The Zoologischer Garten Berlin (zoological garden Berlin) is one of the biggest zoos in Germany and the one with the largest number of species of the world. It is located in Berlin Tiergarten near the homonymous S-Bahn and railway station in the city center.

With the attached aquarium the zoological garden is part of the sights of Berlin. Germany's first zoo already opened on August 1, 1844. The first animals were gifted by Prussian's King Frederick William IV from the menagerie and pheasantry of the Tiergarten. During World War II the zoo area was completely destroyed and only 91 animals survived.

Today the zoo presents approximately 14 000 animals in 1500 species on a 35 hectares area with a old tree population and historical animal houses. Highlights of a zoo visit are the giant pandas which can be seen only in few zoos of the world. All of the animals are housed in enclosures that are specially designed to recreate their natural biotopes. From the breeding point of view the zoo maintains the studbooks for white and black rhinoceroses and gaurs.

The Berlin zoo is the most frequented zoo in Europe with about 2.6 million visitors from all over the world. It is open year-round and can easily be reached by public transport. Visitors can either enter the zoo through the exotically-designed Elephant Gate beside the aquarium on Budapster Straße, or through the Lion Gate on Hardenbergplatz.

It should be noted that Berlin also has another zoo, the Tierpark Fiedrichsfelde located in the eastern part of the ciy.

External links

• Official homepage of the Zoologischer Garten Berlin (in German only)