Originally, the work was scheduled to be completed this year. Unfortunately, that won’t happen, as Zoo Director Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck confirmed in an October interview with “Wien heute.”
Since 2022, a comprehensive renovation has been underway on the building, which has previously been home to bats, among other things. The director explained that after 20 years of operation in high humidity, the building’s structure has sustained more extensive damage than was initially apparent from the outside. Consequently, significant changes had to be made to the plans during the renovation of the existing structure.
Walls were repositioned and the heating system was modified, which ultimately made the project significantly more complex. The good news: This is creating a completely new interior layout, even though the building’s exterior shell remains intact. The grand reopening is now scheduled for early 2027.
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A Rare New Addition
As soon as the building opens its doors, visitors can expect a very special resident. The zoo is looking forward to welcoming a pangolin, a species that can be seen in only three other zoos in Europe. Another major project at the Tiergarten also requires more time. The planned species conservation aquarium has been postponed from 2028 to an estimated 2029. Due to the site’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, constant coordination and adjustments with the authorities are necessary to reconcile modern animal care with cultural heritage.
Anniversary and Possible Price Increases
Next year, the zoo will celebrate its 275th anniversary, with a strong focus on species conservation. In keeping with this theme, visitors can look forward to more new animal species. However, Hering-Hagenbeck does not rule out an increase in admission prices.
Meanwhile, the director responded calmly to public criticism regarding the lack of animal names: The animals still have names; they are simply no longer used as a marketing tool in external communications. Another recent topic of discussion was the revoked permit for a large-caliber firearm in the zoo’s inventory. The zoo director emphasized that such a weapon should be present in a zoo to save a human life in the most extreme of emergencies.
