The Cologne Zoo

The zoological garden was founded on July 22, 1860. Today it is known as Germany's third oldest zoo. With its motto "Animal Cologne" it inspires annually approximately 1.7 million visitors and counts thus also among the most well-kept zoos or zoological gardens of Germany. The Cologne Zoo is managed by Theo Pagel and Christopher Landsberg. The zoological garden is also involved in several conservation fauna of many different species and contributes to the preservation of these various species with an area of about 20 hectares and taking place in this area harboring of about 840 different species and about 10,600 individual animals (animal individuals) at.

The highlights in the Cologne Zoo

The most important animal facilities in Cologne Zoo are the Sea Lion Rocks, the Monkey Rocks, the Aquarium, the Forest House, the "Eulenkloster", the Rainforest House, the Elephant Park and the "Hippodome":

• The Sea Lion Rock: The Sea Lion Rock, established in 1887, is one of the main attractions for visitors to the Cologne Zoo. There are currently 5 California Sea Lions living on this site, which was completely renovated in 2010.
• The Monkey Rock: The monkey rock built in 1914 is one of the oldest attractions in the Cologne Zoo. On the monkey rock lives a large number of mantle baboons, which are very visible to the visitors, since the entire enclosure is surrounded by a moat. Thus, a free and very interesting view is created without further obstacles on the monkey cliffs and of course on the mantle baboons. Mantelpaviane live in different, small groups. For animal protection reasons, it is also important in the Cologne Zoo to breed and maintain many different individuals, so that the animals can lead their naturally given, free life with their innate instincts and their social behavior. So that not too many baboons are born, the births are monitored by the zoo and successfully regulated. So it is possible to keep the number of baboons constant over the years.

  It will be very interesting for visitors in the months of summer. In these months, a zookeeper (staff member of the zoo) descends to the animals at the moat and feeds them. Here, the natural instincts and drives of the baboons are good for the audience. This feeding is a great attraction, which attracts many visitors, among other things because of the lively, lively behavior of the animals and with them very well. In recent years, several baboons, who are by nature afraid of water, have tried to escape from the enclosure. This was because they accidentally fell into it when trying to fish food out of the moat, so they were no longer afraid or afraid of the water. However, the animals were unable to flee the enclosure as wires were stretched and attached over the moat.

• The Aquarium: The aquarium is a very large facility that was built in 1971. This facility is located outside of the actual Zoogeländes and provides its own building, so its own attraction there. In the aquarium visitors can visit fish, crocodiles, snakes and insects and, of course, on the information boards of the individual animals, continue to deal with them. The fish are shown in individual aquariums.
• The jungle house: The jungle house was opened in 1985 and consists mainly of a 2,200 square meter greenhouse. In this greenhouse, the natural habitat of many different monkey and primate species has been shown as well as possible. A 170-meter-long footpath for visitors to the jungle house leads right through the newly-built jungle and offers incredible and very interesting insights into the lives of the animals shown there. In addition, the natural habitat of monkeys and primates has become very good with e.g. Hanging ropes and climbing facilities are designed from the ceiling, so that the animals and the visitors are not bored. Also, the monkeys can pass through passages made of cage grid in the grounds of the enclosure.
• The Eulenkloster: The Eulenkloster was completed in May 1997. It includes an outdoor area where free flights are available for the various owls and, in addition to this space, some indoor enclosures. In the Eulenkloster live many different types of owls, e.g. Barn owls and bearded owls. These are just a few of the many species of owls, for which a visit to the Cologne Zoo is always worthwhile. It also provides visitors with the opportunity to observe the owls nesting and raising the young. This is then done by video cameras placed in the incubators of the owls so as not to disturb or stress the owls. Animal keepers take care of the owls, of course.
• The Rainforest House: The Rainforest House is a building that, as the name implies, is dedicated to living beings living in the rainforest. It was completed in the year 2000 and showed from this time on many different animals and plants. The building consists of a large hall that allows birds living in the rainforest house free flights within the hall, and other individual enclosures for the animals. The construction of the rainforest house was largely financed by donations.
• The Elephant Park: The elephant park was completed on 19 September 2004 and is intended to be a kind of replacement for the old, listed elephant house. The elephant park is an approximately 2-acre enclosure that houses a total of 13 Asian elephants since 16 March 2016. There was a lot of time and money invested in the construction of the elephant park and so cost the entire construction in the end about 15 million euros. An attempt was made to create a natural environment for the elephants. Special sand supplied specially for the Saharan enclosure protects the joints of the elephants (the sand is more firm than ordinary sand).
• The Hippodrome: The Hippodrome became accessible to visitors in April 2010. This is one of the many major projects of the Cologne Zoo. In the Hippodome, an African river landscape was depicted as well as possible. This created habitat for many different animals such as Fish, crocodiles or of course hippos. In order to offer visitors interesting insights into the lives of the animals living there, glass panes were attached to the huge aquariums. Through these glass panes, an underwater view is possible. You can also look at the animals from above (down to the enclosure / aquarium).

The journey

Cologne Zoo is also well connected to public transport : you can of course reach it by car (there are plenty of parking spaces around the zoo). The zoo can also be easily reached by train (from the Cologne main train station with line 18) and bus (bus 140, start: Ebertplatz, stop: Zoo / Flora) , Here you can use the Kölner Verkehrsbetriebe . Incidentally, the zoo is located in the district of Cologne Riehl .

But not only outside the zoo there is public transport. Also in the zoo itself you can enjoy a ride on the Zoo Express . This express allows you to get from A to B faster, but of course, it also gives you a tranquil view of the many different animals and adventures the zoo has to offer.

Breaks and games

In addition to visiting the many enclosures, it is also possible to rest on the huge zoo playground or to make yourself comfortable in the restaurant. There are several playgrounds in the Cologne Zoo, but the main playground consists of many different jungle gyms, swings, slides, wooden attractions and much more (seating available). Also in the Zoorestaurant you can sit down and enjoy the atmosphere with a delicious meal. Fun is guaranteed throughout the zoo!

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The Ferienwohnung-Koeln.com recommends a visit to the Cologne zoo in summer. Most of the enclosures are outdoors, making it more comfortable for visitors when the sun is shining. However, if there is a rain shower, then you can of course also quickly go over to the aquarium.

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Also interesting: The Eigelstein in Cologne .

Or into the Sculpture Park Cologne !