YOUR FORUM FOR PLAY, SPORTS UND LEISURE AREAS
The Rostock Zoo provides a home for 4,200 animals of 430 different species. The animal biodiversity ranges from little meerkats and tiny pygmy marmosets, penguins and snow leopards to imposing polar bears and gorillas. Twice in succession, Rostock Zoo was awarded the best European zoo in its category. However, Rostock Zoo offers a wide range of activities for both young and old.
Living museums
In both the Darwineum and Polarium, the so-called living museums, the visitors of Rostock Zoo are taken on a journey to the diverse ecosystems of our planet Earth. The Darwineum is the home of the great apes and approximately 150 further species who live in the large tropical hall. The main focus in the Darwineum is on evolution and providing the relevant information in a simple and clear way. From the different topic areas, one can travel through the different geological eras. In addition to the fascinating encounters with different animals, the young visitors will also find thematic areas where they can try themselves out while they are playing.
In the Polarium, too, it is possible to gain interesting insights in a playful way. It is here where North and South Pole are just a few steps away from each other. The zoo visitors can observe the polar bears and penguins very closely, even when they are diving and swimming under water. In the icy world the arctic habitat and the life of the largest land-based predator of the world can be observed. In addition to the many interesting facts, there are also some highlights for children such as competing with the polar bears by practising long jump or touching the pointed teeth of the king of the Artic or just relaxing in the comfortable ice cave while listening to thrilling stories.
Adventure play areas for young and old!
At the Polarium, the young explorers will find a very special playground. On the research vessel Fram they can follow the tracks of the famous polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen and go on an expedition to the North Pole. It is on this ship, where the young explorers can enjoy climbing, sliding or just frolicking around.
At the photo station, they can turn into Eskimos when playing hide and seek inside the Igloo.
Only a short distance away one finds the pygmy hippopotamus facilities, another fun paradise for children. The pygmy hippopotamus carousel reminds the visitors of long past glory days. Balancing, rocking, swinging, turning round - at this huge playground everything always goes round and its young visitors have plenty of space to enjoy playing and frolicking.
The water playground provides the connection between the historical and the new part of the zoo. Next to the stroking enclosure, the children can play at the waterside and create their own river courses at the flow channel. A few steps further, they can pump and retain water or even cause an inundation. It is here at the water playground, where the children can splash and play and at the same time watch everything that happens around them.
Following the traces of the Vikings
A few steps further, the visitors will reach another playground. Due to its reproduced animal inhabitants, such as the giraffe, pig and others, the ark is already visible from a long distance and invites the kids, even from far away, to climbing and sliding.
The large Viking playground is located at a protected place in the wood. The young Vikings can set to sea with different boats and look for their playmates from the climbing tower. Here, climbing, balancing, frolicking around and digging are explicitly requested activities. While the young visitors are playing, the adult visitors can observe the young Vikings from their beach chairs. In addition, there is a nice picnic-area which invites to have a rest and enjoy a meal or snacks.
In short, a further new playground will be built next to the hussar apes and the lion-tailed macaques. On the climbing route, the young visitors will be able to imitate their "neighbours" by climbing and thus overcoming all obstacles.
The motto is: just try it!
In addition to the many play areas, the zoo provides numerous experience stations, at which both young and old can try to compete with the abilities of the animals. When trying, for instance, the cheetah sprint, it becomes clear why this animal will always pass even the fastest runner. In the Orang-Utan area one can compare oneself with the anthropoid apes and find out who has the longest arms. When visiting the sea dog area, one can learn how the seals manage to fish with the help of their beard hairs even in muddy waters. Additionally, games are offered which focus on regional plants and animals, such as the bird voices drum, the tree dice game or the forest animals puzzle.
One thing is certain: for the visitors of Rostock Zoo it is never going to be boring. On a total area of 56 hectares, many amazing animals can be observed while at the same time the kids can enjoy playing and climbing. Experience stations, interactive exhibition items and many more opportunities are focused on an easy knowledge transfer and on creating new incentives for dealing with certain issues.
The natural urge to play of children thus helps to support educational work through playful elements in order to fulfil one of the most important tasks of zoological gardens.
Photo: Zoologischer Garten Rostock gGmbH
