New facilities
Lemur house
The 'forest spirits' of Madagascar, our lemurs, moved into their new house at the beginning of March 2016 - and immediately took possession of every corner. The building, specially constructed for the lemurs (which belong to the wet-nosed monkeys), allows the public a glimpse into the richly equipped interior through a large window pane, which makes a decisive contribution to the animals' welfare.
New zoo-biological findings - which have to be implemented - cause permanent building activity in progressive zoological institutions. Knies Kinderzoo in Rapperswil is another institution that does not tolerate stagnation in its development.
We are looking forward to the realisation of the largest project in the history of Knies Kinderzoo, the new elephant park on 6'500m2, with integrated Pan-Asia-Lodge (restaurant with a capacity of around 300 seats, year-round operation). Ground-breaking ceremony during the 2013 season, completion in spring 2015. Species- and animal-friendly habitats for cheetahs and penguins are being created on the existing elephant outdoor area.
For the first time, there are also opportunities to support the new facilities by means of sponsorships, you will find corresponding flyers at the main entrance, we thank you very much for your valued commitment!
Make room for penguin and cheetah!
In a few years' time, when the Asian elephants move into the complex built especially for them, the outdoor enclosure inhabited by the proboscideans since 1999 will be transformed into two new zoo habitats. In a central location, in the middle of the ground level part of the facility, Knies Kinderzoo is planning a botanically designed space, which with its characteristic vegetation is reminiscent of the dry savannah ecosystem, and in its entire furnishings is to a certain extent similar to the image of an African (tropical) grassland, and directly adjacent to it a section of the landscape that is based on the Chilean Pacific coast. The Knie families have set themselves the goal of providing two enclosures for a colony of Humboldt penguins, Spheniscus humboldti, and southern cheetahs, Acinonyx jubatus jubatus, that meet the specific requirements of the species mentioned. In conjunction with the challenging task, the commissioned consultants - architect and zoo director, curator and landscape architect - are currently engaged in the prudent selection of suitable plants as well as the procurement of animal individuals from stocks of a coordinated, supervised conservation breeding. (KM)
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