If you are visiting Duisburg to say Hi to Baby, do yourself a favour and go there super early and try see Baby first thing. He is almost always in play mode in the morning If you visit on a wednesday or sunday (ehem, go visit an a wednesday ) you do not want to miss the weighing of the Koalas. Both Baby and the Koalas are on the left (main entrance) side of the zoo. Dolphins are on the other side of the zoo past the bridge right before the new tiger enclosure. Both Duisburg and Cologne are easily reached by tram, it is the 18 in Cologne direction Thielenbruch and 901 in Duisburg direction Mühlheim. Either trip will not take you longer than 5-10 minutes.
... while in Zoo Duisburg you can enjoy a Chinese Garden within the zoo grounds... (Although I must confess that this garden can't mess with Flora Köln in size and species variety)
Well, the hotel and flights are booked. Now I'm officially on the list of Zoochatters anxiously watching the Zoo Duisburg threads
Well, my trip to Cologne and Duisburg is raplidly approaching. As this is a big trip for me and as a return trip for any misses won't be as easy as a trip within the UK (and because I tend to accidentally miss something on every new-zoo trip), I've been making a list of things to aim for (as in, try not to miss) at each zoo (mammals are my thing, so that's what I'm aiming for, if I was to start looking at birds too I think my brain might melt, although I do really like birds, so that might be the next task...): Cologne Zoo: Red-shanked Douc Langur Tree kangaroo Musk Ox Ring-tailed Vontsira (have seen these once before at RSCC, but would love to see them again) Balabac chevrotain Hausa Genet (if on show) Rufous Elephant Shrew Northern Luzon Cloud Rat Red Legged Sun Squirrel (only ones in Europe on ZTL) Geoffrey’s Cat Duisburg Zoo: Baby the River Dolphin! Lowland Paca Tasmanian Devils Wombats Koalas Short Beaked Echidna Arctic foxes Banded Mongoose Fishing Cat Dolphin show These are a mixture of last chance to sees/not seen befores/only ones in Europe/things I like/ones I never have any luck with (I'm looking at you Fishing Cats!) If anyone has any further tidbits, hints, or fun new species that have appeared, I'd love to hear your news! Otherwise, first zoo-trip to continental Europe here I come!
You might not have seen Persian Leopard (Koln) before? Weddel's Tamarin in the Ape House is also the only holding in Europe I think. Also watch out for the Emperor Newts in the Aquarium; a real treat. At Duisburg Roloway Monkeys would presumably be a lifer. Have an awesome time!
Seeing the two Andean Bear cubs at Duisburg would be a major bonus for me I've had to look back through my photos to remind me of the Tree Kangaroo at Cologne, but think it must have been sleeping most of the day. The Duisburg specimen was easier to see and photograph.
I’m sitting here green with envy at the fact that you’re going to see Baby and I’m not. Anyways, this sounds like a great trip with two zoos that look delightful.
Crowthorne didn't express a preference Just looked at zootierliste and Duisburg has neither anymore according to that? Anyway, I'd shoot up to Gelsenkirchen to see the Polar Bear cub!
Thanks all @FunkyGibbon wow, yes had missed all of those, they're on the list. Also, @littleRedPanda your mention of the bear cubs reminded me of the grizzly at Cologne, and the Andean bears at Duisburg, both of which will also be lifers. Oh, this trip is going to be mind blowing! (or, maybe overwhelming. Or possibly both)
From your list: Cologne Zoo: Red-shanked Douc Langur - easy Tree kangaroo - easy Musk Ox - very easy Ring-tailed Vontsira (have seen these once before at RSCC, but would love to see them again) - easy, very active, they have indoor and outdoor enclosure parts, the outdoor have wire mesh and is difficult to take decent photos, the indoor one have glass but is darker and animals usually prefair to stay in the outdoor side Balabac chevrotain - difficult, in deep rainforest exhibit with Great Argus and Channel-billed Cuckoo amongst others, probably you will see it passing through vegetation and not staying quiet at a point for photograph, not easy to see the whole floor from the high bridge Hausa Genet (if on show) - off show, sorry Rufous Elephant Shrew - impossible, they share exhibit of the sun squirrel, but they pass the day hidden Northern Luzon Cloud Rat - easy, but very dark enclosure for photos Red Legged Sun Squirrel (only ones in Europe on ZTL) - easy Geoffrey’s Cat - I didn't remember seeing them Duisburg Zoo: Baby the River Dolphin! - easy, but early in the morning it's usually absent, check later in the coming hours Lowland Paca - difficult, they are just opposite to the river dolphin, but usually hidden unless staff gives them the food, I was fortunate for see them just when they are being fed Tasmanian Devils - easy, but TOO active, they run constantly through all the huge exhibit, so not easy for photos, exhibit have a low glass wall but the ground is very elevated with many logs and plants and rocks, so devils can run constantly out of sight Wombats - almost impossible, I passed many times to the wombat and reck-necked wallaby exhibit, and not the least sign of wombats, I guess they pass the day sleeping into a den Koalas - easy Short Beaked Echidna - easy and active Arctic foxes - easy, but you will see just a sleeping fur ball Banded Mongoose - I didn't remember those Fishing Cat - relatively easy, outdoor part of exhibit not good for photos, indoor part good, they pass many time inside the big hollow log that hang in the background, photos of entire cat maybe are not easy, but good for portraits of the head when they are inside the log Dolphin show - I skipped it (for sure I would have seen it if they still had Commerson's dolphins!!)
Thanks for the info @Kakapo I don't mind too much if no photos, I much rather make a few sketches of things that inspire me on the day, and from that I find I remember the whole day much better for some reason. But a picture of Baby is a must!
I would highly recommend the Duisburg Fossa-forest. They currently have fossa cubs and they are outside now. Short Beaked Echidna should be currently off show as well as the tree kangoroo, because unless the wombat-mon and her son are moving out in the outdoor koala enclosure that is where they live. Which actually means, you will get to see Wombats either way. Btw. there is a hollow trunk tree touching the glass with a view inside in the paca enclosure opposite Baby, and the last couple of times I went, one was always sleeping in it.
Thank you for the hints @SabineB the Echidna isn't too much of a blow if it is off-show, I've happily watched the infamous Bruce at Paignton. The tree Kangaroo would be a shame though, since I missed the one that was briefly on-show in London. Hopefully catch the one at Cologne though, so at least one species is possible and fossa babies, yes!
