
Tierpark in the past, and perhaps still, did not really close in the evening (although animal houses did). This means that you can stay late and watch many night animals becoming active.

Especially worth knowing now in late June, because nights are so short that night animals become active when it is still light. Another good time are the shortest days, or just around the time change, when zoo hours almost overlap with sunset times.

I have several fond memories of watching eagle owls, Siberian weasels, wolves etc. active.
 
Tierpark in the past, and perhaps still, did not really close in the evening (although animal houses did). This means that you can stay late and watch many night animals becoming active.

Especially worth knowing now in late June, because nights are so short that night animals become active when it is still light. Another good time are the shortest days, or just around the time change, when zoo hours almost overlap with sunset times.

I have several fond memories of watching eagle owls, Siberian weasels, wolves etc. active.

Officially, they do close, though. And if you meet staff, they may tell you off/kick you out in an unpleasant way. After tourists took a bath with sea lions at Berlin Zoo and published photos of it online some years ago, they got security patroling both parks. Not sure how acitvely this is still being pursued.

But If you feel brave, you can indeed try to stay inside after the entrances close and still get outside later (both exits have swing gates but you may have to use the one at the Schlossausgang or exit at the castle as the other one sometimes gets blocked). The smaller Schlossausgang is really close to the giant flying squirrels anyways, though.

My personal advice is not to push it too hard, however. I don't know how they'll react, if they DO catch you an hour or more after closing. I've been some minutes late several times and nobody really cared (or actually found out - as I didn't see anyone). But I'd think there could well be some staff near the old castle as there are several buildings at the exit.
 
Well, it appears to be even more tricky than I already figured based on my own experience...

Giant Flying Squirrels: Apparently, they seem to stick out their heads when it gets too hot for them inside their hollow tree trunks. But despite the increased group size (now 4.1) it's still is a matter of luck. The person I asked visits the Tierpark virtually every week. He said he has been lucky about once every 30 visits...
My ratio has been a bit better. I saw them once in my last 4 or 5 visits. But this actually was when the park was about to close and the sun was actually LESS bright and strong... :confused:

Golden Cats: Better chances but also a matter of luck. It helps when there is a small dog nearby or if the get fed (obviously). Unfortunately, for most animals there aren't any set schedules, WHEN they get fed.
Again, my own experience wasn't bad. I think I saw at least one golden cat 1 out of 2 times, but I didn't recognize a specific pattern, what makes it more or less likely...

So I'm really sorry, I'm not sure how helpful this is. I'm afraid you have to try for yourself and hope for a lot of sun - or no sun at all (flying squirrels) or maybe for a zoo keeper or dogs coming along (golden cats)... ;)

Either way: I hope you'll have a great visit, even if you miss a species or two on your list...
Just for info - i saw both of them - the cat yesterday at noon, the flying squirrel this morning. :)
 
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