The Wilhelma Gardens in Stuttgart - a large, traditional zoo - were opened in 1850 and are the only combined zoological and botanical gardens in Europe. Built by the architect Karl Ludwig von Zanth (1796-1857) for King Wilhelm I of Württemberg as a Moorish-style summer house with living quarters and ornamental hothouses, many of the original buildings still remain. There is plenty to see, with around 9,000 animals (almost 1,000 different species), display beds and greenhouses, important orchid collections, an aquarium with crocodile house and a famous coral fish collection, a modern ape house, a bear enclosure, a walk-through free-flight aviary, a visitor farm and much more. Disabled access. Feeding demonstrations and animal shows, guided tours for groups available on request.
» www.wilhelma.de
Founded in 1908 by the zoologist Ernst Haeckel, the Phyletic Museum in Jena is the only institution of its kind in the world. Laid out by theme, the zoological museum gives a comprehensive account of the evolutionary development of organisms. The Medusa (jellyfish) and Evolution halls are located on the lower level, and phylogenetic development is documented on the floor above. There are vast zoological and palaeontological collections with more than 500,000 exhibits, some dating back to the 18th century. Zoological specimens, fossils, models and drawings are used to illustrate the evolution of life on Earth. Guided tours for groups available on request. Closed 24, 25, 31 December and 1 January.
» www.phyletisches-museum.uni-jena.de
The "Zoological Cabinet", the predecessor of the university's zoological museum created back in 1819, proved to be very useful as a demonstration collection for the research and teachings of the time. Approximately 80 per cent of the museum's holdings originate from the period 1819-1890. They form the basis of today's museum collection and still form an essential element of the exhibition. This prestigious institution has been open to the public as a museum since 1979 Located in the Institute for Zoology building, it offers insights into animal geography, systematics and comparative anatomy as well as human evolution, the domestication of animals and biodiversity. There are specimens of extinct animal species such as the passenger pigeon, Tasmanian tiger and Javan rhino. The museum also organises lecture series. Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
» web.zoo.uni-heidelberg.de
Opened in 1987, the Aquazoo/Löbbecke Museum in Düsseldorf is a municipal facility which is both an aquarium and a natural history museum. The 6,800m˛ site consists of 25 themed display rooms with 80 aquariums holding a total of 613,000 litres of water and around 550 different living species. At the entrance, visitors are greeted by the friendly penguins. Children are particularly impressed by the sharks and crocodiles, which glide past the glass panels of the aquariums. The Aquazoo also features a tropical hall, 62 landscape terrariums, insectariums, 230 display cases, information panels and other major exhibits. The Löbbecke Collection includes approximately 250,000 molluscs, 75,000 geoscientific exhibits, 650,000 insects and the Löbbecke archive. Disabled access. Closed 1 January, Carnival Monday, 1 May, and 24, 25 and 31 December, guided tours on request.
» www.duesseldorf.de
The Berlin zoological garden, which opened in 1844, was the first zoo in Germany and with around 14,000 animals and 1,500 species, it is one of the most bio-diverse in the world. It is known worldwide for its collection of rare species and its breeding success stories such as its internationally significant work with the black rhino. The zoo's aquarium is one of Germany's most important that is open to the public. Its long, distinguished tradition, in addition to its fish, lower animals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and crocodile house, make it a mecca for aquarium and terrarium enthusiasts. The famous jellyfish breeding programme and the insectarium also hold great appeal. The aviary is home to many different species of birds, and the top attraction is the zoo's only giant panda. Themed guided tours are available on request.
» www.zoo-berlin.de
Fehmarn marine life centre is one of the largest aquarium complexes in Europe and has been in the Guinness Book of Records since 1998. The display aquariums hold almost 4 million litres of sea water along with corals, sea horses, clownfish and moray eels, replicating the underwater world of the tropics. The aquarium's major attraction are its sharks, with twelve different species on show here. Visitors can look right into the eyes of these fascinating fish in a ten-metre-long glass tunnel. The other display aquariums show a diverse range of fish species, but also more primitive sea creatures, crabs, coral, giant clams and starfish.
» www.meereszentrum-fehmarn.de
The delightful 5,000m˛ butterfly farm in Trassenheide on the island of Usedom has been home to many tropical butterflies since 2005. Visitors' first port of call is the huge tropical “free flight” house with waterfalls, rocks, exotic species of orchid and rare passion flowers, and of course a tropical climate. Up to 3,000 colourful butterflies of 60 different species, including the world's largest – the atlas moth - flutter about, feed on nectar and fruit and reveal their true splendour. Visitors can watch the whole life cycle from caterpillar to adult butterfly. The insect museum provides a wealth of information about the uses, development stages and biodiversity of insects. The collection comprises several thousand insects and living examples of leaf insects, stick insects, scorpions, bird-eating spiders and lots more. Open all year round. Guided tours available on request.
» www.schmetterlingsfarm.de
Count Dracula would no doubt be delighted, Nosferatu would turn in his grave with relief and even Batman would have got in a flap about this place right next to the chalk mines. In 2006, the first bat centre opened its doors to visitors here. This diverse, beautiful and distinctive collection relating to the mysterious bat extends over four floors and covers 560m˛. Visitors can learn all kinds of exciting details about the life of the bat on the "sensations" level, discover the mysterious world of a cave and get up close to the creatures of the night. Noctalis also shows breathtaking films about bats. The vast accessible caves beneath Kalkberg hill are a valuable natural resource and home to 15,000 bats that roost and hibernate underground. Rare cave-dwelling beetles and 53 species of snail can also be found here. Closed 1 October to 31 March.
» www.noctalis.de
Colourful butterflies have fluttered about Princess Elisabeth von Bismarck's garden in the heart of the lovely Sachsenwald forest since 1985. It is also home to fish, birds and other creatures. Germany's oldest butterfly farm is located in the beautifully landscaped, spacious palace garden. These colourful insects live in natural surroundings in two glasshouses of about 600m˛. The tropics house provides a tropical garden habitat for the butterflies with waterfalls, fragrant plants delicate dragonflies. The wings of brightly coloured, free flying butterflies from South America, Asia and Africa catch the light as they flutter among the visitors making their way from one flower to another looking for nectar. Visitors can see how pretty butterflies emerge from their cocoons and take their first flight after the mysterious process of metamorphosis. Open from mid-March to October. Guided tours on request.
» www.garten-der-schmetterlinge.de
