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Contents
About
the history of Landau Zoo
...a
traditon of more than 100 years
It was July the 24th 1904 when the association "Vogelfreund" (bird's friend) took possession of the present-day zoo grounds which are located along the historic French fort. The association built the first bird house and several smaller enclosures. Therefore this date has become the founding date of our zoo.
Since 1920 the grounds are in possession of the city of Landau. In the years leading up to the Second World War the grounds were extended, new enclosures were built, and the green spaces were redesigned. Thus the zoo became more and more valuable in terms of leisure. After being almost totally destroyed at the end of the war the zoo, named "Tiergarten Landau" at that time, was completely rebuilt and hence became the first leisure facility of this kind in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
It was Dr. Rudolf Spengler who, being a veterinary surgeon and director of the zoo, brought about a change in 1973. According to zoological and veterinary insights the "Tiergarten" was turned into a scientifically run "zoo". In 1990 the grounds were extended from 2 hectares to 4 hectares.
In 1994 Dr. Bernhard Neurohr, being a veterinary surgeon as well, took over the position of the zoo director. During his time in Landau socialization of different animal species into one enclosure could be carried out successfully.
Since January 1st 2000 veterinary surgeon Dr. Jens-Ove Heckel has been the new director. For the last 6 years the conceptional change of the zoo, becoming a modern center of nature and species conservation according to the guidelines of the World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy, has come to be the center of attention. Besides its recreational function Landau Zoo is involved in protection of species, education, and science. Furthermore modernization, as well as building new enclosures being suitable for animals, and being close to nature are essential to the zoo.
As you can see there's always something going on in Landau Zoo...
First
edition of the zoo guide
downloading
with acrobat
(3.692.829
Bytes)
Bear
enclosure around 1924
Seal
enclosure around 1976