Monkeying around at the Frankfurt Zoo

Story and photos by Karl Weisel

U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Public Affairs Office

WIESBADEN, Germany — One of the latest attractions at the Frankfurt Zoo is a baby giraffe named Jambo. But young orangutans, chimpanzees, penguins and a host of other playful critters also guarantee plenty of smiles on visitors’ faces.

Frankfurt’s Zoo, located not far from the downtown area at Alfred-Brehm-Platz 16, features more than 4,500 of some 500 species.

Founded in 1858 as Germany’s second zoological gardens, the Frankfurt animal park has seen many changes over the years while also helping to reintroduce several threatened species back into the wild.

In the past two decades the Frankfurt Zoo has undergone several major construction projects to provide larger, more natural enclosures for many of the inhabitants.

Visitors these days can catch glimpses of the tigers through thick, plate glass as the animals patrol their jungle setting.

At feeding time visitors can make their way over to the seal pond to watch the daily show as the seals slide off the “cliffs” built in 2002 and herons compete for fish thrown by a member of the zoo staff.

Where in the past the apes were crowded into small cages in the monkey houses, new larger areas provide more play room for the animals and space to get away from the crush of the crowds while going about their daily lives.

Several ongoing projects are aimed at continuing to improve the living conditions of the zoo’s creatures.

Underwater, nocturnal worlds

Among the highlights at Frankfurt’s Zoo are the Exotarium and Grzimek House. Once a visitors’ vision adjusts to the reduced lighting in both houses, they are rewarded with a close-up look at various fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects and mammals.

In the Exotarium visitors are first met by a long enclosure with a mixture of underwater life ranging from stingrays to turtles, eels to various size fish. Across the room is another long enclosure with a constantly moving colony of penguins.

Deeper in the Exotarium one encounters a wealth of unique fish, crocodiles, hairy spiders, lizards and a giant Mississippi River snapping turtle. Poisonous stonefish, carnivorous piranhas and deadly spiders are among the more popular denizens of the Exotarium.

The Grzimek House offers a rare look into the lifestyles of various nocturnal and other animals. From the cover of darkness one can peer through the glass into a bat cave, watch as desert foxes patrol their territory and otters splash in a pond.

Like many zoos, Frankfurt’s also features its share of larger animals including rhinoceroses, lions, gorillas and wolves.

Younger visitors can also enjoy a petting zoo and a small play area.

Refreshment stands, a gift shop and several restaurants are situated throughout the zoo.

During the summer months the zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. In winter it’s open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission to the zoo is €8 for adults, €4 for children (ages 6-17) and free for children age 5 and younger. A family ticket valid for two adults and children costs €20.

To get to the zoo by public transportation take the U-6 or U-7 and get off at the Zoo station.