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Leipzig's zoo turns 147: celebration day with young animals and a colorful program!
Leipzig Zoo celebrates 147 years on Whit Monday with a colorful program and new young animals. Zoo director Junhold leads the celebrations.
Leipzig's zoo turns 147: celebration day with young animals and a colorful program!
On June 9, 2025, Leipzig Zoo will celebrate a very special anniversary: it will be an proud 147 years old. Whit Monday will be a day full of celebrations for visitors to the zoo. Zoo director Professor Jörg Junhold has announced a colorful program that offers numerous attractions for both animal lovers and the whole family.
The anniversary program will range from cabaret performances to special animal presentations. Particular highlights are the new young animals that can be discovered in various enclosures, including the zebras and the saber antelopes. The zoo's opening hours on this day will be 9am to 7pm, giving visitors plenty of opportunity to enjoy the festivities.
Jörg Junhold: A committed zoo director
Professor Jörg Junhold, born on March 26, 1964 in Ortrand, has been the director of the Leipzig Zoo since 1997. Under his leadership, the zoo has experienced impressive development. He was not only able to significantly increase the number of visitors, from 678,000 in 1997 to 1.67 million in 2008, but also pushed forward the strategic realignment of the zoo. Junhold was re-engaged as zoo director in April 2024 until 2031 to continue pursuing his vision of the “zoo of the future”.
Junhold has also made a significant contribution to the zoological community by being elected President of the World Zoo Association WAZA in 2011. He has also been President of the Association of Zoological Gardens (VDZ) since 2019. His academic career includes a doctorate in veterinary medicine, which he completed in 1994 at the University of Leipzig.
Grounded strategies despite controversy
Despite his successes, Junhold has faced challenges in the past. In 1998, there was public controversy surrounding the killing of two brown bears at the zoo, which led to a massive outcry. However, with his “Zoo of the Future” strategy, he was quickly able to regain the trust of visitors and restore sympathy.
Junhold is married and has a daughter and a son. In addition to his work at the zoo, he is also involved in various committees, such as the Leipzig Cultural Foundation and the Lions Club Leipzig-Saxonia.
Leipzig Zoo has developed into an important place for education and species protection. With its anniversary day on Whit Monday, the zoo not only wants to celebrate, but also encourage visitors to learn more about the diversity of the animal world and to actively work to protect it.