Walsrode Bird Park
Encyclopedia
Weltvogelpark Walsrode ia s bird park located in the middle of the Lüneburg Heath
in North Germany within the municipality of Bomlitz
near Walsrode
in the state of Lower Saxony
, Germany
.
Weltvogelpark Walsrode is the largest bird park in the world in terms of species as well as land area (The Jurong Bird Park in Singapore
claims the largest number individual birds), It covers 24 hectares (59.3 acre) and houses some 4,000 bird
s of over 650 species
from every continent
and climatic zone in the world.
The bird park comprises a large number of internal and external aviaries as well as outdoor enclosures. In addition the visitor can meet birds in an environment modelled on their natural habitat with no artificial barriers both in a free flight aviary with sand dunes and a wave machine, as well as in numerous buildings, such as the Jungle Hall. Whilst the more recent areas of the bird park are based more on the natural environment of the birds, the older areas mainly consist of spacious parkland and woods including large rose and rhododendron
beds.
One special attraction is the variety of flight demonstrations on an open-air stage where, not only are falcon
s and eagle
s displayed as in other shows, but parrot
s, pelican
s and Indian Runner Duck
s too. There are also various feeding demonstrations and young bird rearing station which is particularly interesting to children.
The bird park has a range of birds that cannot be seen in other zoos in the world and, was the first to successfully breed a number of species.
The bird park participates in the European Endangered Species Programme
and has, for example, made eagle owls available for reintroduction in the wild. In addition it is also taking part in a breeding programme for the Bernier's Teal
and many other birds that are threatened by extinction.
s and water bird
s privately. In 1964 he transferred the park to his son-in-law, Wolf W. Brehm, who expanded it rapidly, especially during the 1970s. In 1968, the 2100 square metres (22,604.2 sq ft) was opened. Trend-setting facilities such as the free flight aviary, a penguin enclosure and many others followed.
In 2000, on the occasion of the Expo
in Hanover, the Jungle Hall was opened with its Indonesian artefacts and Asiatic bird species. Later the Eagle Owl Hill and Treehouse Village were added. The German bird cage museum, also located in the bird park, was closed in 2006 and auctioned at Sotheby’s.
Due to business difficulties the park was transferred in 2000 to new ownership. Whilst in earlier years shows had been largely dropped, the new owners introduced more and more flight demonstrations which increased the number of visitors and ensured the survival of the park. However visitor numbers dropped in 2008 to 280,000; 50,000 fewer than necessary for a profitable operation. Looming insolvency was averted in March 2009 by the intervention of the Belgian firm, Floralux.
In 2010 the new official international name of Walsrode Bird Park is changed to Weltvogelpark Walsrode.
which runs heritage rail services.
Lüneburg Heath
The Lüneburg Heath is a large area of heath, geest and woodland in northeastern part of the state of Lower Saxony in northern Germany. It forms part of the hinterland for the cities of Hamburg, Hanover, and Bremen and is named after the town of Lüneburg. Most of the area is a nature reserve...
in North Germany within the municipality of Bomlitz
Bomlitz
Bomlitz is a municipality in the Heidekreis district, in Lower Saxony, Germany.- Location :Bomlitz lies on the Lüneburg Heath in a heavily wooded area...
near Walsrode
Walsrode
-Middle Ages:986 Foundation of Walsrode Abbey by Count Walo. The first recorded mentionof the town is dated May 7, 986.1383 The dukes of Brunswick and Lüneburg grant Walsrode a town charter.1479 First recorded instance of Walsrode's coat of arms...
in the state of Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Weltvogelpark Walsrode is the largest bird park in the world in terms of species as well as land area (The Jurong Bird Park in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
claims the largest number individual birds), It covers 24 hectares (59.3 acre) and houses some 4,000 bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s of over 650 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
from every continent
Continent
A continent is one of several very large landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria, with seven regions commonly regarded as continents—they are : Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.Plate tectonics is...
and climatic zone in the world.
Facilities
Rhododendron
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
beds.
One special attraction is the variety of flight demonstrations on an open-air stage where, not only are falcon
Falcon
A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America....
s and eagle
Eagle
Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...
s displayed as in other shows, but parrot
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
s, pelican
Pelican
A pelican, derived from the Greek word πελεκυς pelekys is a large water bird with a large throat pouch, belonging to the bird family Pelecanidae....
s and Indian Runner Duck
Indian Runner Duck
Indian Runners are an unusual breed of domestic duck. They stand erect like penguins and, rather than waddling, they run. The females usually lay about 150 – 200 eggs a year or more, depending whether they are from exhibition or utility strains...
s too. There are also various feeding demonstrations and young bird rearing station which is particularly interesting to children.
Breeding programme
The bird park participates in the European Endangered Species Programme
European Endangered Species Programme
The European Endangered Species Programme or EEP is the most intensive type of population management for a species kept in European Association of Zoos and Aquaria zoos...
and has, for example, made eagle owls available for reintroduction in the wild. In addition it is also taking part in a breeding programme for the Bernier's Teal
Bernier's Teal
Bernier's Teal Anas bernieri is a duck species of the genus Anas. It is endemic to Madagascar, where it is found only along the west coast....
and many other birds that are threatened by extinction.
History of the bird park
The park was founded in 1962 by the Walsrode businessman, Fritz Geschke, for breeding pheasantPheasant
Pheasants refer to some members of the Phasianinae subfamily of Phasianidae in the order Galliformes.Pheasants are characterised by strong sexual dimorphism, males being highly ornate with bright colours and adornments such as wattles and long tails. Males are usually larger than females and have...
s and water bird
Water bird
The term water bird or waterbird is used to refer to birds that live on or around water. Some definitions apply the term especially to birds in freshwater habitats, though others make no distinction from birds that inhabit marine environments. In addition, some water birds are more terrestrial or...
s privately. In 1964 he transferred the park to his son-in-law, Wolf W. Brehm, who expanded it rapidly, especially during the 1970s. In 1968, the 2100 square metres (22,604.2 sq ft) was opened. Trend-setting facilities such as the free flight aviary, a penguin enclosure and many others followed.
In 2000, on the occasion of the Expo
Expo 2000
Expo 2000 was a World's Fair held in Hanover, Germany from Thursday, June 1 to Tuesday, October 31, 2000. It was located on the Hanover fairground , which is famous for hosting CeBIT...
in Hanover, the Jungle Hall was opened with its Indonesian artefacts and Asiatic bird species. Later the Eagle Owl Hill and Treehouse Village were added. The German bird cage museum, also located in the bird park, was closed in 2006 and auctioned at Sotheby’s.
Due to business difficulties the park was transferred in 2000 to new ownership. Whilst in earlier years shows had been largely dropped, the new owners introduced more and more flight demonstrations which increased the number of visitors and ensured the survival of the park. However visitor numbers dropped in 2008 to 280,000; 50,000 fewer than necessary for a profitable operation. Looming insolvency was averted in March 2009 by the intervention of the Belgian firm, Floralux.
In 2010 the new official international name of Walsrode Bird Park is changed to Weltvogelpark Walsrode.
Heritage railway
In the vicinity of the bird park is a stop on the Bomlitz–Walsrode railwayBomlitz–Walsrode railway
The Bomlitz–Walsrode railway is a railway line in the German state of Lower Saxony that is operated by the Osthannoverschen Eisenbahn .- Route :*Bomlitz–Gleisdreieck –Cordingen...
which runs heritage rail services.
Literature
- Vogelpark Walsrode - viel mehr als Vögel, (Hrsg.: Vogelpark Walsrode), o.O. o.J. (31. A.), 162 S. m. zahlr. Abb.
- Wir entdecken die Vögel (Wieso? Weshalb? Warum?), Patricia Mennen (Autorin) & Anne Ebert (Illustrator), Ravensburger Buchverlag, ISBN 978-3473328314
- Wir entdecken die Vögel (Wieso? Weshalb? Warum?) [Audiobook] (Audio CD), Jumbo Neue Medien & Verlag GmbH, ISBN 978-3833726200