Leipzig's zoo will 147: Festival with young animals and colorful program!

Leipzig's zoo will 147: Festival with young animals and colorful program!

Leipzig, Deutschland - On June 9, 2025, the Leipzig Zoo celebrates a very special anniversary: ​​it will be 147 years old. Whit Monday is 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 for the whole family.

The anniversary program will range from cabaret performance to special animal presentations. Special highlights are the new young animals that can be discovered in various enclosures, including the zebras and the saber antelopes. The zoo's opening times are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on this day, so visitors have enough opportunity to enjoy the celebrations.

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. The zoo has experienced an impressive development under its leadership. 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 promoted the strategic realignment of the zoo. In April 2024 to 2031, Junhold was again committed as a zoo director to continue to pursue his vision from the “Zoo of the Future”.

Junhold also made a significant contribution to the zoological community by voting in 2011 as President of the Waza World Zoo Association. 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.

earthed strategies despite controversy

Despite his successes, Junhold had been fighting challenges in the past. In 1998 there were public controversy about killing two brown bears in the zoo, which led to a massive outcry. With his strategy “Zoo of the Future”, however, he was able to quickly regain the trust of the visitor and restore the sympathy.

Junhold is married and has a daughter and a son. In addition to his zoo activity, he is also involved in various committees, such as the Leipzig Cultural Foundation and the Lions Club Leipzig-Saxonia.

The 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 variety of wildlife and to actively work for their protection.