Tierpark Hellabrunn
Encyclopedia
Hellabrunn Zoo is a 36 hectares (89 acre) zoological garden
in the Bavaria
n capital of Munich
. The zoo is situated on the right bank of the river Isar
, in the southern part of Munich near the quarter of Thalkirchen
. As the groundwater
level here is rather high and the water is of very good quality, the zoo can cover its needs for freshwater by using its own well
s.
A high ratio of enclosures are cageless, relying upon moat features to keep the animals in place. The zoo also has several food dispensers where, for a small cost, the correct food for the species may be thrown by the public. This reduces the risk of animals being fed inappropriate foodstuffs.
Tierpark Hellabrunn is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria
(EAZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(WAZA).
Emanuel von Seidl, and opened to the public on 1 August 1911.
In 1922, the zoo was closed due to the inflation
in Germany. It was re-opened on May 23, 1928. It became the first Geo-Zoo in the world (animals were shown and kept with other animals of the same geographic region). It also engaged in controversial back-breeding to "recreate" extinct animals like Heck cattle
(to mimic the Aurochs
) and the Tarpan
.
During World War II
, the zoo sustained extensive damage due to allied
air raids
, but it was able to reopen in May 1945.
In 1970, a badly needed plan for the renovation of the zoo was drawn up.
. In 2010 it was home to 17,811 animals representing 709 species.
The Tierpark Hellabrunn is very active in breeding, reintroduction and conservation projects.
Over 1.5 million people visited Hellabrunn in 2010.
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
in the Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n capital of Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. The zoo is situated on the right bank of the river Isar
Isar
The Isar is a river in Tyrol, Austria and Bavaria, Germany. Its source is in the Karwendel range of the Alps in Tyrol; it enters Germany near Mittenwald, and flows through Bad Tölz, Munich, and Landshut before reaching the Danube near Deggendorf. At 295 km in length, it is the fourth largest river...
, in the southern part of Munich near the quarter of Thalkirchen
Thalkirchen-Obersendling-Forstenried-Fürstenried-Solln
Thalkirchen-Obersendling-Forstenried-Fürstenried-Solln is the 19th borough of Munich, Germany, comprising the extreme southern part of the city on the left back of the river Isar. After the administrative reform, the boroughs Thalkirchen-Obersendling-Forstenried and Solln were incorporated, thus...
. As the groundwater
Groundwater
Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock...
level here is rather high and the water is of very good quality, the zoo can cover its needs for freshwater by using its own well
Water well
A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...
s.
A high ratio of enclosures are cageless, relying upon moat features to keep the animals in place. The zoo also has several food dispensers where, for a small cost, the correct food for the species may be thrown by the public. This reduces the risk of animals being fed inappropriate foodstuffs.
Tierpark Hellabrunn is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria
European Association of Zoos and Aquaria
-External links:*...
(EAZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums is the "umbrella" organisation for the world zoo and aquarium community. Its mission is to provide leadership and support for zoos, aquariums, and partner organizations of the world in animal care and welfare, conservation of biodiversity, environmental...
(WAZA).
History
On 25 February 1905 the Verein Zoologischer Garten München e.V. (Engl. 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 by architectArchitect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Emanuel von Seidl, and opened to the public on 1 August 1911.
In 1922, the zoo was closed due to the inflation
Inflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
in Germany. It was re-opened on May 23, 1928. It became the first Geo-Zoo in the world (animals were shown and kept with other animals of the same geographic region). It also engaged in controversial back-breeding to "recreate" extinct animals like Heck cattle
Heck cattle
Heck Cattle are a hardy breed of domestic cattle. They are the result of an attempt to breed back the aurochs, which became extinct in 1627, from modern aurochs-derived cattle...
(to mimic the Aurochs
Aurochs
The aurochs , the ancestor of domestic cattle, were a type of large wild cattle which inhabited Europe, Asia and North Africa, but is now extinct; it survived in Europe until 1627....
) and the Tarpan
Tarpan
Tarpan is an extinct subspecies of wild horse. The last individual of this subspecies died in captivity in Russia in 1909....
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the zoo sustained extensive damage due to allied
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
air raids
Strategic bombing
Strategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability and public will to wage war rather than destroying its land or naval forces...
, but it was able to reopen in May 1945.
In 1970, a badly needed plan for the renovation of the zoo was drawn up.
Hellabrunn today
Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Henning Wiesner, Hellabrunn is among the most biologically diverse zoos in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. In 2010 it was home to 17,811 animals representing 709 species.
The Tierpark Hellabrunn is very active in breeding, reintroduction and conservation projects.
Over 1.5 million people visited Hellabrunn in 2010.
Attractions
- The old ElephantElephantElephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
house: Constructed in 1914, it then had the largest concreteConcreteConcrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
dome in the world (see picture above) - The new jungleJungleA Jungle is an area of land in the tropics overgrown with dense vegetation.The word jungle originates from the Sanskrit word jangala which referred to uncultivated land. Although the Sanskrit word refers to "dry land", it has been suggested that an Anglo-Indian interpretation led to its...
house which houses GorillaGorillaGorillas are the largest extant species of primates. They are ground-dwelling, predominantly herbivorous apes that inhabit the forests of central Africa. Gorillas are divided into two species and either four or five subspecies...
s, ChimpanzeeChimpanzeeChimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
s and Mississippi AlligatorAlligatorAn alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two extant alligator species: the American alligator and the Chinese alligator ....
s - The AquariumAquariumAn aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
with the PiranhaPiranhaA piranha or piraña is a member of family Characidae in order Characiformes, an omnivorous freshwater fish that inhabits South American rivers. In Venezuela, they are called caribes...
-feeding - "Dracula's villa" - bats fly around you
- Many other buildings like the "Polarium"
- The guided tours - especially when it's dark and there is no one else in the Zoo
- Children's birthday parties
- One of the very few zoos that allows you to take your dog