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
Dipl. Biol. Dirk Ullrich
Zoolog. Curator
Mag. Juliane Pokorny
Zoolog. Curator | Research & Teaching Institute
