Switzerland: Animal Park Bern Opens New Ibix Compound

At Dählhölzli Zoo, which is part of the Animal Park Bern, just opened the new “Aere-Alps“ compound for alpine ibex. To create a new species-appropriate compound, the German rock work specialist KaGo & Hammerschmidt developed thousands of square metres of artificial natural-looking rocks. The new area includes climbing battlements with spaces for the animals to lay down, different rock layers, an observation cave for visitors, shelters and renewed slope stabilization.

Also, the new compound, in which the Animal Park Bern invested 4.3 million euros, features a new green area for chamois, an accessible aviary and it is home to the park‘s groundhogs. Originally constructed in 1937, the new “Aere-Alps“ are supposed to present the history of ibex in Switzerland. Visitors are able to observe the animals from up close over a pathway, which reaches over the compound’s storeys and ends in a cave, which was built into the rock wall. (eap)