Pinguins info - penguin - zoo information about penguins in Germany

Zoo in Aachen (Germany) official zoosite
In 2001 opened a new enclosure for African penguins, they live together with some other birds from the Wadden.
With thanks to Mr. Wolfram Graf-Rudolf, Direktor Aachener Tierpark, for this information.
Zoo in Berlin official zoosite
Here you find humboldt penguins and african penguins outside, and rockhoppers and king penguins in a special exhibit inside.
Feeding times are not fixed.
About 5 times yearly you can find breeding african penguins here.
The zoo of Berlin has about 14 000 animals. Special favorites are the two giant pandas.
With thanks to the Zoo of Berlin for this information.
Also look at pictures of other animals in this zoo.
Zoo Hannover official zoosite
Here you find a small group african penguins, all born in captivity.
While the penguins are very shy, you can't feed them neither have a view-behind.
But for the other animals it is possible after asking.
July 2008 a new large Alaska-landscape is opened with a special african penguins exhibit. They live in a ship-alike complex, where they can be seen underwater too.
They have about 1800 animals from 212 species.
With thanks to Simone Hagenmeyer for this information.
Allwetterzoo van Münster official zoosite
Here you can find a large group african penguins, all born in captivity.
Feeding times are at 11.45 a.m. and 15.45 p.m., after the seal-training except on Friday. And even visitors can offer fish themselves to the penguins.
The first breeding season starts in July, and those chicks will hatch from August till begin Oktober.
A second season goes from November till January.
Breeding time 38 days, raising till they fledge: 60 days.
They already had more than 200 chicks hatched since the first young bird.
Normally parents breed their own eggs, but sometimes, when they ignore it, the attendant lays that egg in a nest from a couple of the same sexe, and then they raise it very succesfully. This isn't so rarely, because among birds in captivity you often find couples of the same sexe.

In the wild, adult birds take care for their chicks during about 100 days and then stop feeding them. At this time the chicks have enough fat and even outweight their parents.
In a zoo, chicks are fed by their parents for 60 days and then are taken away and placed apart in a separate "penguin school". While in the wild those youngsters group together and have to learn to catch fish alone, in a zoo they have nothing on this "inherent talent". Here they don't get a stimulus of swimming fish and they have to learn to accept dead fish from the attendants. Of course this learning takes weeks and a lot of patient of the attendant.
First the chick is placed separate, where it will automatically defend itself and snap and bite at everything that moves around him and comes close. The attendant uses this natural reaction and holds a fish directly before its bill till the chick is satisfied.
As soon as he has learned to accept the fish freely and not as a reaction, the chick will be brought in the water for the first time in his live. Now the fish is offered on the water-surface. While in the meanwhile the hand looks familiar, the chicks will eat enough.
In the last phase they have to learn to recognize the fish as food without the hand and dive for it. This training takes weeks and much patient and time from the attendants.
When they are finally "graduated", they are brought to a separate water basin, not far from the "Wad-birds-aviary". When the breeding period is over for the adults, they finally return to the colony. You can still recognize them as juveniles by their feathers, while they are grey and don't have the so remarkable black band yet. Around 2-3 years they are old enough to search a partner for live and raise their own chicks.

Very special here is that in the week-ends the penguins march through the zoo at 14:00 p.m. and by many visitors a second time at 15.00 p.m. During the summer-period you can "march" with them daily at 14:00 p.m.
Then one special penguin, called "Sandy" by her attendant, is very remarkable. She is so curious for our "human" world, that she even allows him to pick her up and visitors can caress her. This is of course a great attraction for the visitors and the zoo.
Read also Relation with Sandy
They have totally 3120 animals from 352 species.
With thanks to Mrs. Ilona Zühlke, in the zoo of Münster, who kindly gave me this information.
Also look at pictures of other animals in this zoo.
Zoo Nürnberg official zoosite
Here you find African and humboldtpenguins.
Feeding time is 16.00 p.m.
No view-behind allowed.
With thanks to Dr. Helmut Maegdefrau for this information.
Zoo Wilhelma, Stuttgart official zoosite
They have around 40 african and 4 king penguins here, all born in captivity.
Feeding time for the african penguins is at 14:30 p.m., for the king penguins no fixed time.
Breeding period for the african penguins goes from begin November till end March. The eggs always are incubated by the penguins themselves, no machine is involved.
The oldest one is a king penguin, named Karl, who hatched on July 20, 1973 (31 years old!) in Wilhelma.
No plans for a new exhibit, but when the last king penguin here dies, they wont keep this species here anymore. African penguins will remain in their recent exhibit, which was renewed in 1993.
No views behind, but on special occasions like children birthdays and for zoo supporters, you can "pet" a penguin. With thanks to Mrs. B. Woitschek from Wilhelma for this information.
Zoo Wuppertal official zoosite
Here you can king penguins and african penguins.
Feeding times are once in the morning and once in the afternoon but not on fixed times.
Most of the chicks hatch between August and Oktober (king) and between December till June (african penguins).
A "view behind the scenes" isn't allowed.
A new exhibit for the african penguins was ready in 2006 and they are renewing the exhibit of the king penguins too. You will be able to look at the king penguins under water trhough a 15 m long glass tunnel, which is unique for Europe.
With thanks to Mr. A. Kalthof, Dipl. Biol. in Zoo Wuppertal for this information.
Also look at pictures of other animals in this zoo.

Zoo in Berlin official zoosite
Here you find humboldt penguins and african penguins outside, and rockhoppers and king penguins in a special exhibit inside.
Feeding times are not fixed.
About 5 times yearly you can find breeding african penguins here.
The zoo of Berlin has about 14 000 animals. Special favorites are the two giant pandas.
With thanks to the Zoo of Berlin for this information.
Also look at pictures of other animals in this zoo.
Zoo am Meer - Bremerhaven official zoosite
Here you find humboldt penguins.
Feeding times: 10.15 a.m. and 14.45 p.m.
With thanks to Dr. Heike Kück for this information.
Zoo in Dortmund official zoosite
They have humboldt penguins (18, state June 2004), 3 born in the wild, the others in zoos. There are some pairs, who live harmonious together but it is not clear if these are really male-female-couples, because sometimes birds of the same sex live harmonious together, without "suspicion". They haven't raised young until yet.
Feeding-time is at 14.30 p.m., food contains herring and mackerel.
Sometimes, on children's birthday party's or with groups, you can take a look behind, but only on demand.
With thanks to Mrs. Ilona Schappert, zoo assistant in the zoo of Dortmund, for this information.
Zoo Hagenbeck in Hamburg official zoosite
Here you find about 20 humboldt penguins (state June 2004), all born in captivity.
Feeding times: summer: 10:30 a.m. and 15:30 p.m.; winter: 11:00 a.m. and 14.30 p.m.
The oldest here has hatched in 1989 in Naturzoo Rheine and moved later to Hamburg.
You can always make an appointment for a special guided penguin tour.
With thanks to Kerstin Jurczynski from Hagenbeck for this information.
Jaderpark official zoosite
Here you find humboldtpenguins.
Feeding times are : 11.00 a.m. and 15.00 p.m.(not on Friday)
No "view-behind-the scenes"
With thanks to Jaderpark for this information.
Zoo in Karlsruhe official zoosite
Here you find about 30 humboldt penguins and 20 magellanic penguins.
They will be fed twice a day, and visitors can see this at 15.30 p.m.
On regular base they have chicks.
With thanks to Dr. Clemens Becker in the zoo of Karlsruhe for this information.
Also look at pictures of magellanic penguins.
Zoo in Cologne official zoosite
Here live humboldt penguins.
Feeding times are at 10:45 a.m. and 16:30 p.m.
With thanks to Dr. Günther Nogge, Director in the zoo of Köln for this information.
Also look at pictures of other animals in this zoo.
Vogelpark Marlow official zoosite
Here you find humboldtpenguins (circa 20 birds, state june 2004), all penguins are born in captivity.
Feeding time: 14:15 p.m.
The zoo is specialized in birds, especially parrots, and butterflies.
With thanks to Jan Gereit from Vogelpark Marlow for this information.
Zoo Hellabrunn in München official zoosite
Here you find king and humboldt penguins.
Feeding times are : 11.00 a.m. and 15.00 p.m.
With thanks to Dr. Doris Schwarzer for this information.
Zoo Nürnberg official zoosite
Here you find African and humboldtpenguins.
Feeding time is 16.00 p.m.
No view-behind allowed.
With thanks to Dr. Helmut Maegdefrau for this information.
NaturZoo Rheine official zoosite
Here you find a small group (about 20 birds) of humboldt penguins, all hatched once in a zoo.
In 2004 they got a new exhibit, next to the seals.
Feeding times are : 11.00 a.m. and 16.00 p.m.
The oldest one ever been there was 32 years, caught from the wild.
Only on special children Birthday-partys, they can feed the penguins.
With thanks to A. Johann, Curator, for this information.
Also look at pictures of other animals in this zoo.
Zoo Osnabrück official zoosite
Here you find humboldt penguins.
Feeding times are at 10.30 a.m. and at 15.30 p.m.
Normally young birds hatch between March to May.
Sometimes by special occasions you can offer them a fish.
A "view behind the scenes" isn't allowed, while the birds would be disturbed too much, but every Sunday and on special days visitors can get information about the penguins.
For the rest you can find here 290 different animals, including: elephants, giraffes, lions and tigers, giant otters, and many others...
With thanks to Mrs. Ute Magiera, diploma biologist zoo at Osnabrück for this information.
Tierpark Sababurg official zoosite
Here live a few humboldt penguins, all 8 till 10 years old.
Feeding times: 10:00 a.m. and 16:00 p.m.
On children birthdays and special occasions you can celebrate with the penguins and feed them yourselve.
With thanks to Renate Hofmann for this information.
Zoo Schwerin official zoosite
You find around 30 humboldt penguins, all hatched in zoos.
Feeding times: 09:00 a.m. and 14:30 p.m.(the last one with explanation).
Chicks hatch in April and May, all bred on natural way by the adult birds.
On children birthdays and special occasions you can celebrate with the penguins and view-behind.
With thanks to the zoo for this information.
Vogelpark Walsrode official zoosite
Here you can find humboldt penguins.
Feeding times are once in the morning and once in the afternoon but not on fixed times.
Most of the chicks hatch during summer.
When you are present at the feeding time, you can offer a fish, after agreement of the attendant.
A "view behind the scenes" isn't allowed, since they have bad experiences with that.
With thanks to Mrs. M. Mueller, curator in Vogelpark Walsrode for this information.
Also look at pictures of other animals in this zoo.

Zoo Hellabrunn in München official zoosite
Here you find king and humboldt penguins.
Feeding times are : 11.00 a.m. and 15.00 p.m.
With thanks to Dr. Doris Schwarzer for this information.
Zoo in Berlin official zoosite
Here you find humboldt penguins and african penguins outside, and rockhoppers and king penguins in a special exhibit inside.
Feeding times are not fixed.
About 5 times yearly you can find breeding african penguins here.
The zoo of Berlin has about 14 000 animals. Special favorites are the two giant pandas.
With thanks to the Zoo of Berlin for this information.
Also look at pictures of other animals in this zoo.
Zoo Wuppertal official zoosite
Here you can find gentoo, king penguins and african penguins.
Feeding times are once in the morning and once in the afternoon but not on fixed times.
Most of the chicks hatch between August and Oktober (king) and between December till June (african penguins).
A "view behind the scenes" isn't allowed.
A new exhibit for the african penguins was ready in 2006 and they are renewing the exhibit of the king penguins too. You will be able to look at the king and gentoo penguins under water through a 15 m long glass tunnel, which is unique for Europe.
With thanks to Mr. A. Kalthof, Dipl. Biol. in Zoo Wuppertal for this information.
Also look at pictures of other animals in this zoo.

Zoo in Augsburg (Germany) official zoosite
Here they have 1 humboldt penguin and 6 magellanic penguins (?, while state June 2004), all a bit older and in 2008 2 chicks, but one died after a few days.
They are vainly searching for some new breeding pairs of magellanic penguins.
Their food is herring and little mackerel.
A view-behind would be possible after making an appointment and, of course, only with the attendant.
With thanks to Pascale Jüch, Dipl. Zoologin in the zoo of Augsburg, who kindly gave me this information.
Zoo in Berlin official zoosite
Here you find humboldt penguins and african penguins outside, and rockhoppers and king penguins in a special exhibit inside.
Feeding times are not fixed.
About 5 times yearly you can find breeding african penguins here.
The zoo of Berlin has about 14 000 animals. Special favorites are the two giant pandas.
With thanks to the Zoo of Berlin for this information.
Also look at pictures of other animals in this zoo.
Zoo Frankfurt official zoosite
Here you find 9 gentoo penguins, 3 male and 6 female.
Feeding times are : 10.45 a.m. and 15.45 p.m, except on friday.
Mostly the eggs hatch in August in the zoo.
Sometimes it is possible to look behind by special occasions, after agreement from the zoo.
They have a lot of others animals, like little panda, indian lion, okapi, fishes, amphibies, ...
With thanks to Bert Geyer, veterinary surgeon and Stephan M. Hübner, Dipl.-Biol. trainee for this information.
Zoo in Karlsruhe official zoosite
Here you find about 30 humboldt penguins and 20 magellanic penguins.
They will be fed twice a day, and visitors can see this at 15.30 p.m.
On regular base they have chicks.
With thanks to Dr. Clemens Becker in the zoo of Karlsruhe for this information.
Also look at pictures of magellanic penguins.
Zoo Wuppertal official zoosite
Here you can find gentoo, king penguins and african penguins.
Feeding times are once in the morning and once in the afternoon but not on fixed times.
Most of the chicks hatch between August and Oktober (king) and between December till June (african penguins).
A "view behind the scenes" isn't allowed.
A new exhibit for the african penguins was ready in 2006 and they are renewing the exhibit of the king penguins too. You will be able to look at the king and gentoo penguins under water through a 15 m long glass tunnel, which is unique for Europe.
With thanks to Mr. A. Kalthof, Dipl. Biol. in Zoo Wuppertal for this information.
Also look at pictures of other animals in this zoo.