Zoologischer Garten Berlin
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The Zoologischer Garten Berlin (Berlin zoological garden) is one of the biggest zoos in Germany and the one with the largest number of species of the world. It is located in Berlin Tiergarten near the S-Bahn and railway station of the same name in the city center.
Along with its aquarium the zoological garden is one of the sights of Berlin. It opened on August 1, 1844 and was the first zoo in Germany. The first animals were donated by Frederick William IV, King of Prussia, from the menagerie and pheasantry of the Tiergarten. During World War II the zoo area was completely destroyed and only 91 animals survived.
Today the zoo houses approximately 14,000 animals from 1500 species on a 35 hectare site in historical animal houses. Highlights of a zoo visit are the giant pandas which can only be seen at a few zoos in the world. All of the animals are housed in enclosures that are specially designed to recreate their natural biotopes. From the breeding point of view the zoo maintains the studbooks for white and black rhinoceroses and gaurs.
The Berlin Zoo is the most visited zoo in Europe with approximately 2.6 million visitors from all over the world. It is open year-round and can easily be reached by public transport. Visitors can either enter the zoo through the exotically-designed Elephant Gate beside the aquarium on Budapester Straße, or through the Lion Gate on Hardenbergplatz.
It should be noted that Berlin also has another zoo, the Tierpark Friedrichsfelde, located in the eastern part of the city.
The Berlin Zoologischer Garten station on Berlin's U2 U-Bahn line is the namesake for Irish band U2's song "Zoo Station" on their 1991 album Achtung Baby.
External links
- () [Official homepage of the Zoologischer Garten Berlin]
- [Berlin Life: A brief introduction to Berlin Zoo]
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