With its diverse animal population, there are at least 539 reasons for a visit to the zoo in Munich. The advent of autumn is of course one more reason. At this time of year, the rays of the Indian summer invite visitors to experience the colourful joy of the season at Hellabrunn Zoo. It’s a special atmosphere that will offer animal lovers wonderful autumnal impressions in the coming weeks: While the rhinos and the red kangaroos roam the green meadows, the grounds of the enclosures will gradually be covered in yellow, red and brown spots. A beautiful contrast, which can only be seen for a few weeks during the colourful season.
It's getting colourful - and the biological clock slows down
The gradual emergence of colourful foliage not only looks beautiful, but also offers plenty of autumnal enrichment for the animals. For many residents at Hellabrunn Zoo, the fallen leaves mean a lot of fun: rolling, rummaging and, of course, extensive digging.
The meerkats that have just moved into the Africa geozone can from time to time be seen basking in the warmth of the infrared lamp. The four lively enclosure mates like to gather here to get a little extra heat. As autumn dawns, the wolf brothers also seek out cosy resting areas in their enclosure and enjoy the rays of the autumn sun. The Alpine marmots are quite different: They will soon retreat to their cosy burrows to hibernate during the cold season. In the aviary, some bird species will also move into their winter quarters in late autumn. The arctic foxes and wood bison, on the other hand, simply grow a winter coat made of thick fur.
On cold or rainy days, a visit to the animal houses at Hellabrunn Zoo offers plenty of adventure for all ages: the chimpanzees and gorillas enjoy seeing guests and the aquarium is always worth a visit. You can also observe many other animals just hanging out: for example, the sloth family in the Rhino House or the siamangs in the World of Small Monkeys.
Autumn at the zoo – There’s a lot to do
The colourful splendour is a real treat for the animals and visitors, but for the gardeners and keepers the autumn season means extra work. The visitor paths in the 40-hectare park and the animal enclosures must be cleared of leaves every day. The technicians also have their hands full with testing water pumps and heating technology. Pumps are installed in some enclosures to ensure ice-free watercourses for species such as the Siberian tigers and Humboldt penguins.
Opening times in autumn and winter:
Until 29 October 2022, 9 am - 6 pm daily
From 30 October 2022, 9 am - 5 pm daily