Through the old zoo gate (our main entrance) you will step right into the historical part of our zoo. You will see the handwriting of Ernst Pinkert, who laid the first stone of our zoological garden back in 1878.
Today the Safari Office and the zoo school are situated in the original Wilhelminian-style buildings that are now under preservation order. The adjacent aquarium, which Pinkert’s successor Dr. Gebbing had built, is also still very popular today.
Our aquarium that is over 100 years old ranks among the largest inGermany. Here you can get a fantastic view of the underwater world with all of its exotic creatures. In our panorama tank filled with 35,000 litres of water you will not only see colourful fish, but also living corals. In the ring tank (of the extended building), reef sharks and other species swim in circles around the visitors.
Sharks and other salt water fish: every day 11:00 AM
Corals reef fish: every day 11:30 AM
Coral reef fish: every day 04:00 PM
Coral reef fish: every day 04:30 PM
Powderblue surgeonfish
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Blind cave fish
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Long-spined sea urchin
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Farbkarpfen
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Matamata turtle
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Spotted archerfish
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Yellow grouper
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Pennant coralfish
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Bubble tip anemone
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Soft coral
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Cleaner wrasse
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Red-toothed triggerfish
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Blacktip reef shark
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Freshwater angelfish
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Our Baikal seal pool is right in front of the aquarium. You can see the seal at its best during feeding time – and find out more about its origin: the Baikal Sea, from where it gets its name. This rather small seal species lives in fresh water and only grows up to 1.4 m. Incidentally, this is the only one of its species kept outside of Asia.
Come straight out of the aquarium and onto the shore! A whole host of reptile species live in our terrarium. You can see tortoises munching slowly on a lettuce leaf, snakes wrapped around tree branches and lizards basking on rocks. For our alligators we have even mimicked a small part of theEverglades. Pick the right moment and you can see one of them emerging from the water.
In this historical primate house you can watch the feisty primates from Africa and South America. The De Brazza’s monkeys are noticeable because of their very distinct facial markings. They have a very long tail, in order to balance while jumping. You will also be impressed by the Owl-faced monkey and the Cotton-headed tamarin with its dear-devil climbing stunts from branch to branch
Your children’s eyes will light up here! In the animal kindergarden teacup pigs, dwarf goats, donkeys and rabbits are all waiting to be stroked – a climbing style enables kids to climb directly into the goat pen. For those who want there are also budgerigars, Cameroon sheep or the smallest race of sheep in Germany (Skudden) to be discovered. Your offspring will be greeted by bleating and chirping and they can get really close to all of the animals. There is a playground right next to the animal kindergarden, where the kids can play and climb.
You will find the Explorer’s House Ark in the historical carnivore house that was also referred to in the past as "Leipzig’s lion factory", which is no coincidence given that 2,300 big cats were bred here over 100 years. Today visitors go into the Ark on a safari of the senses: in an interactive exhibition you can learn more about our role as a modern zoo. You can also see, smell, touch and listen to animals and plants from Asia, Africa and South America.
