When rays of warm sunshine pierce the clouds and bright-yellow daffodils burst forth from the ground, it is also the season for baby lambs and other delightful new arrivals. As nature awakens from its winter slumber, there is even more for Zoo and Tierpark visitors to enjoy:
- After a two-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the “keeper talks” are now back on. As they feed the animals, experienced keepers share their knowledge about polar bears, pandas and more.
- The bird of prey free-flight show at the Tierpark is taking place once again, on Tuesdays to Sundays at 1:30 p.m. (no show on Mondays).
- The Tierpark’s electric train has also resumed operation, comfortably transporting visitors around the 160-hectare park.
- The ServiceCenters at the Tierpark’s Bärenschaufenster entrance have been redesigned and now welcome visitors with a fresh new look. Here, staff are on hand to answer questions, give advice and accept feedback.
- For those in need of a last-minute Easter present, gift vouchers are still available from the online shop. Vouchers are delivered to the email address provided directly after purchase.
- Easter holiday tip: Visitors can avoid queues at the ticket booths by booking tickets online in advance.
- Visitors can also order annual passes quickly and conveniently from the website, then simply pick them up the next time they visit. Those who subscribe for automatic annual pass renewal receive an additional month free of charge.
Babies galore!
Cuddled up close to its mother, a little Valais Blacknose lamb enjoys the first warm days of spring. The young female, who still has no name, was born on 23 March following a gestation period of around five months. She spent a week snuggled into her mother’s soft wool before daring to take her first wobbly steps around the sheep habitat. Now, the little lamb can be found gambolling happily amidst the rest of the herd and sunbathing contentedly against her mum’s warm back. The Hissar sheep and Thuringian goats also welcomed new arrivals this spring. Tierpark Berlin is home to many breeds of livestock that are on Germany’s “Red List of endangered livestock”, including the spotted Alpine sheep, Skudde sheep, Rouge du Roussillon sheep, the Girgentana goat, Fjäll cattle, Mangalica pig, and the Cröllwitzer turkey.
At Zoo Berlin, too, spring lambs are adding an extra dose of cuteness to the petting zoo this Easter. There are also new additions to the Parma wallaby, owl-faced monkey and ibex families. And African forest buffalo couple Romy and Bukar are thrilled to present their adorable new offspring. Now 14 months old, gorilla toddler Tilla is keeping her family on their toes as she ventures further from her mother’s side each day.
During the warmer months of the year, Zoo and Tierpark Berlin are open daily from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Last admission is 5 p.m.
Egg-straordinary facts and figures!
Did you know?
...More animal species lay eggs than give birth to live young.
...Some sharks lay eggs, while others give birth to live offspring. Some of those shark species are “ovoviviparous”, which means the eggs remain in the mother’s body until they are ready to hatch.
...The sex of young crocodiles is determined by temperature. If the eggs are incubated at around 30°C or lower, the hatchlings will be female, but in warmer conditions over 34°C males develop inside the eggs. In the case of turtles, it is the other way around.
...Insects, fish, birds and reptiles are not the only animals that lay eggs – some mammals do too! Duck-billed platypuses and spiny anteaters are a very rare exception in the mammal kingdom: they lay eggs but then supply their hatchlings with milk.
