Zoo realizes its "South American house" for 22 million euros

Cologne For some animals, it is said in the near future, "pack your bags" because at the Cologne Zoo, some moves are underway. At the beginning of August, the first will be the little pandas, who have their enclosures up to now, not far from the villa of the director and the House of South America. Mila and Fred will move into a compound near the Tigers factory. "It is composed of two areas between which is the footbridge for visitors, with a pbadage between the heads of the animal fans, allowing the pandas to move from left to right." The animals also have more space in the new facility than "Until now," explains Zoochef Theo B. Pagel

The reason for the move is the big project "South America House" – where, up to Now, the little pandas live, is to create a new Jaguar speaker. South America, which was built in 1899 as a birdhouse in the style of a Russian Orthodox church, is completely redesigned. Until now, birds and monkeys lived there. The new home hosts reptiles, fish, monkeys from South America and Central America as well as birds. "It will be a forum through which visitors can cross, and it will be a self-service gym, free flight and free cradle," says Pagel. Lazy people and armadillos also come to the new South American zone. "We can also bring new species to the Cologne Zoo," says Pagel.

For him, the House of South America has a special meaning. "There is nothing like it all over Europe, they wanted to create a special building, exotic, similar to the house of elephants, which was built in the Moorish style, and we will call the building" House Arnulf Reichert "Mrs. Elisabeth gave the zoo a very generous donation last year."

Overall, the redesign of the house and its surroundings costs 22 million euros. Municipal funds will also be included in the project, which is expected to be completed by 2020. The start of construction is scheduled for the end of the year. The big project for the Cologne Zoo is supported by the Förderverein with its 3000 members currently with a sum of 100,000 euros, which yesterday was symbolically handed over to the zoo chefs with a big check.