Rostock Zoo: Difference between revisions

The Rostock Zoological Garden in the Hanseatic City of Rostock was founded in 1899. It extends over a site of 56 hectares in the Barnstorf Forest. With around 4500 animals in 450 different species, it is the largest zoo on the German Baltic Sea coast. The Rostock Zoo is one of the most popular excursion destinations in northern Germany, it has been awarded several times with the "Family-friendly facility" seal of approval by the State Tourism Association. In 2015, he was named the best zoo in Europe by zoo analyst Anthony Sheridan in his category (up to one million visitors). There were particularly good grades for the quality of the animal houses and enclosures, for its green landscape and vegetation, the unique zoological-botanical ambience as well as for the diverse educational offers.

== Historical development =

===From the foundation to 1945===

In the time of the German-Danish War around 1864, the former parade ground in the Barnstorfer Tannen was redesigned. A park-like complex with trees was built. In 1866, the complex around the Jägerwohnung Trotzenburg was completed. The tree population has been further supplemented by a wide variety of species in the coming years. In 1883, a sequoia tree was planted at the duck pond of the complex. In 1898, other animal species moved into the game enclosure. Wild boars, a pair of deer and deer were taken up in the enclosure. The supervising forester Schramm set up a small zoo in the same year. On the 4th The Hirschgarten an der Trotzenburg opened in January 1899. Carl Lange was hired as the first animal keeper. The deer garden was increased in the same year due to other animal species. Thus, angora cats, white-tailed eagles, fallow deer, jackals, raccoons and foxes were included in the animal population. In 1904, the stop of the horse-drawn tram was replaced by a stop of the electric tram in front of Trotzenburg. A mast of the overhead line can still be seen at the stop today. Förster Schramm tried in the following years to further expand the site and expand the facility. In 1906, after Förster Schramm turned to the hospital administration - then owner of the Barnstorfer Tannen - the city of Rostock commissioned the establishment of a wild and dendrological garden. The management of the construction of the garden opened in Pentecost in 1910 were city planning director Tessendorf and gardening director Schomburg. Colloquially, however, the term zoo was memorized among the Rostockers. In 1931, a large dahlia show took place in the main flowering period.

===From 1945 to 1989===

As a result of heavy air raids in the course of the Second World War on Rostock, the buildings on the zoo grounds and all facilities were also almost completely destroyed. Under the direction of the horticultural architect Arno Lehmann, the zoo was rebuilt in 1951. Many Rostockers helped voluntarily and thus supported the reconstruction. On the 7th In September 1952, the zoo was reopened and expanded from 9 hectares to 16 hectares in 1956. The Rostock Zoological Garden was founded on the 16th. January 1956. In 1960, the first two Indian elephants moved into the new elephant facility. At the beginning of the 1960s, the Rostock Zoo took over the Arab thoroughbred animals grown in the Institute for Animal Breeding Research Dummerstorf and attached them to the zoo as the zoo's own stud. This resulted in the largest Arab breeding in the territory of the GDR. In 1963, the first polar bear cub was born in the zoo. It was a female and bore the name Katja. In 1973, there was a basic planning for the zoo. The zoo should be expanded to 56 hectares. An experience area was also planned for the visitors. Since 1980, an international studbook for polar bears has been kept in the zoo. In 1989, a 2000 m² walkable seabird aviary for coastal birds was set up in the newly developed part of the zoo. More than 100 birds live in it. A wall of boulders up to four meters high serves as a breeding ground for the birds.

===Development until today===

In 1992, the Gemeinnützige GmbH Zoologischer Garten Rostock was founded under the direction of Udo Nagel as head of the zoo. From 1991 to 1996, many enclosures were redesigned in a species-appropriate manner. Among other things, the facilities for the African wild dogs and the fur seals were redesigned. In 1997, a new facility for the husarena monkeys was set up in the expansion part of the zoo and the stilt bird facility was reconstructed in 1998. At the same time, a large suspension bridge over the pond was created. On the 17th In October 1998, the South America House was inaugurated with an outdoor enclosure. It is home to Capuchin and white tuf monkeys. In 1999, the zoo celebrated 100 years of animal gardening. In 1999, the first classical night took place, which has been repeated annually since then. In the same year, the Rostock Zoo became a member of the World Zoo Association (WAZA) and the European Zoo Association (EAZA). Zoo director Udo Nagel was also admitted to the International Association of Zoo Directors. In 2000, the big cat facility was redesigned. It is inhabited by lions, jaguars and snow leopards.

In August 2002, the conversion of the otter plant, which was supported by the proceeds of the gravel for the otters fundraising campaign, was completed. In the same year, the Darwinbox was opened. In 2004, two cheetahs were born. In October 2004, a 1200 m² petting enclosure was inaugurated, in which West African dwarf goats live. The elephant house was converted by October 2005. In March 2007, filming began at the Rostock Zoo for the ZDF documentary soap Ostsee-Schnauzen. The shooting lasted four months and a total of 20 episodes were created that report on the life of the animals and the work of the animal keepers. In the same year, the zoo recorded a record number of visitors with 555,774 guests. In May 2008, the Café Elefanten-Lodge burned for an unknown reason. In 2009, the female gorilla Sanga, who had come to the zoo as a wild catch in 1964, died at the age of 48. In 2010, a young bison left Rostock Zoo to support a species protection project and to prepare for reintroduction. On the 23rd In July 2010, cheetah fours were born, who had to be raised by hand after the death of the mother.

In October 2010, the new historical ungulate facility was opened in the heart of the Rostock Zoo. The opening of the Darwineum as a great ape facility with evolution exhibition took place in September 2012. The zoo was chosen among the 50 best excursion destinations in Germany and ranks 4th among the medium-sized zoos in the European zoo ranking (2nd place in Germany). With orangutan girl Surya, the first offspring of the great apes in the Darwineum was born in 2013. In 2013, elephant cow Sara, the oldest African elephant at the time in a European zoo, had to be euthanized at the age of 51 due to illness. With it, the traditional elephant keeping in the Rostock Zoo was ended for the time being. Successors on the facility have been dwarf hippopotamus since summer 2015.

In January 2015, 60 birds were killed in an emergency, as 43 of them were found to be infected with the highly contagious variant H5N8 of the avian flu virus. Due to the incident, the site remained closed for several days until the samples of all birds were evaluated. In January, the zoo was initially partially opened and a few days later completely reopened. In 2015, Rostock Zoo succeeded for the first time in setting itself at the top of the European zoo ranking (category 2).

The Polarium was opened in September 2018. On a total of 12,500 square meters there are spacious facilities for the polar bears and penguins as well as a visitor center. Also in 2018, the Rostock Zoo was once again named "Best Zoo in Europe" (Cat. 2) in its category and was able to maintain its top position in the European zoo ranking.

In July 2021, Antje Angeli, former curator of the Rostock Zoo, took over the management of Zoologischer Garten Rostock gGmbH.