Chemnitz Zoo is supporting the "Zoo Animal of the Year 2025" campaign. The Zoological Society for Species and Population Conservation (ZGAP) has chosen the armadillo as Zoo Animal of the Year 2025. The species conservation campaign of the ZGAP and its campaign partners - the Association of Zoo Supporters (GdZ), the German Zoo Society (DTG) and the Association of Zoological Gardens (VdZ) - is thus focussing this year on a species that has received little attention to date. Armadillos are a group of prehistoric mammals whose future is uncertain.
Southern armadillos are kept and exhibited at Chemnitz Zoo. As this species is on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the zoo makes an important contribution to the conservation of this species with its regular breeding programmes. The couple "Paco" and "Piepe" have already successfully produced offspring six times. The zoo's sponsoring organisation - Tierparkfreunde Chemnitz e.V. - also supports this cause financially.
With their unique bony armour, they have survived 60 million years of the earth's history, but today many armadillo species are fighting for their survival. The majority of the 23 armadillo species live in Central and South America and represent a fascinating diversity in terms of their size, appearance, way of life and reproduction. There are tiny creatures and giants among them. While some of the representatives have so far proved to be quite adaptable even in the human environment, several armadillo species are acutely fighting for their survival.
Armadillos are the only mammals to have a carapace made of small interconnected bone plates. The armour is flexible, which allows some species to curl up in case of danger and to protect themselves from predators.
Industrial, export-orientated agriculture is encroaching ever further into their habitats with its rice, soya, timber and palm oil plantations or livestock farming. The extraction of oil and other mineral resources is also increasingly affecting the animals' habitats on a large scale. Especially at night, they become victims of road traffic. In addition, the use of pesticides in agriculture is increasing, which is rapidly decimating insects, the armadillos' most important food source.
The "Zoo Animal of the Year 2025" campaign by the ZGAP and its campaign partners is dedicated to the protection of these special mammals, including with projects in Brazil and Colombia.
Opening hours in January and February:
Zoo and wildlife enclosure 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., last admission 3 p.m.