Cologne Zoological Garden
The Aktiengesellschaft Cologne Zoological Garden is the zoo of Cologne, Germany. It features over 7,000 animals of more than 700 species on more than 20 hectares. The internationally renowned zoo with an attached aquarium and invertebrate exhibit has an emphasis on primates such as bonobos and lemurs, and is active in preservational breeding of animals that are in danger of becoming extinct. In addition, in-the-wild conservation efforts and research focussing on animals of Madagascar, the Wallacea, and Vietnam are actively promoted and supported via cooperation with Cologne University and local projects, such as in the case of Przewalski's Horses.
The zoo was founded in 1860. The world wars led to a phase of stagnation, and the zoo had to close for two years entirely, after virtually being destroyed in World War II. It reopened in 1947; the aquarium was added in 1971. In 1985, the large primate house, one of the main attractions, was opened. Today, the zoo also features a free-flight rainforest hall with free-ranging birds and reptiles opened in 2000, and as the latest addition a large elephant park.
Dian Fossey detailed in Chapter Five of her book Gorillas in the Mist how in separate 1969 incidents, two baby gorillas were taken from their families for exhibits at the Cologne Zoological Garden, resulting in over 20 wild, endangered mountain gorillas being killed. Adult gorillas will fight to the death to protect an infant's life; therefore, to extract the infant gorillas, hired poachers killed two entire families, or troops. The zoo was able to bribe the wildlife park conservator by offering him compensation including a free trip to Germany. Fossey herself nursed the infants, Coco and Pucker, back to health, before they were seized by the park conservator and shipped to the Cologne Zoo. Coco and Pucker lived a short 10 years in captivity and then died within one month of each other at the Cologne Zoo. Fossey became more determined after the incidents to combat poaching around her Karisoke Research Center.
Read more about Cologne Zoological Garden: Notable Exhibits, European Endangered Species Programmes, Incidents
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