Galloping giraffes are such a thing in winter. Some are very happy about it, including at least all visitors, maybe even the accompanying pets. Others, however, are much more competent when it comes to the sticky animals and are more concerned about them. Because although almost all species with outdoor enclosures, from lions to llamas, are used to minus temperatures, as zoo director Rasem Baban explains, there are big differences. The arctic fox, for example, is unsurprisingly in pretty good spirits in the snow-covered enclosure and is constantly on the move, so nobody needs to worry.
Are not allowed to gallop over sheets of ice: the giraffes.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
While attention should be paid to the said giraffes, because for purely physical reasons a sheet of ice and a possible slipping is probably the most serious for them. That’s why the African animals are only released into the small outdoor area near the giraffe house for a little fresh air, even when in doubt. “There we can make sure that we don’t overlook any ice sheet,” says Baban.
Otherwise, of course, the head of the zoo only has good things to say about the winter at the zoo. On the one hand, that’s not very surprising, because the zoo is also open in winter and Baban, as the top advertising drummer, can always elegantly talk about its advantages. But in this case the numbers speak for themselves.
The period from November to February, years ago the “sour cucumber season”, i.e. without any significant visitors, has changed. “We even had 10,000 visitors on a very cold Saturday in January 2019.” These are numbers that are otherwise only reached during prime time on summer holiday weekends. “Many people find that the zoo has great appeal even at this time of year,” says Baban. What are these charms? And why do visitors only notice them more recently? If you take a close look around the zoo, you can clearly come to the conclusion that it is particularly beautiful there in winter.
It all starts at the main entrance on a sunny, freezing cold Saturday in December: all the cash registers are open, not a hint of a queue. Already on the bridge, the visitor can approach the zoo with the pleasant feeling that he would normally no longer walk at this point, but instead stand annoyed between others. If he turns right, dozens of West African pygmy and Damara goats are available to pet in the petting zoo, which can be exclusively pampered.
And with the Maushaus, thanks to reflective Christmas balls, it is even possible to include both animals and the corresponding small influencer in one photo. When it comes to social media, the zoo has long stopped swimming along the Auer Mühlbach. For example, you can currently hear the wonderful noise. In general, the acoustics are the big trump card of the winter zoo.
Snowy owls are perfectly adapted to winter.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
Air out from behind a cottage: a red panda.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
In its element: a Siberian tiger.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
“In summer, most of the noises are drowned out by the rustling of leaves on the many trees,” says Baban, but also by the children’s squealing and parents’ chatter or couples’ chatter. “If you go into the aviary these days, you’ll hear the birds like never before,” says Baban. Nothing penetrates from the outside, inside it whistles and chirps so that it is “almost surreal”, even for the zoo director who lives on the premises. The Ober-Ibex, which often seeks privacy between rocks in summer, is enthroned on its hill in winter as if it were the king of the animals and not its neighbor with the mane.
He, in turn, likes to stand at one of the window panes and take a close look at the winter specimens selected by zoo visitors. After a few hundred meters, when your hands are frozen, the visitor asks himself at the latest: lion, Africa, cold temperatures – isn’t he freezing? Baban says: “On the one hand, our animals are descendants of zoo animals, so they are acclimatized to European temperature fluctuations.”
In addition, any animal that owns an outdoor area can also go inside at any time. Except perhaps for the elephants, where the keepers look closely and watch the clock to make sure that they get sun and fresh air, but don’t catch a cold and can take a shower inside in good time. Of course, animals also get colds, and Willi caught it the last time.
Not immune to colds: the chimpanzees.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
The chimpanzee senior therefore sits on his tree trunk with his arms wrapped around him when he is being fed and only allows himself to move when kiwis are thrown very accurately by the carers on the first floor. But they are then monkey-like smooth and precise. Briefly bend to the right, hold with one foot-hand, mouth open, kiwi crushed. Vitamins help primates just as much as medicines, there is no difference between Sapiens and its Hominidae colleagues. We continue towards the polar world, to the currently popular colleagues.
Another short stop at the Ober-Hominiden in Hellabrunn. The zoo uses the dark season for construction work on the paths or, as is currently the case, to restore and modernize the playgrounds. “And we can better maintain and renew the outdoor enclosures during these months because the animals are outside less often,” says Baban.
Of course, the animal park, as an AG managed by the city as the main shareholder, has also implemented the energy saving requirements. Administration buildings are cooled down, sweaters are on. “Fortunately, in 2020 we started planning how we can become independent of gas,” says the zoo boss. In the middle of next year, the animal park will be connected to the city’s south geothermal system. The energy-intensive buildings in the east, such as the jungle world or the world of the monkeys, will then be independent of fossil energy.
Zoo boss Rasem Baban in the Munich Tierpark Hellabrunn.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
What winter advertiser Baban can’t help with, however, are cute cubs. And of course they are always a big attraction. On the other hand, the no longer so young animals present are almost equal to the summer baby news in view of a certain trustingness.
The construction projects are progressing, for example in the jungle world, which is now being completely gutted and renovated after the lions have left. New animal species will move in in 2024, which you can then experience even more closely because the former lion outdoor area is being redesigned. As the polar world residents already know, such as fox and hare, which are separated by a visitor bridge. The polar bears are resting, maned seals and foxes are doing their rounds. It’s quiet, muffled. You almost get the feeling that the visitor is alone with the animals. “For visitors, the connection to nature is becoming increasingly important,” notes Baban.
Outdoors until it threatens to freeze solid: the flamingo.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
A mixture of nature, park, Isar and animals, that’s a big city zoo today. And no longer just baby pandas and snarling predators. So it’s no wonder that the people of Munich like to stop by the flamingo and giraffe, especially in winter when they have a lot of time at home. The tortoise house, which was then renovated, has been open again since Christmas Eve. And you can stop off at any time, for example to see the elephants, gorillas or rhinos, or of course in the restaurant for fries, mulled wine or soup.
Maybe it also has its appeal to experience the cold resistance of the animals. Because even the flamingos, with their legs as thin as icicles, are usually outside in winter – at least until they threaten to freeze solid.