“Welcome to the wildest jungle in Berlin” is not just a slogan. It’s the feeling you get stepping into the Alfred-Brehm-Haus. This building is an homage to the amazing diversity of Southeast Asia.
The Alfred-Brehm-Haus isn’t just any animal house. It’s a journey into a rainforest teeming with life. But why build a rainforest in the middle of Berlin?
After World War II, Berlin was divided. The Berlin Zoo ended up in the British sector. East Germany wanted its own zoo of equal standing. Thus, Tierpark Berlin was born.
In 1963, the Alfred-Brehm-Haus opened. It was the world’s largest animal house at the time. Its walk-through Tropical Hall was unique. It featured tall cliffs, moats and fruit bats. People from all over came to see it.
The Alfred-Brehm-Haus has been renovated. It reopened in 2020 after extensive work. Sumatran tigers and Malayan bears now enjoy enclosures twice the size. Large panoramic windows offer close encounters with these kings of the rainforest. Reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates also have new terrariums.
The walk-in tropical hall boasts new plants. Flying foxes, crocodiles, and exotic birds call it home. The 2,000 square meter outdoor area houses even more creatures. Java leopards, clouded leopards, and Goodfellow tree kangaroos roam here.
But the Alfred-Brehm-Haus offers more than just animal viewing. It carries a serious message. The world’s tropical paradises face threats. Greed for resources and a growing human population take their toll. Every minute, rainforest area equal to dozens of football pitches disappears.
You can find traces of this destruction in everyday life. Oil plantations, cattle farming, and mining are major causes. They destroy our planet’s “green lungs”. At six research stations, you can learn about these issues. These interactive stations show how we can protect the rainforest.
Designed by Heinz Graffunder, the Alfred-Brehm-Haus spans 5,000 square meters. It stood as the largest animal house globally when it first opened.
So, as you explore, remember the Alfred-Brehm-Haus is more than just a building. It is a symbol. It represents both the beauty and the fragility of our planet. It is a call to action.