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»Deutsche Version • Home • Travelogues • Germany • Hamburg • Tierpark Hagenbeck
Tierpark Hagenbeck – The Zoo in Hamburg-Stellingen
- Hagenbeck [www.hagenbeck.de]
Jul to Aug 9:00 – 19:00 hrs Nov to Feb 9:00 – 16:30 hrs
(as of Jan 2009)
Special EventDuring the so-called “summer nights” the zoo is open until the late evening hours. The Jungle Nights with the big fireworks above the lions’ ravine are very popular.
Hagenbeck’s Zoo is the only zoological garden in Europe that is run as a family business. It has a long tradition in Hamburg. It has been opened to public since 1907 – as the world’s first zoo featuring barless, moated animal exhibits simulating a natural landscape. This concept would soon set the standard for wild-animal parks around the world.
After Easter 2004 I had a few days off and was on the move with my camera. “Inspired” by the excursion to the »game park, I paid the zoo a visit.
[13 April 2004] — Even though I’ve been living in Hamburg for years, I
have been to Tierpark Hagenbeck only once. It is high time to stop by
one more time.
Since my last visit the zoo has seen some great changes. About
one year ago the entrance has been rebuilt completely. An authentic
Nepalese temple tower
 "Nepalese temple at the new entrance"){kind=small}
now crowns the new entrance in Lokstedter Grenzstraße. The famous, historical Jugendstil gate,
 "historical Jugenstil gate"){kind=small}
the former main entrance in Hagenbeckstraße, has been preserved and is now surrounded by the park area.
The zoo is home to 2,500 animals from all five continents
in more than 70 enclosures. If you want to see all the animals you should
schedule half a day since the tour through the 27 hectare (67 acres) park area
amounts to a stretch of nearly 8 km (5 miles). While exploring the park I orientate myself by the numbering of the enclosure and follow the suggested tour – just to be sure to catch sight of everything.
In am particularly enraptured by the Asian elephants,
 "Asian elephants"){kind=small}
whose enclosure lies right behind the entrance. The zoo’s youngest star – the baby-elephant Kandy,
 "Baby elephant Kandy"){kind=small}
born in May 2003 – stamps cheerfully through the sand. What a sweet sight!
The penguins are also funny.
 "Humboldt Penguins or the \"die Olsenbande\""){kind=small}
At their basin I manage to take
a snap that makes me laugh again and again. Somehow the picture
reminds me of the Danish film series “Olsen Gang”.
Only the cigar end is missing … 
The Troparium with its
39 aquariums and terraria is very interesting.
Here the visitors experience the underwater world of the tropical seas,
of the deserts and of the rain forests. In the anteroom there is a
gigantic aquarium with the dreaded piranhas. It’s hard to believe that
these small fish should be such greedy carnivores. Behind the glass they do not look that dangerous – except for their sharp teeth.
The Troparium’s curiosity are the sea dragons.
 "Sea Dragon"){kind=small}
I have never seen them
before! They use their little “wings” to paddle through the water, what looks really funny. Their long trunks remind me somewhat of
anteaters.
A dense crowd has gathered in front of the terrarium of the Seychelles’ giant tortoises.
It is quite astonishing that these normally
tiny animals can assume such horrendous proportions and grow up to real colossi.
The small visitors’ indisputable highlight is of course the “stroking zoo” with the Owambo nanny goats. As well as the pony or elephant riding
that is offered during the summer months. And for letting off steam
the big playground with numerous climbing and hiding places is at hand.
Time flies quickly. In the end, only my hurting feet remind me that I have been walking through the zoo for hours …
