Germany: Zoo Rostock Opens Viking Boat for Forest Playground
Claus Ruhe Madsen (re.), Geschäftsführer der Möbel-Wikinger GmbH, Zoodirektor Udo Nagel (mi.), Jörg Eichhorn (li.) und Uwe Müller vom Güstrower Bildungshaus und Kinder von Urlauberfamilien, die den Rostocker Zoo besuchten.
© Foto: Joachim Kloock/Zoo Rostock
Zoo Rostock recently added a new Viking boat to its forest playground. The ten meter long and two meter wide boat, which is made of plastic material, is designed as a picnic place and play area. The project was realized in cooperation with Euro Viking Lübeck, a company that had also been involved in the production of the cartoon series “Vicky the Viking”, and Scandinavian furnishing house Möbel Wikinger GmbH. The latter had already supported the thematic transformation of the zoo playground into a Viking village two years ago.
The ship, which was designed according to historical models, was built by permanently unemployed persons as part of a social project. Claus Ruhe Madsen, CEO of Möbel Wikinger, explains: “On the new boat small and big Vikings may feel like King Harald I. Bluetooth. At the time of the famous Viking captain in the second half of the 10th century, these boats operated in the Baltic Sea.” The director of the zoo, Udo Nagel, is pleased about the inauguration of the new part for the play area: “It is always great to see families with their children enjoying the special atmosphere at the forest playground. Now, there is another reason for packing the picnic basket.” (eap)
