Not really. I still hope they will finally start the project some time this year at all, come spring, come summer or fall or winter... There has been so much delay, it's incredible.
The polar bear cub has been named "Fritz". It is still doing well and should be on the outside enclosure in March when it is around 4 months old.
How long will the refurbishment take ? are we looking at a few months or are we looking at a year or two ?
At the moment, we rather need to look out for a date when the work BEGINS. The last information I received said they want to start as soon as weather allows (which to me seems to suggest they want to begin with the outside enclosures). As to the interior parts I only know that things could get rather complicated and problems concerning building structures are possible if not likely. I would be pleasantly surprised if the work is to be completed by 2018 at all. But hopefully we can expect some visible progress with the exterior parts in 2017...
@markmeier, no need to say so. I only presented what info is officially laid down. For all good purposes: a news item into the future where an exhibit completion date (and / or initiation a renov for that matter ...) is mentioned does in no way imply (nor should it be read as such) that it is the undeniable truth set in stone. We will only now end 2017 (and with the arrival of mid 2018) whether Dr. K. was correct in asserting both timeframes (... this admittedly, after delay upon delay upon delay ... for even coming up with start date for the new over reno project ...). Having said all this: it is still unclear what the precise building plans look like as no plans have been sent into the Berlin Municipality planning department for now. And that is somewhat of a cert .... as public domain info.
@Kifaru Bwana: I didn't mean to correct you. I know what you wrote. I just wanted to indicate that I don't consider the official information realistic, in case some people on here may want to plan a journey to Berlin around the reopening. I just want to keep expectations low after all the delay the project already went through. By the way: The following link shows the newest (though neither complete nor sharp) rendering of the project which I have seen: https://m.facebook.com/FreundeHaupt...612506130625/1328768850514988/?type=3&theater
Inventory at the Tierpark : 790 species and 9018 specimens ! ( article - also dealing with the Zoo and the Aquarium - in German ) : Tierisch gute Nummer
Four month old Polar Bear cub, Fritz (Tierpark's first cub in 22 years) has sadly died - It is believed he may have had an inflamed liver Berlin zoo's Fritz the polar bear cub dies at 4 months old | Daily Mail Online
More on the sad news http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/07/berlins-beloved-polar-bear-cub-fritz-dies-tierpark-zoo/
Bearded vulture hatched, a second egg is incubated by a second pair. Chick(s) will be re-introduced into the wild : Ab in den Süden!
