Düsseldorf does not have a traditional zoo, but there are several in the surrounding area. One of the best zoos for children is in Krefeld. It is not too big and will not bore even the youngest visitors, but you can get up close and personal with the animals.
A special feature of the Krefeld zoo is that most of the animals are not confined to an aviary but roam almost freely, separated from humans only by a moat or a cleverly camouflaged fence. The second advantage is the planning of the territory. The animals are grouped in such a way that it's easy to fulfil a child's wish to "go and see the monkeys" or "go and see the penguins".
The animals have a habitat that's close to their natural environment. The ape house is lined with trees and vines instead of ropes. In the African savannah, patches of sand, grass and greenery alternate. Antelopes and ostriches are your neighbours. Large animals such as elephants, rhinos and hippos have their own area with a swimming pool and even toys. The tapirs are in a shady corner of the zoo, sharing the grounds with llamas and capybaras.
Pelican Lagoon closes the African savannah to the east. The pond serves as a water reservoir for pelicans as well as African hoofed animals and ostriches. For the African birds, the new house provides year-round facilities with a 70m² warming hut and a 450m² pond. These facilities mean that the animals no longer have to migrate for the winter. In addition, the pelicans can swim into the warm house and are protected from attack by wild grey herons while feeding.
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Some of the inhabitants require special temperatures and humidity, so a pavilion has been built for them. There is a rainforest with more than 80 species of plants, animals and insects. Here you can see sloths, iguanas and tiny monkeys. Tropical birds have their own home. The penguin and seal pavilion is very interesting: thanks to panoramic aquariums, you can see these charming creatures swimming underwater.
Also worth a visit is Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum, located 18 km from this zoo.
Incidentally, the design of the penguin enclosure, particularly the artificial stone wall, was inspired by the endangered animals' natural habitat: the coastal areas of northern Chile and Peru along the cold Humboldt Current. The entire facility has been covered with a netting structure to allow the Humboldt penguins to be joined by terns and other duck species.
Another transparent dome protects the butterfly garden. Four dozen species of these winged insects breed in special incubators, where you can see all the stages of a caterpillar's development into a butterfly.
The zoo itself is very well-kept and picturesque, and it's a pleasure to stroll around. There is also a small playground and a café. Are you looking for a souvenir after your visit to the zoo or are you looking for an exclusive gift? The ZooShop at Krefeld Zoo has everything from cuddly toys to the latest Zooka calendar and exclusive coffee.
