The Zoologischer Garten is the oldest and best known zoo in Germany. Opened in 1844 it covers 35 hectares and is located in Berlin’s Tiergarten. With about 1,500 different species and almost 20,500 animals the zoo presents the most comprehensive collection of species in the world.
The zoo and its aquarium had more than 3 million visitors in 2013. It is considered to be the most visited zoo in Europe and one of the most popular worldwide.
The last 30 years the zoo had some very famous animals.
One of these animals was Knautschke (1943-1988), a male hippo, and one of the only 91 animals that survived the second world war.
Another famous animal of the Berlin Zoo was Bao Bao (1978-2012). He once was the oldest male giant panda living in captivity.
And a little crowd favorite was Knut (2006-2011), a polar bear cub raised by humans. Sadly on march 19th 2011 he died of brainfailure.
Actually not really a part of the zoo, but always mentioned as part of it, is the aquarium.
You can visit it in combination with the zoo or seperately.
The aquarium is build in 1913 and one of the oldest buildings present.
The building houses on it’s 3 floors many species of fish, sharks, crocodiles, amphibia, reptiles and jellyfish.
The oldest animal alive is living here since 1953.
Return of the Giant Panda:
After the death of Bao Bao, the Berlin Zoo did not have a Giant Panda.
But the management of the zoo together with German Chancellor Angela Merkel are trying to bring two new pandas to Zoo Berlin in the future.
The deligation is already in discussion with the chinese government about the panda’s. The zoo wants to build a completely new exibit for the animals.
When everything goes as planned the Giant Panda’s will arrive in Berlin in 2017.
