Ouch. Dortmund seems to be like most zoos: some brilliance and some outdated enclosures, but how does it stack up compared to other German zoos?
It's a good, solid zoo, a few outdated areas but a good amount of building work going on. The zoo is owned by the local government so don't know how well-funded they are. It holds its own very well among th other German collections; and certainly has a lovely location and a pleasant atmosphere. This particular exhibit is a reasonable 'make-do-and-mend' - it's a fairly typical case of putting in some substrate, adding some climbing and making sure you have one of the smaller bears species. It's not going to win any awards but it gets the job done. The newer exhibits are very good so as and when it comes to time for a new bear exhibit I think it has a good chance of being of a very high standard.
I think this sums up Dortmund Zoo pretty good. I went there in 2007 and found it to be a very enjoyable zoo. No spectacular immension exhibits but overall a good zoo with few outdated exhibits. Their giraffe exhibit, otter exhibits, South American pampas, Australian outback and orangutan/tapir exhibit are all quite good. They also have amazing breeding succes with several species of anteaters, armadillos and sloths (their speciality). I am looking forward to return to Dortmund Zoo this summer
@Cat-Man Nope it is currently in the process of being extended, so there haven't been any bears in Dortmund since the last animal passed away in 2018. A new bear is already held in Cologne for when the new exhibit is ready.
