The Zoos of Germany

From the introduction to The Zoos of Germany...

There are very many areas where the Germans do it better, much better, when it comes to zoos. Time and again, in the big internationally regarded places, in Cologne and Berlin and Leipzig and Stuttgart, but, too, in smaller zoos, in smaller cities, from Rheine to Augsburg to Chemnitz to Rostock, German zoos are, simply, great. And, in many ways, they are a microcosm of the country as a whole: in their seriousness, yes, but also in the way that so many of them came back with determination, and with bravery, after being destroyed during the second world war. In their embracing of the new while paying due regard to the past. And in their ability to do things well. 

And the enormous crowds that flock to Germany’s zoos tell a strong story. The 42 establishments featured in this book receive over 30 million visitors a year between them (and they are but a small proportion of the zoos in this country, remember). They are popular without, on the whole, having to play to the lowest common denominator. Instead, on the whole, it is enough to offer interesting animals, in beautiful settings, that are a pleasure to visit. In giving so many opportunities to visit places that offer just that -  a collection of interesting animals, in a beautiful setting - Germany is indeed a remarkable, and wonderful, country.