By Alina Groening
Four Indian rhinoceroses, two flatland tapestry pigs and seven Visayas pustula pigs have been given a new, luxurious home at Zoo Berlin. After around two years of construction, the rhinoceros pagoda was opened on Friday.
“The rhinoceros pagoda is a significant step in our mission to promote species protection and to raise public awareness of the threatening loss of our biodiversity, using the example of Indian rhinos,” said zoo director Andreas Knieriem (57) at the opening of the 14,000 square meter -Attachment.
Economic Senator Franziska Giffey (45, SPD) fed a tapir with apples and scratched the animal’s head. Giffey described the system as “a real asset for Berlin”.
“We recently opened a newly designed savannah landscape including a giraffe path in Tierpark Berlin and now the next highlight is the new rhinoceros pagoda in the zoological garden,” says the politician.
An Indian rhino splashes around in its new home Photo: Carsten Koall/dpa
The construction of the plant was financed with 15.4 million euros from funds for the joint task to improve the regional economic structure (GRW). The total project budget was 23 million euros.
Outside there are bathing pools, waterfalls, showers and mud wallows for the animals. The swamp landscape should be based on the natural habitat – according to the zoo, this is how a real “rhinoceros wellness area” was created. In the new pagoda you can get very close to the animals and observe them through an underwater glass pane that is unique in the world.
The focal point of the new rhinoceros pagoda: a 25 meter high tower Photo: Ralf Gunther
Indian rhinos are originally found in India, Nepal and Bhutan. The animals are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Hardly any other animal represents species threatened with extinction as much as the rhinoceros.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Indian rhino was almost wiped out. According to the zoo, there were fewer than 200 animals in their natural habitat. As a result, the animals were placed under protection and national parks were set up, which meant that the stocks gradually recovered.
From June 24th, the Rhinoceros Pagoda will be open to visitors.