The directive requiring all Berlin’s domestic birds to be housed indoors has been lifted just in time for the long Easter weekend, and Zoo and Tierpark Berlin are finally awakening from their winter sleep:
- From Easter, children can tackle new twisty climbing towers in the big adventure playground opposite the Waldschänke restaurant.
- The Zoo Restaurant reopens on 13 April, ready to welcome guests with a fresh new look and brand new menu.
- Crowd-pleasing New Zealanders are looking forward to their World of Birds debut: the rare kiwis move into their new home just before Easter and, with a bit of luck and patience, visitors will soon be able to observe these shy, nocturnal creatures during the day. The birds are currently adjusting to their new night and daytime cycle. The habitat of these flightless birds is scheduled to open at the end of April.
- After being closed for five months due to renovation work and avian flu, the pheasantry will also be reopening just in time for Easter.
- On 12 April, the renovated Kakadu terrace café opens at the Tierpark.
- Tierpark Berlin is also relaunching its popular Llama Walk from Good Friday. The animals will be led through the park by their keepers at 2:30 p.m. every Saturday, Sunday and public holiday. The walk starts from the large field opposite the gibbon habitat.
And, of course, spring brings plenty of cute new arrivals. At the Tierpark, young takins, zebras and Bactrian camels can already be seen frolicking in the fields. Meanwhile at the Zoo, the Cameroon sheep and Coburger Fuchsschaf sheep have given birth to adorable spring lambs, and rare twin Hinterwald calves were also recently delivered! Plus, the banteng cattle and Kirk’s dik-dik antelopes are expecting young very soon.
Berlin has many traditional Easter customs involving eggs – hunting them, blowing them, cooking them, decorating them. In other countries, the giving and receiving of Easter eggs has a very special significance. In the Podravina region of Croatia, for example, the painting of Easter eggs using various techniques has a long tradition that earned the practice the status of “intangible cultural heritage” in 2008.
“These enormous Easter eggs, painted in the Croatian naïve art style, can now be found in markets and galleries around the world, including in New York, Rome, Brussels, Prague, Vienna and Paris,” says Zoo and Tierpark Director Dr Andreas Knieriem. “As of today, an example of this traditional craft also adorns the Elephant Gate entrance to the Zoo.” The Croatian Easter egg is a present from Koprivnica-Križevci County to the city of Berlin. The huge decorated egg was created in Podravina as part of the “Easter Egg from the Heart” project, and symbolises Easter festivities, peace and friendship. The egg was painted by famous representatives of Croatian naïve art who belong to the Hlebine circle of artists – Josip Gregurić, Đuro Jaković, Stjepan Pongrac and Zlatko Štrfiček.
The enormous egg is even bigger than that of the extinct moa bird – let alone of its living relative, the ostrich. The masterpiece weighs 35 kg, and is 2.05 m tall and 1.50 m wide. The egg is on display until the end of April, standing proudly amidst the colourful spring flowers between the Elephant Gate and the new panda habitat.
