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Gondwanaland in Leipzig: tropical paradise despite billions of difficulties!
Discover Leipzig Zoo and its impressive Gondwanaland - Europe's largest tropical hall that combines the most modern animal husbandry.
Gondwanaland in Leipzig: tropical paradise despite billions of difficulties!
Leipzig Zoo, known as one of the most modern zoos in Europe, attracts numerous visitors with its over 850 animals and unique themed areas. The most impressive facilities include Pongoland, the Kiwara savannah and the Elephant Temple. What particularly stands out, however, is the most recent project, the Gondwanaland tropical adventure world, which is considered the largest tropical hall in Europe. Here guests can experience a constant temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and the humid air of a true tropical climate. In addition, visitors are offered a natural habitat for numerous animal species, including birds, butterflies, monkeys, giant otters and Komodo dragons.
Zoo director Jörg Junhold, who has led the zoo for 25 years, reported in an emotional podcast about the challenges that arose during the construction of Gondwanaland. Difficulties with the shell builder led to a change midway through the project. These problems were further exacerbated by the global steel crisis of 2008, which had a massive impact on both material availability and prices. It is also noteworthy that the Beijing Olympics directly affected the steel supply in Leipzig. The construction work ultimately caused additional costs of around 10 million euros, bringing the total costs to around 68 million euros.
Financing and politics
The city of Leipzig contributed around 15 million euros to the total costs. The rest was financed through grants, donations and loans. City politics were controversial when implementing the project. The project had to be put out to public tender twice, and a decision by the mayor, which was made during the summer break, led to criticism in the media. However, Junhold and the mayor had made a secret agreement: Junhold would publicly support the project as long as the necessary support was guaranteed.
Experience and sustainability
Visitors enter the rainforest area of Gondwanaland through a spectacular lava tunnel. This innovative hall, which was designed with plants from nurseries and garden centers in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Florida, among others, uses sustainable architecture. Natural sunlight, three-layer foil cushions for insulation and a 100,000 liter geothermal energy storage unit highlight the ecological aspect of the project.
The entrance fees are also attractive: in the summer months the price is 22 euros, in winter it is 18 euros, while children between 6 and 16 years pay between 11 and 14 euros. Admission is free for those under 6 years old. Gondwanaland is very popular and is a central highlight in Leipzig Zoo, which is visited by numerous visitors every day.
Jörg Junhold's commitment and successful implementation not only attract animal and nature lovers, but also show how modern construction methods and environmentally friendly approaches can be used to create a unique experience.
Visit Gondwanaland at Leipzig Zoo, accessible by car, long-distance bus or train. The zoo itself is located in the immediate vicinity of the main train station and can be easily reached by tram.