Berlin Zoo

Berlin Zoo, also called the Berlin Zoological Garden, is the oldest zoo in Germany that is still open today. It started in 1844 and spans 35 hectares, or 86.5 acres, in the heart of Berlin’s Tiergarten park. The zoo is home to about 1,380 different species and more than 20,200 animals, making it one of the most diverse collections in the world.

In 2017, the zoo and its aquarium welcomed over 3.5 million visitors, making it the most-visited zoo in Europe and one of the most popular in the world. Famous animals such as Knut the polar bear and Bao Bao the giant panda have helped make the zoo well-known around the globe. Watching animals being fed is one of the zoo’s most popular activities.

The zoo works closely with universities, research centers, and other zoos worldwide. It supports European breeding programs, helps protect endangered species, and takes part in efforts to bring some animals back into the wild.

History

The Zoologischer Garten Berlin opened on August 1, 1844, becoming the second zoo in Germany. The first animals came from King Frederick William IV of Prussia. An aquarium was added in 1913, and a nearby subway station opened in 1882.

From the mid-1870s, some zoos in the German Empire displayed indigenous people as exhibits. Berlin Zoo had 25 such events between 1878 and 1932. The first was called the "Nubian Caravan" in 1878, organized by Carl Hagenbeck. More followed, including groups of people from different regions.

During World War II, the zoo suffered heavy damage from bombs. Many animals were lost, but some survived. After the war, the zoo was rebuilt to better care for the animals.

Zoo

The Berlin Zoo is the most visited zoo in Europe, with more than 3.3 million visitors each year from all around the world. It is open all year and easy to reach by public transport. The Berlin Zoologischer Garten railway station, also called Zoo, is one of Berlin's main stations. You can get there using the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, or buses.

You can enter the zoo through the Elephant Gate near the aquarium or the Lion Gate. The original Elephant Gate, built in 1899, was destroyed during World War II but was rebuilt in 1984 using the same plans.

The zoo has a large and diverse collection of animals. Before World War II, it had 4,000 birds and mammals from 1,400 species. Today, it has around 14,000 animals from 1,500 species. The zoo helps protect rare animals, such as black and Indian rhinoceroses, and supports conservation projects in places like Madagascar.

You can see many interesting animals, including orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos. There are also big cats, unusual small predators like ring-tailed mongooses, and many birds, including parrots and hornbills. The zoo is one of the few places where you can see a tuatara.

Aquarium

Main article: Aquarium Berlin

The aquarium was built in 1913 as part of the Berlin Zoo. It is home to fish and other water animals, as well as many of the zoo's reptiles, frogs, and small creatures that don’t live in water.

Animals

Polar bear Knut was born at the zoo on 5 December 2006. He and his twin were not accepted by their mother, so he was raised by a zookeeper and became very famous all around the world. Because of Knut, many people came to visit the zoo, and it had its most successful year ever in 2007.

Bao Bao was one of the first two giant pandas in Germany and lived at the zoo for many years. In 2017, giant pandas returned to the zoo, and in 2019 and 2024, one of the pandas had baby cubs.

Fatou is a female gorilla who came to the zoo in 1957 and is now one of the oldest gorillas living in captivity. Pang Pha is an Asian elephant known for peeling bananas with her trunk.

Incidents / Criticism

In 2008, a member of the Green Party said the zoo director sold many animals, including some to places far away. That same year, the director admitted to dealing with some unwanted kittens found at the zoo.

In April 2009, a woman was hurt by polar bears after she jumped into their area. She was taken to the hospital and recovered. She had jumped in during a difficult time in her life.

In 2023, some workers said the zoo was not treating animals well and was not focusing enough on teaching people about animals. This caused many workers to leave or be let go, making it hard for the zoo to offer many tours.