Zoo Berlin AG bid farewell to 2014 with a record number of visitors and looks forward to a successful 2015. More than 4.4 million guests visited the Zoo, Aquarium and Tierpark over the past year. This is an increase of 6.4% to the Zoo over the year before. The Tierpark even had a year-on-year increase of 12% compared to 2013. A success story to be proud of and which places Zoo Berlin AG at the very top of the most popular recreational facilities in Berlin and Brandenburg.
The success is only going to continue to grow in Tierpark Berlin with these highlights in 2015
• "Off to see the animals" – the Tierpark proudly associates this motto with a new electric train, which will run from Easter on a daily basis and will be available for visitors to the Tierpark to use free of charge as an emission-free "hop-on, hop-off" transport service. The train, which is covered in jungle images thanks to the work of graffiti artist Lars Oschatz, is cable of transporting up to
56 people. To allow easier accessibility of the Tierpark, the train travels from the 'Bärenschaufenster' bear-viewing window entrance to the open-air stage, continuing via the cafeteria to the palace and back to the bear-viewing window. The just under 4-kilometre-long tour lasts approx. 20 minutes.
• Anyone can get disoriented quickly in Europe's largest Zoo (160 hectares). This basic need of every visitor is satisfied now thanks to the new orientation concept, consisting of signposts and re-illustrated maps. The first step of the concept is already being implemented: 27 naturally grown robinia wood installations with 152 modern arrow extenders have been erected.
Internationally recognizable pictograms point the way on the arrows. The info boards with site maps will follow in the upcoming weeks.
• The largest construction project in the Tierpark, the renovation of the Alfred-Brehm House, is due to take place this year. The housing conditions for predators must be urgently improved. The preliminary planning is currently ongoing. We hope to have the renovation complete by the end of 2016.
• We hope to have the Bärenschaufenster reconstructed and the efficiency of the ticket offices improved before the year is out.
• Takin offspring: The Tierpark is over the moon with our two takin offspring: The Mishmi takin girl Chanel was born on 20 March. It's the third pup for mother Charlotte. She cares lovingly for her woolly young. There was even an addition to the golden takins: Mother Zhouzi brought a female (Zhaoze) into the world on 25 March. Takins are endemic to the southeastern foothills of the Himalayas and are among the most critically endangered animal species worldwide. Tierpark Berlin is internationally renowned for the keeping and breeding of takins. A total of 22 takins live in Tierpark Berlin from three different species: 11 Mishmi takins, seven gold takins and four Sichuan takins.
