Christmas at Wismar Zoo: Animals need care even on holidays!

Christmas at Wismar Zoo: Animals need care even on holidays!

Wismar Zoo, a popular excursion destination in the Hanseatic city, is well prepared for the coming holidays. As the Baltic Sea newspaper According to reports, around 20 animal keepers will be on duty over Christmas and New Year's Eve to meet the needs of around 300 animals from around 50 different species. Everyday life and celebrations go hand in hand, because while people prepare for the holidays, the employees look after the well-being of the animals, which also have to be fed on holidays.

The park's animal residents, including budgies, bison and lynx, require regular care, as zoo manager Michael Werner explains. Budgies in particular rely on continuous feeding to stay healthy. In fact, it is essential for the keepers to ensure fresh food even on holidays. What's interesting is that, according to Werner, the animals are surprisingly hardly bothered by the sounds of New Year's Eve fireworks. “The animals are stress-tested,” says employee Marina Welsch with a smile.

Food and donations

The animals' food needs are largely met through donations, including fruit and vegetables from local stores. In autumn, visitors bring apples and chestnuts, which is a welcome change for the animals. The park itself has existed since 1969 and has continued to develop since it was founded. The facilities have been enlarged to offer the animals more space and species-appropriate living conditions, as shown in an overview of the Wismar Zoo is held. Particularly noteworthy is the walk-in bird aviary, which ensures even more intensive contact between visitors and animals.

The zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with reduced hours on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. The residents of the zoo are ready to experience the holidays while their caretakers look after their well-being and meet their special needs to ensure that the animals don't lack for anything this Christmas and New Year.