Hi all, having been to a lot of german zoos. I agree with the comments about high species diversity is what is good about a lot of German zoos compared to British zoos. The majority of which have reduced and reduced their collections compared to 20 years ago except perhaps Colchester. Not all german zoos enclosures are great and the polar bear exhibit at Wuppertal is very poor. However there is generally a focus on the animals rather than theming. This is my first forum post but happy to help. Slightly off topic is when I waa in Duisburg I purchased a book celebrating 75 years of the zoo; although in German it has many pictures of their old collection of whales, river dolphinS and giant armadillo. What was the other river dolphin called? Thanks
I've just booked an early flight from Stansted to Cologne, flying home late the next night for less than £20 ! I hope Baby survives another few months at least! I haven't sorted a hotel in Cologne yet but if I have to find a bar that's open til 3am then sleep on a bench for a couple of hours near Cologne zoo I don't care !
I'm pleased to say I joined the ranks too yesterday , it's been a nervous few weeks since I booked my visit, really glad I did it now!
Given Crowthorne has recently written a fairly comprehensive review , I don't intend going into too much detail. I have to say I agree with most of the assessment of both zoos. Crowthorne said she preferred Duisburg and in terms of species, I think I agree, it had the 'wow' factor for me in the shape of many species I hadn't seen in decades ( in the days of London in the 70s/80s). Cologne was great too, but I think after visiting the Berlin zoos last year, it didn't seem quite as great as it might have done! Duisburg Highlight Species The obvious ! * Wombat Tasmanian Devil Koala Echidna Roloway Monkey Kori Bustard White nosed Guenon My first bottle nosed dolphin since Whipsnade , very early 80s Highlight enclosures Tiger Lynx Fossa Andean Bear Rio Negro Tasmanian Devil Poor enclosures Orangutan outdoors, possibly only rivalled by Dudley for worst I've seen this decade! Cologne Species Red Howler Rufous Elephant Shrew* Sun squirrel * Ring tailed mongoose Red Spanked Douc * Matschies Tree Kangaroo * southern Bald Ibis * Grizzly Bear Musk Ox Weddell's Tamarin * * = lifer Highlight exhibits Regenwald Elephants - amazing! All Great Ape exhibits better than zoo Berlin Hippodom Aquarium , not Berlin, but never seen so many monitor species in one zoo, 10+? Poor exhibits Ex Ratel exhibit - appalling !!!! The meerkat enclosure must be 50x the size, probably 100 Black Rhino - never viewed through dirty glass before Red Howler - 3 enclosures , none making the most of this rarity! Penguins - don't think I've seen much worse anywhere in UK! May remember more later and add them! What I should say if either of these zoos were in the UK , they would make my top 5 comfortably .
