Schweriner Zoo, Schwerin

The Schwerin Zoological Garden is a medium-sized zoo open all year round with about 2400 animals in 154 species and nearly 138,000 visitors annually in the south of the state capital Schwerin. The zoo extends between the southern shore of Lake Schwerin, the Faulen See lake and the Großer Dreesch residential area and covers an area of about 25 hectares. It is run as a limited liability company.

The opening of the home animal enclosure was on April 24, 1956 - at that time with only 17 animals and one keeper. The zoo has been enlarged over the decades and today, with its naturalistic animal enclosures and representative animal population, the park is one of the more important zoos in Germany. The layout of the zoo is characterized by the 3-hectare natural waterfowl enclosure with bog areas in the center.

Schwerin Zoo participates in the European Conservation Breeding Program for, among others, Asiatic lions, white rhinos, Amur tigers and giraffes and for a further 11 animal species. With its Zoo School, the zoo offers lessons in science subjects as well as art, English and zoological topics for students of all grades in thematically designed rooms and with its own educators.

In 2005, the new African enclosure for Rothschild giraffes, Chapman zebras and meerkats was inaugurated at the entrance to the zoo. Furthermore, an extensive rhino enclosure covering more than 2 hectares was created in 2011 through a major fundraising campaign at Schwerin Zoo. The Humboldt House, opened in October 2011, is a walk-in warm house with Central and South American plant and animal species, such as the two-fingered sloth, the great anteater, boa snakes and tropical fish. In early 2014, a tree house was built in the outdoor enclosure for the collared peccaries and coatis, providing overnight accommodations for visitors beginning in the spring of that year. In the spring of 2021, a so-called Red List Center was opened, which, among other things, houses a pride with four Asiatic lions. This enclosure complex was planned by dan pearlman brand architecture company.