This past summer, visitors will have noticed construction work on the zebra, kudu, takin, nilgai and blackbuck enclosures. The areas were closed off to allow comprehensive restoration of the outdoor ungulate enclosures, which has now been successfully completed.
Hoofed animal enclosures are subject to particular mechanical and biological stresses. Regular maintenance is therefore essential and also vital for the health of the animals living there. The ground inside the enclosures tends to harden over time due to hoof compaction. This can cause larger stones in the gravelly soil structure typically found along the banks of the Isar to become loose and exposed. These had to be removed urgently to avoid injuries.
In addition, regular cleaning of the enclosures with brooms and rakes inevitably removes some of the substrate over time. As a result, the edges of the bases around the feeding platforms, water ditches and the stable were raised and had to be filled in again. The period of closure was also used to upgrade the planting in the facilities and redesign the feeding areas. The work was carried out in summer as enclosure grounds restoration requires dry, warm and, above all, lasting frost-free weather to ensure that the soil mix consolidates.
Since completion of the project, all the animals that were moved to temporary accommodation have now settled back into their respective enclosures. The revamped habitats feature several improvements: for example, the upgraded design allows the zebras and kudus to be kept separately from one another in the large outdoor enclosure, enabling them to move freely between the stable to outdoor enclosure at night. It also allows for animals to be kept separately in the event of a disagreement between individuals or if one of the two species gives birth.
With the ungulates back in their enclosures, visitors to Hellabrunn Zoo can once again observe the nilgai and blackbuck living together in a spacious habitat opposite the Rhino House. They can also meet the new addition to the nilgai herd: in mid-October, a nilgai buck moved to the enclosure with the females. It is hoped that his arrival will lead to offspring in the near future. Only the zoo’s two mature spotted deer remain in their temporary enclosure, which can be found right next to the yaks.
The takin enclosure has been upgraded not only for the returning residents but also to accommodate a new arrival: the two females will soon be joined a male. The return of a male takin to Hellabrunn Zoo paves the way for offspring. Furthermore, Hellabrunn Zoo participates in the EAZA Ex-situ Programme for Mishmi takins, which are listed as endangered in their natural habitat in the Himalayas.
In addition to larger and more complex construction projects, such as the complete overhaul of the Jungle World or the revamp of the penguin enclosure in the Polar World, smaller maintenance measures such as enclosure grounds restoration are also necessary in order to optimise the quality of life of the animals and recreate environments that are as close as possible to their natural habitats.