Zoo turns 40

***image2***The zoo in Kaiserslautern-Siegelbach will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a special family fest from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

The event features various children’s activities, puppet theater, giant slide, wagon rides, walking acts, guided tours, animal presentations including a falconer show. The medieval group “Die Legende” from Kaiserslautern presents a medieval market and knights’ camp. Regional bands provide live music and the zoo veterinarian presents his daily work.

The official anniversary celebration is at 3 p.m. with guest speakers. An initiative supporting the zoo, called “Zoofreunde” (zoo friends), opens a new bird aviary, for which they donated €25,000.

The Kaiserslautern Zoo opened in 1968 when it was called Tierpark (animal park) Siegelbach. In 2003, it received the name “zoo.”

More than 350 animals of 54 different species live on a seven-hectare area. There are exotic animals, wild and domestic animals from various countries. By keeping the animals in their natural environment, the zoo tries to demonstrate its way of nature conservation and the protection of species.

***image1***Each year, the zoo organizes several family fests, the traditional zoo day Oct. 12 and Halloween in the Zoo Oct. 31. Guided tours in English are available.

The zoo also has a childrens’ playground and nature adventure trails. Children can ask to celebrate their birthday parties here as well.

Last year, the zoo broke a record with 110,000 visitors. So far this year, there were 40,000 visitors.

Opening hours are: April to August, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; and September to March, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The entrance fee is €4.50 for adults, and €2 for children 4 to 17 years old.

For details and guided tours, call 06301-7169-0 or e-mail zoo-kaiserslautern@t-online.de.