The Tierpark Hagenbeck is a zoo in the Stellingen district of Hamburg, and dates back to 1863. It started as a private animal collection belonging to Carl Hagenbeck Sr., who was a fishmonger by profession. The park itself was founded by Carl Hagenbeck Jr. in 1907, and is known for being the first zoo to use open enclosures surrounded by moats in preference to cages, in an attempt to approximate the natural environments the animals would have enjoyed in the wild.
Hagenbeck’s innovative landscape designs, which he called his “panorama system” used hidden moats to separate the animals from the zoo’s visitors and each other, creating the illusion of an extensive landscape in which numerous species of free-roaming animals and birds lived alongside one another. Hagenbeck sought to make his panoramic displays as realistic as possible, a feature that is still a characteristic of the Hagenbeck Tierpark to this day.
The Hagenbeck Tierpark survived the first World War but fell on hard times and was closed for two years following the end of the war as Germany entered a deep depression. World War II brought more ill fortune, and the original Tierpark was destroyed during the Allied bombing of Hamburg. After the war, the zoo was rebuilt and is still run by the Hagenbeck family. Which is just as well, because it’s one of our favourite places to visit in the summer!
One of Gatti’s favourite pastimes is feeding the elephants! We always have to buy at least one big bag of apples or carrots so that she can do that when we visit. The elephants will also relieve you of your small change if you let them, and give it to the keepers. Apparently the money goes to the upkeep of the Tierpark.
As long as she doesn’t take it into her head to feed me to the lions . . .
The Tierpark has a number of restaurants and food stands where you can enjoy everything from a sit down meal to a take-away hot-dog or hamburger. It is also far more than just a zoo – the grounds are extensive and every year Hagenbeck hosts a number of cultural events, including classical and contemporary music evenings.
On certain dates during the year, you can spend the day visiting the many animal and bird enclosures and then stay for the evening to watch a classical quartet, a jazz trio, or a gospel choir – all for the price of a standard entrance ticket!
We have visited Hagenbeck Tierpark several times in the last few years and there is always something new to see. If you’re going to visit, plan on spending the whole day there – and you probably still won’t see everything!