Good marks for animal welfare
Every couple of years, the Swiss Animal Protection SAP takes a close look at the zoos and animal parks in the country. Langenberg Wildlife Park was once again rated very positively in the 2020 zoo report. Download the entire assessment (in German).
The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria EAZA also regularly reviews Langenberg Wildlife Park. In autumn 2020, the Wildnispark Zurich Foundation received the positive notification that it is recognised as a full member of EAZA for a further 10 years.
Animal husbandry
Our principles
We keep our wild animals in generous near-natural enclosures and do our best to ensure that the animals are able to express their entire repertoire of natural behaviours to the fullest possible extent. In particular, this includes finding mates, rearing their young and, in the case of social species, living together in groups.
The Wildnispark Zurich Langenberg Is a scientifically managed zoo and a member of zooschweiz (the Swiss Association of Scientific Zoos). The members of zooschweiz are committed to maintaining high standards in animal husbandry, based on the latest findings in zoological biology, field research, veterinary medicine, animal physiology and other sciences, taking into account the needs of the animals and the objectives of animal conservation. The quality of animal husbandry far exceeds the minimum legal requirements and focuses on the well-being of the animals living in the zoo.
Animal keepers
Take a peek over the shoulder of animal keeper Tony End at work in the Wildnispark Zurich Langenberg. The animal keepers ensure the well-being of our animals every single day.
Young animals
Animal husbandry must be species-appropriate. Wild animals kept in zoos should not be forced to adapt beyond their capabilities, nor should they be insufficiently challenged. In general, therefore, animals in zoos should therefore not be excluded from reproducing. This principle applies to all animal species, regardless of their emotional significance to humans.
Allowing them to seek out mates and reproduce calls for animal welfare that places greater emphasis on animal suffering as a whole than on the death of a few individuals. In collaboration with ethicists and animal conservation organisations, zooschweiz has drawn up a consensus document on the breeding and rearing of zoo animals. The Wildnispark Zurich applies its guidelines to all the wild animals in its care.
Conservation breeding programmes
The Wildnispark Zurich Foundation is a member of EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria). This organization coordinates conservation breeding for endangered species in specific programmes. A distinction is made between ESB (EAZA Studbook) and EEP (EAZA Ex situ Programme). In the case of EEP species, measures for the protection and conservation of the corresponding habitats are explicitly part of the programmes. This also includes the reintroduction of animals from zoos into their natural habitat.
At Langenberg Wildlife Park, the brown bear is part of an ESB. EEP species include the Alpine ibex, Eurasian otter, Carpathian lynx, Przewalski's horse, Vietnamese sika deer, European bison and wolf.
