Tierpark Berlin Unveils New Aviaries for Flamingos and Pelicans

Henrik MüllerJuly 1, 20263 Mins read26

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Tierpark Berlin Opens New Aviaries for Waterfowl: A New Home for Pelicans, Flamingos & Co.

Berlin, July 2 – Tierpark Berlin today officially opened two new aviaries for flamingos and pelicans. These generously designed facilities significantly expand and adapt the living conditions for both groups of water birds to their natural needs. Simultaneously, visitors can now observe the birds in a naturalistic, walk-in pelican enclosure, offering a unique new perspective.

“The new facilities allow us to showcase various waterfowl species in a diverse habitat. The flamingo aviary depicts South American wetlands, while the pelican aviary illustrates the wide variety within the pelican family through different species,” explained Tim Meschke, Bird Curator. Both aviaries are designed as structurally rich habitats, combining water and land areas to provide the animals with more space for rest and social behavior.

Diverse Species in Naturalistic Habitats

The flamingo aviary houses Cuban and Chilean flamingos, supplemented by a total of six additional waterfowl species that will utilize different ecological niches within the facility. The pelican aviary also features a diverse composition of species, including Great White, Australian, Spot-billed, and Dalmatian pelicans, each with different requirements for space, water surface, and social structure.

“We are delighted to have accompanied the development of Tierpark Berlin for 70 years and to have contributed with our support to making special projects like these possible,” said Thomas Ziolko, Chairman of the Association of Friends of Tierpark Berlin and Zoological Garden Berlin e.V.

The total area of both facilities spans approximately 3,450 square meters. The flamingo aviary measures about 1,800 square meters, and the pelican aviary covers around 1,650 square meters. Both aviaries reach a height of up to ten meters and are covered by a UV-resistant plastic net. A total of 32 steel supports bear the structures, with foundations anchored up to 15 meters deep in the ground. The technical implementation ensures stability while maintaining a discreet, transparent integration into the park-like landscape. A highlight is a visitor walkway that leads into the pelican aviary next to the Lenné Temple, offering a completely new perspective on the animals and landscape for Tierpark guests.

Public Investment and Future Outlook

“Tierpark Berlin is a place with great public impact: it uniquely combines recreation, education, species conservation, and research. The new aviaries for flamingos and pelicans very concretely show what good public investments can achieve: they improve infrastructure, strengthen modern animal husbandry, and create real added value for Berlin. Budget funds are never an end in themselves – they should be effective where they make the city more attractive and future-proof in the long term,” explained State Secretary Wolfgang Schyrocki (Senate Department for Finance).

“Today’s opening is the first inauguration of a new facility in two years. After overcoming the economically challenging year of 2025, we are very pleased that things are now generally looking up again,” explained Zoo and Tierpark Director Dr. Andreas Knieriem. He added, “In May, Tierpark Berlin recorded a visitor record with a 12 percent increase compared to the previous year. I look forward to celebrating many more highlights this summer together with our visitors.”

The new aviaries are part of comprehensive construction measures at Tierpark Berlin. Following the redesign of the Rainforest House (2020), the Himalayan Mountain World (2022), and the Otter Island (2024), the completion of the Elephant House will complement the African Savannah landscape (2023).

The project was financed with a total volume of approximately 1.75 million Euros. The funds came from PMO (Party and Mass Organizations of the GDR) grants totaling 1.115 million Euros, support from the Association of Friends of Tierpark Berlin and Zoological Garden Berlin e.V. amounting to 250,000 Euros, and the Tierpark’s own funds of 385,000 Euros.

Interactive Experiences and Future Plans

Daily at 11 AM, Tierpark guests have the opportunity to experience the pelican colony in a special way – during feeding time. Those who wish not only to watch but also to “hand over” fish to the impressive birds themselves can do so during one of the new “Favorite Animal Visits.” Here, pelicans can be hand-fed, and guests learn a great deal about these unique animals. Tickets for this experience can be booked at https://shop.tierpark-berlin.de/pelikan.

Future Inhabitants:

Flamingo Aviary: