Germany: Leipzig Zoo Opens Modernized Aquarium

A total of 12.5 million euros has been invested in the renovation of Leipzig Zoo‘s aquarium, the reconstruction of which took place between 2019 and 2021 – now, the zoological institution held the official opening ceremony for the new aquarium as part of the “Gründer-Garten” (“Founder’s Garden”) area. “We have experienced a lot of support for the project in this challenging pandemic period by part of the city but also by the Friends and Sponsors Association. We do not take this for granted and we owe them our sincere thanks. I would also like to thank all the members of the team from the Gründer-Garten and the construction department, who have mastered the modernization and the logistical challenge of temporarily relocating and re-acclimating almost 3,000 animals with personal commitment and great quality,” sums up Zoo Director Prof. Jörg Junhold.

In the future, the new aquarium will focus on tropical and subtropical marine and freshwater habitats and their inhabitants, as well as on the targeted conservation breeding of highly endangered fish species. In addition to species conservation, however, the focus here lies also on the visitor experience: already on the forecourt of the aquarium, a koi pond landscape including a 2.30-meter-high “koi dome” await visitors. Inside the two-story high round building, guests can then observe shovelnose hammerhead sharks and various species of cow-nosed rays, among others, in a 360-degree ring tank. The highlight of the aquarium is an overhead panoramic tank that depicts a flooded South American tropical forest, offering a glimpse into this special underwater habitat. Other new features include a jellyfish gyro, a visitor dome in the Nemo tank, and a research station that offers insights into the deep-sea ecosystem. (eap)