| Hellabrunn Zoo | |
|---|---|
 The elephant house was built in 1914. | |
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| 48°5′50″N11°33′15″E / 48.09722°N 11.55417°E /48.09722; 11.55417 | |
| Date opened | 1 August 1911[1] |
| Location | Munich,Germany |
| Land area | 40 ha (99 acres)[2] |
| No. of animals | 18,943 (2014)[3] |
| No. of species | 767 (2014)[3] |
| Annual visitors | 2,283,739 (2014)[3] |
| Memberships | EAZA,[4]WAZA[5] |
| Website | www.hellabrunn.de |
Hellabrunn Zoo (German:Tierpark Hellabrunn) is a 40 hectare (99 acre)zoological garden in theBavarian capital ofMunich. The zoo is situated on the right bank of the riverIsar, in the southern part of Munich near the quarter ofThalkirchen.
A high ratio of enclosures are cageless, relying upon moat features to keep the animals in place.The zoo was the first zoo in the world not organized by species, but also by geographical aspects. For example, thewood bison share their enclosure withprairie dogs.
In 2013, the zoo was ranked the fourth best zoo in Europe (up from 12th).[6][7] It focuses on conservation andcaptive breeding rare species such as the raredrill andsilvery gibbons. Alsogorillas,giraffes,elephants,wood bisons,elk andArctic foxes were successfully bred in the zoo, which houses many species. It is one of the very few zoos that allows visitors to bring dogs.
Tierpark Hellabrunn is a member of theEuropean Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and theWorld Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and participates in theEuropean Endangered Species Programme (EEP).
On 25 February 1905 theVerein Zoologischer Garten München e.V. (transl. Society of the Zoological Garden of Munich) was founded and the Hellabrunn area was chosen as the location for the zoo. The zoo was designed byarchitectEmanuel von Seidl, and opened to the public on 1 August 1911.[1]
In 1922, the zoo was closed due to theinflation in Germany. It was re-opened on 23 May 1928. It became the firstGeo-Zoo in the world (animals were shown and kept with other animals of the same geographic region). It also engaged in controversialback-breeding to "recreate"extinct animals likeHeck cattle (to mimic theAurochs) and theTarpan.[1]
Lutz Heck was a renowned zoologist in Nazi Germany, his brotherHeinz Heck was director of Hellabrunn Zoo at the time.[8] DuringWorld War II, the zoo sustained extensive damage due tostrategic bombing by theAllies of World War II, but the zoo was able to reopen in May 1945.
In 1970, a badly needed plan for the renovation of the zoo was drawn up.
In 2014 it was home to 18,943 animals representing 767 species.[9]
The Tierpark Hellabrunn is very active in breeding, reintroduction and conservation projects.
Over 2.2 million people visited Hellabrunn in 2014.
As thegroundwater level here is rather high and the water is of very good quality, the zoo can cover its needs for freshwater by using its ownwells.
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| National | |
