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

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
- Mail: j.pokorny@alpenzoo.at
- 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
- Mail: m.strauss@alpenzoo.at
- Tel: 0664 2052060
- Media & Graphic Designer
- at the Alpine Zoo since 2020
- Mail: m.strauss@alpenzoo.at
- Tel: +43 664 / 205 20 60
Laura Ganner, BSc.

Laura Ganner, BSc.
Assistant curator, guided tours
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 (on maternity leave)
Michael Winkler

Michael Winkler
Operating assistant
Gernot Pechlaner

Gernot Pechlaner
Curator Reptiles, Amphibians & Fish
Corina Lang, BSc.

Corina Lang, BSc.
Zoo education department Children's birthday parties, guided tours, animal sponsorships, works council member
Magnus Klammer

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

Andrea Laner
Cash desk service
Magdalena Zopf

Magdalena Zopf
Cash desk service
Julia Brandner

Julia Brandner
Cash desk service
Philipp Walch

Philipp Walch
Cash desk service
Angelika Reiter-Fritz BSc.

Angelika Reiter-Fritz BSc.
Cash 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, plant 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
Sabine Leitner

Sabine Leitner
Mammal territory
Robert Rauch

Robert Rauch
Aquarium, terrariums
Raphaela Reinelt

Raphaela Reinelt
Bird sanctuary
Hanna Steinlechner

Hanna Steinlechner
Bird sanctuary, training officer
Bettina Schulte

Bettina Schulte
Feed animal breeding, erratic blocks
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
