Berlin's Tierpark Launches Fundraiser for Expanded Elephant Habitat

The Tierpark Berlin, located in Friedrichsfelde, is currently conducting a fundraising campaign aimed at enhancing its newly renovated elephant house by accommodating nine additional animal species. The initiative is set to facilitate the relocation of African elephants to the facility in 2026.

According to the Tierpark's director, construction work on the new elephant house is expected to conclude next year, allowing these majestic creatures to return to the district after a significant absence. The facility will feature a new roof and a large bathing pool, ready for the elephants' arrival.

In addition to housing elephants, the Tierpark plans to introduce other species such as meerkats, aardvarks, birds, and elephant shrews into the renovated habitat. A total of EUR150,000 is needed for the interior expansion, which includes the installation of glass barriers, electrical systems, heating, and sleeping quarters for the new residents.

The overall cost of constructing the elephant house, which encompasses both the indoor and outdoor areas and spans approximately 16,000 square meters, is projected to be around EUR60 million. Originally, the budget was estimated at EUR35 million, but rising costs attributed to various factors, including challenges stemming from the ongoing Ukraine conflict, have necessitated this increase. The majority of the financing for the elephant house comes from federal funds, with the Tierpark itself contributing a ten percent share.

The previous elephant facility was dismantled in 2021, paving the way for the new construction that began in 2022. As part of this transition, the former elephant residents were relocated to the Leipzig Zoo. This relocation was carefully planned over several years, emphasizing the complex social dynamics of elephants. Consequently, the original herd will not return to Berlin. Instead, 21 African elephants are expected to occupy the new space.

The integration of the new elephants will occur gradually, with the hope that their social structure will develop naturally within the new environment. However, the Tierpark has not provided specific timelines for when the first elephants will move in, citing past delays in the project's timeline.