Bearded vulture Lucky -hatched this year at Tierpark Berlin - was send to Austria to be released at Nationalpark Hohe Tauern together with its 4 days younger sister Charlie. Charlie was already living in Austria because she was send at an age of 1 week to the Bearded vulture breeding center Haringsee to be raised by a foster-pair
Today the modernised entrance was presented as well as the enclosure for prairie dogs and New World Porcupines. Unfortunately, the prairie dogs still need to settle in and the weather was lousy, too. So I only got to see the New World Porcupines. As to some visual impressions: Im Tierpark Berlin begann der größte Umbau seiner Geschichte. Der Berliner Tierpark hat den Schrott ausgewildert – B.Z. Berlin The media also received some updates on the schedule of the other projects: -today: reopening main entrance and 250 square metre enclosure for prairie dogs and New World Porcupines (the large adjacent enclosure now houses wood bisons and American white pelicans by the way). -next week: reopening Cafeteria (main restaurant) with a new name matching the new South America theme for the area: "Patagona" -both the modernised play ground and the new large play ground next to said Cafeteria are almost finished -autumn/ fall: bird of prey display/ presentation at the modernised Sylvan or greenery theater (German name "Kiekemal-Waldbühne") -end of the year: modernisation of the Brehm-Building commences The next large projects after this are the modernisation of the pachydermy building for African elephants and rhinos, the new Himalaya area and the modernisation of the main administration/ office buidling. All of these projects are more or less financed but they still need extensive planning. There may also be a sensation for the upcoming years: Mister Knieriem apparently plans to have one of the two new giant pandas stay at the Tierpark most of the time and only let them come together for mating. But this is not at all certain...
A detail of the newly presented enclosure: Copyright: Tierpark Berlin And two impressions of the remodelled cafeteria/ "Patagona": Copyright: Tierpark Berlin Copyright: Tierpark Berlin The really good news, however, are still to come: The Tierpark is to receive another 15 mio of public funds in the next years to come. If all funds from different sources are counted together, Knieriem received more than 40 mio so far and the man has only been here for little more than two years. Things could go worse... The schedule is a bit more clear as well now: -The Brehm-building is to be modernized beginning at the end of 2016 (in subsequent steps and apparently without closing the entire building for the public) -The pachydermy building is to me modernized beginning in 2017 -Himalaya also is to be created from the present mountain area beginning in 2017
but there is a master plan that shows how will the habitats and animals will there be? for example, the South Africa in addition to the penguins there will be other animals?
The reboot of the Alfred Brehmhaus continues apace with the last North Chinese leopard going to Debrecen and the Asian lion pair going to Besancon & Rotterdam respectively. Leaving the building to focus on rainforest species. Herzlich Willkommen im Tierpark | Tierpark Berlin - Regenwald in Sicht
This focus on Asian rainforest means the loss of all but one small cat from the house - the Palawan Leopard Cat - however given the fact even this species is not mentioned, it too may be on the way out....
Unfortunately, the young animal didn't survive. Apparently the male attacked the mother animal and as a result the latter abandoned the young one. There is some good news as well, though: The air show has commenced. The old open air stage has been modernized and complemented by small bird aviaries (not visible for regular visitors). The show starts at 1:30 P.M. every day except for Mondays and features birds of prey as well as owls. Copyright: Tierpark Berlin
For the first time in 22 years, two polar bears were born by mother "Tonja" in the night from Wednesday to Thursday! Polar bear season started in Europe
It's a bit too early to get excited, though. Tonja bred for the first time as well. So let's hope for the best but also be prepared for losses.
Video of the Polar bear cubs from the birth-box : https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10154550985430149
The clear out of the Brehm house continues with the sending of a pair of jaguar to the Santiago zoo in Chile. Ein Pass für den Jaguar
Short video of the Tuffted deer born this year : https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10154618039550149
It looks like the much awaited 2nd refurb of the Alfred Brehm House is to start around spring this year ... FINALLY! Esp. glad that rumours have it that some of the bird collection will be retained for the central hall (with crocs and amphibians + insects). The tanks and bird exclosures in the indoor Carnivore areas will be changed into reptile environments (!!!). Various small time measures and rearrangements have been made in the last year (2016), the most significant being the Chaco peccary enclosure and the new Restaurant / Refectory and some childrens play areas.
