Accessibility Tools

ABOUT US

At the foot of the Nordkette, above the rooftops of Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol, lies the Alpine Zoo at an altitude of 750 m. On just over 5 hectares, around 2,000 Alpine animals from about 150 species are kept in enclosures, terrariums and aquariums designed to resemble their natural habitats. No other zoo in the world presents such a complete collection of wildlife from the Alpine region. This is just one reason why the zoo has achieved a number of world-first breedings and remarkable breeding successes.

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 "Friends of the Alpine Zoo" as a support organisation, sponsors, animal sponsors and donors also contribute to the economic security. With around 300,000 visitors a year, the Alpenzoo is the largest cultural institution in Tyrol. As an employer, it secures long-term jobs for around 30 employees.

Innsbruck-Tyrol Alpine Zoo Association

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 the Weiherburg, which the Innsbruck citizen 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, thus restoring at least part of the Weiherburg's former surroundings and atmosphere. Right at the entrance, the beaver enclosure with its "pond" is reminiscent of the historic fish ponds that gave the Weiherburg its name. The Alpine Zoo 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 following years the number steadily increased to an average of 300,000 visitors per year.

Anyone admiring brown bears, beavers and ibexes in the Alpine Zoo today may not realise that these successes in the keeping and breeding of native wild animals are the result of the vision and work of Prof Hans Psenner (1912 - 1995) and the then mayor of Innsbruck Dr Alois Lugger are to thank. From 1962-94, Dr Alois Lugger was President of the Innsbruck-Tyrol Alpine Zoo. He was followed by Dr Herwig van StaaAt the beginning of 2024, the office of President was then handed over to Günther Platter.

Prof Hans Psenner is regarded as the "father of the Alpine Zoo", as he promoted the idea of establishing an "Alpine zoo" 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 thus spans a long arc from its beginnings under Hans Psenner (Director 1962 - 1979) to the enormous upswing under Dr Helmut Pechlaner (Director 1979 - 1991, 1992 - 2006 Director of Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna) on 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

2000:
Opening of the Northern Bald 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 Alpenbock breeding centre

2020:
Opening of the dwarf mouse facility

2020:
World first breeding Güster

2021:
Opening of the Weiherburg Museum

2022:
Opening of the new Alpenzoo playground

2022:
World first breeding short-eared mouse

2022:
Reopening of the bird aviaries in front of Villa Blanka

2023:
Badger, fox and friends building opening

2000:
Bus route from the city to the Alpenzoo maiden voyage

2002:
Opening of the Northern Bald Ibis facility

2006:
Opening of the ibex facility

2018:
Opening of the pine marten enclosure

2020:
Reopening after the first lockdown (due to Covid) since the Alpenzoo opened

2021:
Opening of the Weiherburg Museum

2022:
World first breeding short-eared mouse

2023:
Badger, fox and friends building opening

Organisation & Management

Dr André Stadler

Director

Dr André Stadler

Director

Dipl. Biol. Dirk Ullrich

Zoolog. Curator

Dipl. Biol. Dirk Ullrich

Zoolog. Curator

Mag. Juliane Pokorny

Zoolog. Curator | Research & Teaching Institute

Mag. Juliane Pokorny

Zoolog. Curator | Research & Teaching Institute

Dr André Stadler

Director & Managing Director

  • at the Alpine Zoo since 1 January 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 Art 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 Alpine Zoo since 1 January 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 Art 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

Zoolog. 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

- 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

Maximilian V. Strauss

Marketing & Public Relations

  • Media & Graphic Designer
  • at the Alpine Zoo since 2020

- Media & Graphic Designer
- at the Alpine Zoo since 2020
- Mail: m.strauss@alpenzoo.at
- Tel: +43 664 / 205 20 60

Laura Ganner, BSc.

Assistant curator, guided tours

Laura Ganner, BSc.

Assistant curator, guided tours

Maximilian V. Strauss

Marketing & Public Relations

Maximilian V. Strauss

Marketing & Public Relations

Veronika Kölli

Secretariat, accounting

Veronika Kölli

Secretariat, accounting

Regina Baumann, BA.

Secretariat

Regina Baumann, BA.

Secretariat

Helene Schneider MSc.

Sponsorships (on maternity leave)

Helene Schneider MSc.

Sponsorships (on maternity leave)

Michael Winkler

Operating assistant

Michael Winkler

Operating assistant

Gernot Pechlaner

Curator Reptiles, Amphibians & Fish

Gernot Pechlaner

Curator Reptiles, Amphibians & Fish

Corina Lang, BSc.

Zoo education department Children's birthday parties, guided tours, animal sponsorships, works council member

Corina Lang, BSc.

Zoo education department Children's birthday parties, guided tours, animal sponsorships, works council member

Magnus Klammer

Zoo education department, children's birthday parties, guided tours, sustainability officer

Magnus Klammer

Zoo education department, children's birthday parties, guided tours

Andrea Laner

Cash desk service

Andrea Laner

Cash desk service

Magdalena Zopf

Cash desk service

Magdalena Zopf

Cash desk service

Julia Brandner

Cash desk service

Julia Brandner

Cash desk service

Philipp Walch

Cash desk service

Philipp Walch

Cash desk service

Angelika Reiter-Fritz BSc.

Cash desk service, children's birthday parties, guided tours, animal welfare officer

Angelika Reiter-Fritz BSc.

Cash desk service, children's birthday parties, guided tours

Wolfgang Auer

Bird sanctuary

Wolfgang Auer

Bird sanctuary

Tine Aufschnaiter

Bird sanctuary

Tine Aufschnaiter

Bird sanctuary

Bernhard Brock

Animal keeper, craftsman, plant assistant, deputy, works council member

Bernhard Brock

Animal keeper, craftsman, plant assistant, deputy, works council member

Werner Fatzi

Craftsmen, works council

Werner Fatzi

Craftsmen, works council

Christian Haus

Aquarium, terrariums

Christian Haus

Aquarium, terrariums

Johann Jenewein

Mammal territory

Johann Jenewein

Mammal territory

Viktoria Kapferer

Bird sanctuary

Viktoria Kapferer

Bird sanctuary

Stephanie Lamprecht

Animal keeper

Stephanie Lamprecht

Animal keeper

Andreas Penz

Animal keeper, farm

Andreas Penz

Animal keeper, farm

Franz Hepperger

Animal keeper, farm

Franz Hepperger

Animal keeper, farm

Niklas Löbel

Mammal territory

Niklas Löbel

Mammal territory

Ewald Steiner

Mammal territory

Ewald Steiner

Mammal territory

Sabine Leitner

Mammal territory

Sabine Leitner

Mammal territory

Robert Rauch

Aquarium, terrariums

Robert Rauch

Aquarium, terrariums

Raphaela Reinelt

Bird sanctuary

Raphaela Reinelt

Bird sanctuary

Hanna Steinlechner

Bird sanctuary, training officer

Hanna Steinlechner

Bird sanctuary, training officer

Bettina Schulte

Feed animal breeding, erratic blocks

Bettina Schulte

Feed animal breeding, erratic blocks

Hannah Pfeifer

Animal keeper apprentice

Hannah Pfeifer

Animal keeper apprentice

Leo Linser

Animal keeper apprentice

Leo Linser

Animal keeper apprentice

Samuel Winkler

Animal keeper apprentice

Samuel Winkler

Animal keeper apprentice

Geronimo Schreilechner

Caretaker

Geronimo Schreilechner

Caretaker

Jasmin Luggauer

Cleaning

Jasmin Luggauer

Cleaning

Gabi Steiner

Cleaning

Gabi Steiner

Cleaning

Visit the museum
in the Weiherburg

In close cooperation with the Alpenzoo, the historic rooms of the Weiherburg have been open to visitors since March 2021, guiding them through annually changing thematic focuses.

President

Vice President

Members of the Executive Committee

Honorary Presidents

Members

Honorary members

Alpenzoo Care App

With our app you can find out exciting information about the animals - we have prepared funny profiles, breathtaking films, 3D models and exciting missions. Get involved with our digital zoo guide and experience the Innsbruck Alpine Zoo as you've never seen it before!