Exhibitions at Hellabrunn

How many teeth does an elephant have? How does plastic end up in the ocean? What does the code printed on my egg mean? And what does my chocolate have to do with orangutans? Our exhibitions offer you fascinating insights into the animal kingdom and invite you to learn how our everyday actions affects the environment and what you can do to protect endangered species.

The wolf has returned to Germany, and that's a good thing! Or is it? The exhibition at the revamped wolf enclosure offers fascinating facts about the wolf and its natural habitat. You will learn about its history and relationship with humans and, above all, what the return of the wolf means for Germany.

We also offers tips on what to do if you encounter a wolf.

The exhibition at the new lion enclosure offers many exciting facts about lions and their way of life, as well as information on their endangered status. It also sheds light on the question of why there are fewer and fewer lions in their natural habitat. In addition, visitors can learn about successful species conservation strategies currently being implemented.   

An interactive screen gives you insights into the working methods of conservationists and researchers. Here you can try to recognise animal sounds, identify individual lions or count the members of a lion pride.

The World of Small Monkeys is diverse and so is the exhibition. It takes you on a journey to the natural habitats of the small monkeys. The journey begins in Madagascar, the home of the lemurs - an island of extraordinary biodiversity, but also an island of habitat destruction.

From Madagascar we fly over the Indian Ocean and arrive in Southeast Asia, the home of the gibbons. The lesser apes are small, relatively unknown relatives of the great apes.

The final stop on our journey is the South American rainforest. Here you can discover the sounds that exist in the heart of a rainforest and spot some of the creatures that sneak around there. We have teamed up with Fundación Jocotoco (Jocotoco Conservation Foundation) in Ecuador to bring you images from camera traps, the current count of the critically endangered brown-headed spider monkey and audio recordings from the rainforest.

How can we help save the rainforest through consumer action? And thus save fascinating endangered species such as the orangutan and drill? Habitat destruction is one of the main topics presented in the revamped Orangutan Hall. Whether the habitat is in Southeast Asia or Africa, your actions have a major impact on the rainforests there. Here you will find tips on how you can help save the rainforest from the comfort of your home.

You can learn exciting facts about the lives of the laid-back orangutans and the skills of the drills. And we also take a look at other rainforest inhabitants, big and small, because the rainforest is diverse and full of life.

The Mühlendorf village has three main themes: heritage livestock breeds, local biodiversity and save the environment through consumer action. A large information sign in the village shop describes the connection between food and our ecological footprint. And right next to our Hellabrunn beehives we explain how important the honey bee is to our diet.

You will also learn exciting things about the domestication of our farm animals and why our heritage breeds in particular are worth protecting. Information signs about our local biodiversity are provided at various points in the zoo village, such as in the two pavilions and the fish farm.

In the Polar World, signs provide information on the residents. Here you can discover why penguins love their cold feet, mountain hares change their fur colour, Arctic foxes pounce and punch through the snow, how much fish a South American sea lion eats each day, why snowy owls are also active during the day and how much a polar bear cub weighs at birth.

But the Polar World also raises awareness about the unpleasant state of nature. Several signs inform visitors about the deluge of plastic waste that ends up in our oceans and how microplastics affect marine life. Tips are also given on how you can use less plastic.

Are you as strong as an elephant? Take the test at the Elephant House to find out. Information signs around the enclosure and inside the animal house provide fascinating facts on topics such as the biology, relationships and social behaviour of the pachyderms. Visitors can also learn about the history of the Elephant House and the recent revamp that now facilitates modern animal management at Hellabrunn Zoo.

In addition to the positive aspects, the information signs also raise awareness about the plight the elephants face in their natural habitat, such as habitat destruction due palm oil cultivation and the ivory trade.

The Jungle Pavilion is home to our closest relatives. Here you can find out everything you want to know about chimpanzees and gorillas. Signs in the animal house display information about the social behaviour, biology and intelligence of each species. For example, did you know that both gorillas and chimpanzees use tools and pass on traditions?

In front of the chimpanzees’ outdoor enclosure, you’ll find a discovery station that raises awareness about the endangerment of great apes and the reasons for this, which are largely caused by humans.

How many vertebrae are there in a giraffe’s neck? How can giraffes communicate without making any sound? You can find the answers to these and many other exciting questions about the world’s tallest mammal on the signs around the giraffe enclosure.