About us
At the foot of the “Nordkette” mountain range, above the rooftops of Innsbruck, the Alpenzoo is located in the capital of Tyrol, 750 metres above sea level. Roughly 2000 Alpine animals across approximately 150 species are kept in natural enclosures, terrariums and aquariums on just over 10 hectares (although only 5 hectares have been developed up to now; the zoo was expanded in 2022). No other zoo in the world has such a complete collection of wild animals from the Alpine region. This is just one reason why a number of world firsts and remarkable breeding successes have been achieved here.
The Alpenzoo is a non-profit organisation that generates most of its annual
operating funds itself
(with the support of the City of Innsbruck and the Province of Tyrol). The
association “Friends of the Alpenzoo” (“FREUNDE DES ALPENZOO”), sponsors and
donors also contribute to financial security. With around 300,000 visitors a year,
the Alpenzoo is the largest cultural institution in Tyrol. As an employer, it secures
permanent jobs for around 30 employees.
Association Alpenzoo Innsbruck-Tirol
History
The Alpenzoo is located at the foot of the “Nordkette” mountain range on the sunny side of Innsbruck, just a 15-20 minute walk from the city centre. At the entrance is Weiherburg Castle, which the citizen of Innsbruck, Christian Tänzl, had built as his residence from 1460. Emperor Maximilian I was also a guest here. Archduke Ferdinand II had an imperial zoo built at Weiherburg Castle in 1591
With the opening of the “Alpenzoo Innsbruck”, a bridge was built to the Renaissance zoo of the 16th century. In doing so, at least part of Weiherburg Castle’s former surroundings and atmosphere were restored. Right at the entrance, the beaver enclosure with its “pond” is reminiscent of the historic fish ponds that gave the Weiherburg its name. The Alpenzoo opened its doors on 22 September 1962 and was immediately well received by the public. By the turn of the year, 30,000 people had already visited, and in the years that followed the number steadily increased to an average of 300,000 visitors per year.
Anyone who admires brown bears, beavers and ibexes in the Alpenzoo today may not realise that these successes in the keeping and breeding of native wild animals are thanks to the vision and work of Prof. Hans Psenner (1912 - 1995) and the then mayor of Innsbruck Dr Alois Lugger From 1962-94, Dr Alois Lugger was President of the InnsbruckTyrol Alpenzoo. He was followed by DDr. Herwig van Staafrom 1994 to 2024, after which the office of President was handed over to Günther Platter at the beginning of 2024.
Prof Hans Psenner is regarded as the “father of the Alpenzoo”, having promoted the idea of establishing an “Alpenzoo” to the public at a young age. In 1962, at the age of 50, he was finally able to realise his life’s work. The history of the Alpenzoo stretches from its beginnings under Hans Psenner (Director 1962 - 1979) to the enormous upswing under Dr Helmut Pechlaner (Director 1979 – 1991, 1992 – 2006 Director at Vienna’s “Schönbrunn Zoo”) to Dr. Michael Martys who was director from 1992 - 2017, to the current zoo director Dr. André Stadler.
22. September 1962
Opening of the Alpenzoo
1987:
Opening of the aquarium
2000:
Bus route from the city to the Alpenzoo maiden voyage
2000:
Opening of the “show barn” for endangered Alpine domestic animal breeds
2002:
Opening of the hermit ibis facility
2003:
Opening of the new bear enclosure
2006:
Opening of the ibex facility
2007:
Opening of the bearded vulture facility
2018:
Opening of the pine marten enclosure
2019:
Opening of the vulture gorge
2020:
Reopening after the first lockdown (due to Covid) since the Alpenzoo opened
2020:
Opening of the Alpine goat breeding centre
2020:
Opening of the dwarf mouse facility
2020:
World first breeding of wild bream
2021:
Opening of the Weiherburg Museum
2022:
Opening of the new Alpenzoo playground
2022:
World first breeding of the short-eared mouse
2022:
Reopening of the bird aviaries in front of Villa Blanka
2023:
Building opening “Dachs, Fuchs und Freunde”
22. September 1962
Opening of the Alpenzoo
1987:
Opening of the aquarium
2000:
Bus route from the city to the Alpenzoo maiden voyage
2000:
Opening of the “show barn” for endangered Alpine domestic animal breeds
2002:
Opening of the hermit ibis facility
2003:
Opening of the new bear enclosure
2006:
Opening of the ibex facility
2007:
Opening of the bearded vulture facility
2018:
Opening of the pine marten enclosure
2019:
Opening of the vulture gorge
2020:
Reopening after the first lockdown (due to Covid) since the Alpenzoo opened
2020:
Opening of the Alpine goat breeding centre
2020:
Opening of the dwarf mouse facility
2020:
World first breeding of wild bream
2021:
Opening of the Weiherburg Museum
2022:
Opening of the new Alpenzoo playground
2022:
World first breeding of the short-eared mouse
2022:
Reopening of the bird aviaries in front of Villa Blanka
2023:
Building opening “Dachs, Fuchs und Freunde”
Organisation & Management

Dipl. Biol. Dirk Ullrich
Zoological Curator

Mag. Juliane Pokorny
Zoological Curator | Research & Institute for Education

Laura Ganner, BSc.
Zoolog. Kuratorin, Führungen

Dr. André Stadler
Director & Managing Director
- at the Alpenzoo since 1.1.2018
- Studied biology at the Ruhr University Bochum, doctorate at the University of Duisburg-Essen
- 2007 - 2017 Curator at Wuppertal Zoo
- since 2009 EAZA Felid TAG Vice-chair
- 2009 - 2017 Member of 10 EEP Committees
- Member of the Advisory Board for Zoo Biology, Zoology and Ecology of the Schönbrunn Zoo Society since April 2018
- Treasurer of the OZO since April 2018
- Member of the WKO examination board for animal keepers since June 2018
- 2012 - 2019 Mentor for the Kaliningrad Zoo
- Since April 2019 Chair EAZA Technical Assistance Committee and seat on EAZA Ex Com, M&E and Council
- Member of the VdZ Executive Board since 2019
- Seat on the WAZA Council as representative for Europe and the Middle East since Oct 2021
- Member of the EAZA Conservation Translocation Working Group since Feb 2023
- Appointed to the Animal Welfare Council of the Republic of Austria in June 2023
- Secretary of WAZA since Oct. 2023
- Member of the IUCN SIS, Deer and SMAG SG Group
• at the Alpenzoo since 1.1.2018
• Studied biology at the Ruhr University Bochum, doctorate at the
University of Duisburg-Essen
• 2007 - 2017 Curator at Wuppertal Zoo
• since 2009 EAZA Felid TAG Vice-chair
• 2009 - 2017 Member of 10 EEP Committees
• Mentor for Kaliningrad Zoo since 2012
• Since 2019, EAZA Chair of the Technical & Assistance Committee
• Member of the VdZ Executive Board since 2019
• Member of the IUCN SIS SG Group
• Member of the IUCN Deer SG Group

Dipl. Biol. Dirk Ullrich
Zoological Curator
- Studied biology in Mainz
- Curator at the Alpenzoo since 1996
- Member of the Species Specialist Group for Otter & Przewalski EEP
- Member of the Wildcat Platform in Austria
• Studied biology in Mainz
• Curator at the Alpenzoo since 1996
• Member of the Species Specialist Group for Otter & Przewalski EEP
• Member of the Wildcat Platform in Austria

Mag. Juliane Pokorny
Curator for birds and research
- Studied zoology in Innsbruck
- 2008 – 2010 Zoobiological Director at Linz Zoo
- 2011 – 2013 Management at Linz Zoo
- Curator at the Alpenzoo since 2022
- Mail: j.pokorny@alpenzoo.at
• Studium der Zoologie in Innsbruck • 2008 – 2010 Zoobiologische Leitung im Zoo Linz • 2011 – 2013 Geschäftsführung im Zoo Linz • seit 2022 Kuratorin im Alpenzoo • Mail: j.pokorny@alpenzoo.at

Laura Ganner, BSc.
Kuratorin für Säugetiere
- Studium der Biologie in Innsbruck
- seit 2023 Masterstudium Zoologie
- seit 2023 Zooguide im Alpenzoo
- seit 22024 Assistenz Kuratorin
- seit 2025 Kuratorin im Alpenzoo
- Mail: l.ganner@alpenzoo.at
• Studied zoology in Innsbruck
• Studium der Biologie in Innsbruck
• seit 2023 Masterstudium Zoologie
• 2024 Assistenz Kuratorin
• seit 2025 Kuratorin im Alpenzoo
• Mail: l.ganner@alpenzoo.at
Nora Weyer

Nora Weyer
Artenschutz Koordinatorin
Maximilian V. Strauß

Maximilian V. Strauß
Marketing & Public Relations
Veronika Kölli

Veronika Kölli
Secretariat, accounting
Regina Baumann, BA.

Regina Baumann, BA.
Secretariat
Helene Schneider MSc.

Helene Schneider MSc.
Sponsorships
Michael Winkler

Michael Winkler
Operating assistant
Gernot Pechlaner

Gernot Pechlaner
Curator for reptiles, amphibians & fish
Corina Lang, BSc.

Corina Lang, BSc.
Zoo education department Children’s birthday parties, guided tours, works council membe
Magnus Klammer

Magnus Klammer
Zoo education department, children's birthday parties, guided tours
Andrea Laner

Andrea Laner
Ticket desk service
Magdalena Zopf

Magdalena Zopf
Ticket desk service
Julia Brandner

Julia Brandner
Ticket desk service
Philipp Walch

Philipp Walch
Ticket desk service
Angelika Reiter-Fritz BSc.

Angelika Reiter-Fritz BSc.
Ticket desk service, children’s birthday parties, guided tours
Wolfgang Auer

Wolfgang Auer
Bird sanctuary
Tine Aufschnaiter

Tine Aufschnaiter
Bird sanctuary
Bernhard Brock

Bernhard Brock
Animal keeper, craftsman, operational assistant, deputy, works council member
Werner Fatzi

Werner Fatzi
Craftsmen, works council
Christian Haus

Christian Haus
Aquarium, terrariums
Johann Jenewein

Johann Jenewein
Mammal territory
Viktoria Kapferer

Viktoria Kapferer
Bird sanctuary
Stephanie Lamprecht

Stephanie Lamprecht
Animal keeper
Andreas Penz

Andreas Penz
Animal keeper, farm
Franz Hepperger

Franz Hepperger
Animal keeper, farm
Niklas Löbel

Niklas Löbel
Mammal territory
Ewald Steiner

Ewald Steiner
Mammal territory
Robert Rauch

Robert Rauch
Aquarium, terrariums
Raphaela Reinelt

Raphaela Reinelt
Bird sanctuary
Nadine Eberharter

Nadine Eberharter
Bird sanctuary
Hanna Steinlechner

Hanna Steinlechner
Bird sanctuary, training officer
Bettina Schulte

Bettina Schulte
Animal husbandry, foundlings
Hannah Pfeifer

Hannah Pfeifer
Animal keeper apprentice
Leo Linser

Leo Linser
Animal keeper apprentice
Samuel Winkler

Samuel Winkler
Animal keeper apprentice
Geronimo Schreilechner

Geronimo Schreilechner
Caretaker
Jasmin Luggauer

Jasmin Luggauer
Cleaning
Gabi Steiner
