Zoo Berlin opened on August 1, 1844, as Germany’s first zoo, founded on the initiative of naturalist Alexander von Humboldt using animals King Friedrich Wilhelm IV donated from his own menagerie in the Tiergarten.
An aquarium designed by behavioral scientist Oskar Heinroth was added in 1913, and the zoo was almost entirely destroyed during the Second World War, with only 91 of more than 4,000 animals surviving; it has since rebuilt into one of the most comprehensive animal collections in the world, home to around 1,380 species and over 20,000 individual animals, including famous residents like the polar bear Knut and panda Bao Bao.
Regular feeding sessions are among the zoo’s most popular draws, and as Europe’s most-visited zoo, most guests plan for at least half a day here, with some recommending a full day to see everything at a relaxed pace.
