Construction update – Hellabrunn Zoo’s Jungle World

In October 2022, the Jungle World at Hellabrunn Zoo temporarily closed its doors for a major refurbishment project. After several delays, the much-awaited revamp of the popular animal house, which first opened to the public 27 years ago, is finally nearing completion: construction work is scheduled to be finished by the end of this year. Upon reopening, the upgraded habitat will also house several new species.

The first phase of construction work involved a complete and careful gutting of the existing building – with the exception of the large plant island in the centre – which was completed by summer 2024. In addition, the defective foil cushion roof was extensively overhauled and the former lion outdoor enclosure at the front was also gutted and renovated.

The behind-the-scenes basement and rear areas of the building were also upgraded and expanded – a particularly time-consuming part of the project, as technical installations such as the district heating and ventilation systems had to be installed anew. Furthermore, a complex extension was constructed for breeding future offspring as part of a species conservation programme.

The renovation largely encompasses improvements to indoor enclosures and outdoor enclosures at the front of the animal house. This includes the installation of a new glass wall at the old lion enclosure as well as an upgrade for the fishing cat habitat, which now features two spacious pools. There will also be a new ‘Discovery Room’ for visitors to explore. 

During the construction period, the zoo’s gardening department will ensure that the plant island in the centre of the building is preserved under the extremely challenging conditions by providing appropriate care. Visitors will therefore be able to see many of the original rainforest plants when the Jungle World reopens.

"Last year, we unfortunately experienced some construction delays, forcing us to postpone the originally planned opening date by more than a year. This, of course, is an unexpected setback –but since we're building homes for animals and everything has to be perfect, such delays are sometimes unavoidable," said Rasem Baban, zoological director of Hellabrunn Zoo.

The new Jungle World, situated in the Asia geo-zone of the animal park, will house many well-known species, but is primarily dedicated to Asian songbirds. These include the Bali myna and the Sumatran laughingthrush – highly endangered jungle birds from Indonesia that are threatened by the illegal pet trade. Their decimation is leading to the ‘silencing‘ of the rainforest and has far-reaching effects on the ecological balance.

To help address this issue, Hellabrunn Zoo provides financial support to the Cikananga Conservation Breeding Centre on the island of Java. The zoo also aims to raise awareness among its visitors about conservation efforts to save rare songbird species. Its education concept focuses on the threats and conservation measures for tropical rainforests and their endangered inhabitants. 

"Even though we can't yet announce an exact opening date, I'm very much looking forward to the reopening and am curious to see how the new building will look," said director Baban. Verena Dietl, mayor and chair of the supervisory board, added: "I'm really excited about the new Jungle World at Hellabrunn. It's very popular with our visitors, especially in the colder months, as it gives you a little bit of a holiday feeling in the heart of Munich. At the same time, it offers a great opportunity to learn more about the conservation of tropical rainforests and endangered species."

Upon completion, the revamped Jungle World will see the introduction of a few new ‘surprise’ species – including mammals and reptiles – as well as the return of popular residents. The fishing cat, for example, will now have a modernised indoor enclosure with a pool and an enlarged outdoor enclosure. And, of course, visitors will once again be able to enjoy an authentic jungle experience: the large hall will feature lush vegetation, free-flying birds and free-roaming animals.

Construction updates are provided on a regular basis until inauguration on the zoo’s website: www.hellabrunn.de/bauprojekte (German only)