30 Years of Vivarium: The anniversary offers fascinating insights
Chemnitz Zoo: Programme for 30 and 31 October – New curator introduced
On Friday and Saturday, 30 and 31 October, Chemnitz Zoo will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Vivarium with behind-the-scenes tours, feeding demonstrations, hands-on activities and specialist talks. Since 1996, visitors have been able to discover the world of amphibians there and learn more about their way of life, their habitats and their conservation.
To mark this anniversary, the zoo looks back on three decades of educating the public and its commitment to species conservation. Anyone interested is invited to rediscover the Vivarium over two action-packed days and learn more about these fascinating animals and their conservation.
On Friday 30 October, from 4 pm, those interested can get a glimpse behind the scenes. The guided tour, lasting around 90 minutes, offers insights into the care of amphibians, their importance for ecosystems and species conservation. Participation costs 10 euros per person; registration is required by Thursday 29 October via email to tierpark(at)stadt-chemnitz.de.
On Saturday 31 October, the anniversary will be celebrated with a range of other activities.
• 10 am and 12 noon – Demonstration feedings: Visitors can watch the amphibians feeding and observe their fascinating hunting and feeding strategies.
• From 1 pm – Opening ceremony and specialist talks: Mayor Knut Kunze will open the anniversary celebrations. This will be followed by three different talks: Kevin Rüffer (Chemnitz Zoo) will speak on ‘30 years of focusing on amphibians’,
Heiko Werning (co-founder of Citizen Conservation) on the topic “Last Resort: The Vivarium – Combating the Global Amphibian Crisis through Conservation Breeding”, and Heidi Enderlein (BUND Fire Salamander Project) on ‘Fire salamanders – a small amphibian with a yellow high-vis vest’. Registration via the following link is required to attend the specialist talks:
https://mitdenken.sachsen.de/1068550.
• 1 pm to 4 pm – Open Zoo School: A variety of hands-on activities invite children, families and anyone interested to discover the world of amphibians through play.
Zoo welcomes new curator
Constantin Beck has been supporting the team at Chemnitz Zoo as a curator since 1 October.
After completing his Master’s degree in Life Sciences at the University of Münster, he gained a wide range of experience in various areas of zoology. Most recently, he worked as an assistant curator at Frankfurt Zoo.
Constantin Beck: “A good zoo ensures the welfare of its animals and helps to protect endangered species. I would like to continue along this path here in Chemnitz, together with the team, and inspire our visitors with a passion for animals and nature.”
With this new addition to the team, Chemnitz Zoo is continuing its work to protect endangered species and educate the public about nature and biodiversity. The aim is to further develop the zoo as a place for species conservation, education and experiencing nature, and to raise visitors’ awareness of the importance of treating nature responsibly.
Opening hours (October)
Chemnitz Zoo: daily, 9 am to 5 pm
Oberrabenstein Wildlife Enclosure: daily, 9 am to 5 pm
Last admission and ticket office closes one hour before closing time
www.tierpark-chemnitz.de