1865 to 1894
Karlsruhe ... the fan city . Residence of the Margrave of Baden and Grand Dukes . Margrave Karl Wilhelm in 1715 put the foundation stone for the castle, radiating out from the tower of the avenues and streets of Karlsruhe. 9 September 1865 , exactly 150 years later , founded engaged citizens of Baden Association for poultry farming in the south of the city at that time the " animal garden " , one of the oldest zoos in Germany . At that time, received the poultry farmers of the Grand Ducal Forest Agency and the City Council of the Residenz Karlsruhe the southern part of the Salle grove along with the Ludwigsee for an annual rent of three guilders to build a zoo . The area in which the first animal enclosures and aviaries emerged was quite swampy and inhospitable.
The construction of a zoo with private club means proved even then , despite the best will be very difficult. The private founders were not able to bear the costs of the long Zoounterhalt , so that on 30 November 1868 a newly founded " Tiergarten club " took over the park , which ( is named after the " Loud Mountain " ) with the help of urban and commitment of Mayor Loud developed extremely favorable. In 1869 50 000 people visited the zoo , which could expand its animal population over time handsomely by foundations of the Grand Duke and the population.
Despite numerous visitors were even then the costs can not be offset by the revenue , the local authority supported the Karlsruhe stuck in dire financial straits Tiergarten club with loans and grants years - the first step to the city zoo. 1877 after the construction of a festival hall and the excavation of the garden city lake in the north of the site 's entire inventory and the animal facilities were transferred to municipal ownership . At the same time a part of the grove Salle became involved in the garden and created on the expanded grounds the first large horticultural plant. Significant improvements in animal husbandry in 1873 brought the water pipe, and finally, the completion of water high in the reservoir to artificially raised Loud Mountain in 1893. The water tower was made of reinforced concrete for 3200 cubic meters of water to supply the expanding towards the south of the city . The highest mountain in Karlsruhe was filled with the excavation of the adjacent terrain , planted and developed by paths . Thus, the Swan Lake and at the foot of the mountain which later emerged as popular Black Forest House . Here, where a bird trail extends beyond the now wooded and provides information on the biology of native species and the " aquatic environment " for adapted to the water life mammal and bird species will take its foot , were already housed at the turn of the century owls and Taggreife .
With the expansion of the garden at Garden Director Frederick Ries is also embellished his systems. At the last extension 1892/1894 in a southwesterly direction a house plant for tropical and exotic plants was built.
1895 to 1947
1899 donated three Karlsruhe city funds for the first rose garden, which was on the site of present-day Japan , with its garden and 3600 rose plants in 800 varieties and species had a significant extent.
1907 incorporated the previously temporarily housed in animal stables Zooverwaltung the new "City Garden Villa " at the Ettlinger road from where the zoo is headed today.
In 1913 the first sea lion to Karlsruhe , the swimming pool was built with rock scenery in the " style of Hagenbeck " between the former Black Forest House and the old bear enclosure came . As the oldest animal facility it is now used for appropriate renovations nor of sea lions.
With the construction and commissioning of the Karlsruhe main station in 1914 at the same time the city received a substantial garden grounds magnification. 1914 -1917 was director of horticulture ream the second rose garden, etc. , built on part of the former railway embankment at its current location . 1918 could be started on the site of the first rose garden with the construction of the garden Japan , one of the first gardens in Japan, Germany . Many sculptures and plants from Japan and the symbolic leadership of the water from the source to the sea facing in the Eastern world .
1920, the city garden was enlarged by donations to the Kaller and Wolff system. The latter has been a formal rear garden, which was filled in with Jugendstilart single flower gardens.
A sensation was the arrival of a royal tiger, which the City of Vienna in 1911 had been a " real" Maharaja as a gift , and in 1923 passed to Karlsruhe.
All older Karlsruhe citizens of the famous elephant " Molly " is a term . On Pentecost 1924, the three year old pachyderm arrived at the zoo and was for many years the favorite of all visitors . At the age of 20 years, " Molly " 1941 died of heart disease .
Shortly before the beginning of the second World War II included the herd had grown considerably including leopards , Bengal Tiger, Syrian bears, polar bears, black bears , sea lions, seals, penguins , camels , zebras , pelicans, a crocodile , birds and ornamental poultry. It was planned to relocate the zoo from the city center to the suburbs , a dream that could never be realized. The war and its destruction offset namely the Zoo and Garden City the death blow , a serious cut in the previous development . Many animals have been removed for safety reasons , some of them had to die in the bombardment , and the scanty remnant migrated with the war in neighboring Zoological Gardens . Many old trees were destroyed and the previous lawn and flowers rumpled surfaces by bomb craters . The site was used by the City nursery for vegetable cultivation to supply the starving population .
1947 to 1967
But already in 1947 the reconstruction began , and many animal enclosures were built. Already in 1949 celebrated the city garden and the zoo through the initiative of the then Mayor Frederick potter its "resurrection " to then in the following years, thanks to the special interest and love for animals of Mayor Gunther Klotz ( 1952-1970 ) to an actual zoo and to develop urban gardens. Seven lions, some horses and donkeys were the first post-war population catchment , followed by brown and raccoons, several groups of monkeys , flamingos and cranes .
1953 moved the arrived in 1950, a new pair of brown bear enclosure , followed by sea lions, harbor seals , sea cat , crowned cranes pelicans and pink . The first camel species yielded 1954 Hagenbeck , hippos came in 1956 by the Frankfurt Zoo and the Tiergarten Nürnberg in the previously completed in pachyderm house. Here were born in the following two dozen 30 years young.
Here also attracted 1957-1960 , the four Asian elephants overweight ladies " Rani ", " Shanti ", " Nepal " and " trulli " from Calcutta and Bangkok one . Two of the now more than 50 years 'Elephant Women ' excite the daily "Elephant Training" today the Karlsruhe audience.
First ungulates, residents of Asian and African steppe areas also met the late 50s in Karlsruhe : from the zoo Nürnberg Zebra and Watusi cattle, from the Wilhelma Stuttgart and from the Berlin Zoo, Persian gazelle , which developed into an interesting and Europe known breeding group .
Soon, the zoo was declared a " zoo " . In the new lion house and Siberian tigers were from 1960 next to servals , leopards, panthers and jaguars move . In just 20 years, 72 of these endangered Asian tigers were born at the zoo.
Another highlight was the completion of the "Giraffe House" by Rotterdam and Frankfurt model. In 1963 the feeding giraffes " Gustav " and " bee " from Gelsenkirchen and " Ingane " from Rotterdam formed the basis for successful breeding , which continues today with reticulated giraffes in the European breeding programs .
The following years were intensive preparation for the biggest event that has ever taken place in this urban area - the Federal Garden Show , which opened in 1967. 1965 was therefore in the nearby town of Forest , " Zoo upper forest " to create through relocation of animals from the zoo urban space for the Federal Garden Show . He is still the zoo branch for large Huftiergruppen . The extensive exchange enclosure favor a habitat management for particularly endangered species such as gazelle , European bison, Przewalski's horses and Mesopotamian fallow deer .
1967 to 1985
The previously spatially separated from each other by a road areas Zoo and Garden City grew by the surge of separating animal garden path with the Tiergartenbrücke together . The horticultural plants were transformed ( for example, the Rose Garden ) , southern and the northern Swan Stadtgartensee connected by a channel to one another and installed Gondoletta boats. Time for the opening of the garden show , which was attended by over 6 million visitors , the new plant was inaugurated for bears , then with 11 polar bears from other zoos and the Soviet Union, the largest polar bear farming in Europe .
The new monkey house was home from 1968 and next mangabey monkeys , rhesus monkey and pig-tailed macaques , baboons and Sphinx Madrills first time a type of ape , the chimpanzee.
In 1975 finished parrot house - now the South House - there was to see in addition to a variety of parrot species are also endangered tree kangaroos in Papua New Guinea.
Early 80s were given the Cheetahs a new leisure complex next to the Zooverwaltung , in the monkey house attracted a spider monkeys and lemurs , were built for the two new monkey islands as outdoor enclosure . Got a brand new face on the Children's Zoo elephant house and the owl aviaries at the foot of Mount Loud .
1986 to Today
As the first stage of the new zoo master plan in 1986 was only part of the predator house to be rebuilt. Completely naturally designed enclosure with trees and bushes , across fallen trees , boulders , pools and sand and grass courts offer lion , lynx , salt cats and - for the first time in Karlsruhe - snow leopard rich opportunities to pursue their natural behavior and seek also resting places that are not viewed by visitors can be .
A new system for small predators on Lauterberg with heated indoor facilities that are hilly, integrated into the outer enclosure was occupied with African Fenneks , banded mongooses and meerkats .
Prominent corner of this refurbishment was 1988/89 the completion of the pachyderm house. Asian elephants , hippos and a large group of Lesser Flamingos found here a "natural zoo environment ."
A new community in Karlsruhe farming for African ungulate and bird groups in large outdoor enclosures in 1994 could be completed as habitat " African Savannah " . Ten redrawn here oryx were between 1995 and 1997 , resettled in their original habitat , the steppes of North Africa.
1995/96 moved our group of chimpanzees into their new home . High bulletproof glass windows offer visitors " up close " interaction with their closest relatives , a spacious enclosure climbing given to the animals at any time retreat.
The lion house 1997/98 dilapidated outdoor enclosure for Java leopards and jaguars have been extended. A tent-like structure with transparent steel nets , equipped with large tree trunks, allowing the big cats resting and climbing in high altitudes .
Also in 1999 , the over 40 year old outdoor enclosure for elephants has been completely redesigned. New elements are the natural boundary of conglomerate rock and boulders , as well as swing - steel cables. A large swimming pool with a slowly decaying entry easier for our over 50 -year-old female elephants started and allowed to participate in the Zoogästen bathing the animals. To avoid the danger of falling into the Go Dug the former dry moat was integrated into the enclosure.
In October 2000, the new polar bear enclosure , as part of the major project "Living Water " opens . It is one of the most modern in Europe (see itinerary ; polar bear enclosure ) . The element " water " is found as a core element of the new , total 1900 m² outdoor complex of the animals. A eisschollenähnliche stages landscape is surrounded by water cascades and ponds that offer many opportunities for the animals playing, swimming and diving. The bears can be observed even under water . In a " tundra landscape " with low vegetation , rocky islands , roots and pine trees , the bears can scrape in various fields with boulders, gravel and sand flats and meadows dig . Special visual attractions are meter-high in the sunlight shining bluish icebergs in the center of the plant and washed out and jagged rock formations that give a vivid impression of a typical polar bear habitat in Arctic margin.
2007 has been realized with new enclosures for seals and penguins as the next block the continuation of the water habitat .
Tomorrow ...
By the natural death of many very old big cat species in the lion house and two remaining , very old " Elephant Women " in not more contemporary attitude and sensitive reductions in livestock today raises the question of the future of the zoo.
Municipality zoo and council are currently discussing a new concept of the zoological garden city and the future of large animals in the zoo animal population . The council groups are unanimously of the opinion , can not continue to give up elephants and other large animals such as lions, hippos and Bactrian camels in the zoo. For this purpose, the zoo's animal enclosures should Tullabades including the "moderate" increase in the northeastern garden area , flora and fauna are to be networked .
Key components of this approach should be implemented in the next 10 years. The goal is " completely revamped " for 300th birthday and the 150th city zoo birthday in 2015 to present the overall system as an attractive recreation center with modern and behave just landscape enclosures for animals and with an educational offering.