
Gorillas Berlin Zoo
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If you are staying at any of the great hotels in Berlin, you
are undoubtedly staying within walking distance of this
zoo. It is
located on the outskirts of the Tiergarten, the large park in the center of
the city. The park itself is bigger than the country of Monaco.
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[more pics] |
Gorillas in Berlin Zoo
Gorillas are the largest
of the living
primates.
They are ground-dwelling
herbivores that inhabit the
forests
of Africa.
Gorillas are divided into two species and (still under debate as of
2008) either four or five subspecies. The
DNA of
gorillas is
98%–99% identical to that of a human, and they are the next closest
living relatives to
humans
after the two
chimpanzee species.
Gorillas live in tropical or subtropical forests.
Although their range covers a small percentage of Africa, gorillas cover
a wide range of elevations. The Mountain Gorilla inhabits the
Albertine Rift montane
cloud forests of the
Virunga Volcanoes, ranging in altitude from 2225 to 4267 m
(7300-14000 ft). Lowland Gorillas live in dense forests and lowland
swamps and marshes as low as
sea
level. |
What to expect at the Berlin zoo.
Thousands of great animals included in a well laid out zoo/aquarium setup.
I was surprised by the size of the place. Not just a cage with
one or two elephants but, apparently, a whole african savanah with a herd of
elephants. Not just elephants, but
giraffes,
lions, gorillas,
kangaroos,
polar bears,
tigers,
emus and, even, a glimpse of (not one, but two)
okapi. |
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from
wikipedia
"The Berlin
Zoological Garden (German:
Zoologischer Garten Berlin)
is the oldest and internationally most well known zoo in
Germany.
Opened in 1844 it comprises an area of 35 hectares and is located in
Berlin,
Tiergarten. With almost 1,400 different
species
and around 14,000 animals the zoo presents the most comprehensive collection
of species in the world.
The zoo and its
aquarium
numbered 3.2 million visitors in 2007. It is considered to be the most
visited zoo in Europe and one of the most popular worldwide. Regular animal
feedings are among its most famous attractions. Several globally known
animals like
Knut, the polar bear or Bao Bao, the Giant Panda are contributing to the
zoo's public image.
The zoo is closely collaborating on scientific fields with a large number
of universities, research institutes, and other zoos around the world. It
maintains and promotes numerous
European breeding programmes and safeguards several endangered species.
A number of species kept at the 'Berlin Zoo' are regularly returned to the wild after
years in intensive human care."

A couple of nice places to eat, inside or out. Lots of signs pointing
the way and a comprehensive
zoo map in our guide book.
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