Zoologisch-Botanischer Garten WilhelmaCity: Stuttgart 70376
Federal State: Baden-Württemberg
Size: 30 ha (75 acre)
Animals: 9860 animals of 1160 species
Opened in 1953
This collection is mainly a zoo
The Wilhelma´s root is a palace of king Wilhelm I. of Wuerttemberg, built in 1842 in Moorish style. Many buildings and gardens from that time are still extant.
The botanical gardens were opened to the public in 1918/1919, animal husbandry started after 1945. Since 1960, the garden has been enlarged and upgraded generously, without losing its park character.
In the seventies, houses for elephants, rhinoceroses, carnivores, hippopotamuses and apes were built with exposed concrete, the way it was modern in those days. All four ape species are kept and frequently bred at the Wilhelma.
A new house for African apes is to be completed in 2011. Experts rear motherless apes from all over Europe at the Wilhelma.
The biggest aquarium in Southern Germany opened in 1967. Various parts represent different habitats, with king penguins as a special attraction.
Tropical freshwater fish are presented as well as inhabitants of coral reefs. Part of the terrarium is a large crocodile hall, which re-opened in 2006 and now accomodates saltwater crocodiles, among them a white individual.
The Wilhelma is a classical big zoo with a rich variety of animal species. Some of them are rather extraordinary, e.g. kaka parrot, dusky leaf monkey, okapi, weedy sea dragon and Somalian wild ass.
Greenhouses accomodate orchids, camellia, succulents and carnivorous plants. Groups of old trees grow outside, among them sequoia, magnolia and gingko.
The upper zoo part is dominated by big aviaries, South America exhibits, enclosures for bears and mountain animals. It is possible to view the polar bears underwater. At a ´farm´, visitors get information about domestic animal husbandry yesterday and today.
The Amazon house, which ´brings rainforest to Wilhelma´, has been the biggest project so far. Here live monkeys, birds, caimans and other reptiles from the Amazon jungle, complemented by an insectarium and a butterfly hall.
Attractions & Services *
Petting enclosure, children´s farmyard
|Feeding by visitors|
|Talks & shows|
Feeding talks: seals/pinnipeds, penguins, lions
|Guided tours and special offers|
On prior arrangement / reservation, for a fee, also on special themes
|Eat & drink|
(this information may also refer to facilities nearby)
|Shop and publications|
Dogs not allowed
|Events during the year|
Opening hours & entrance fees *
| ||In summer season Entrance ´Haupteingang´ from 8:15 hrs., Entrance ´Obere Entrance´ from 9 hrs., Entrance ´Pragstraße´ from 10 hrs. open (nur an on Sundays and on Holidaysen nach Bedarf), admission max. until 18 hrs.|
| ||November until February Entrance ´Haupteingang´ 8:15 - 16 hrs., Entrance ´Obere Entrance´ 9 - 16 hrs. (nur während der Schulferien sowie on weekendsn and holidays), Entrance ´Pragstraße´ 10 - 16 hrs. (an on Sundays and on Holidaysen nach Bedarf)|
| ||Adults: 12,00 €|
| ||Children (age 6-17): 6,00 €|
| ||Concessions/reduced admission fees; family admission rates, groups discount rates|
How to get there
|By car: Appoach via B10 and B4 (signposted). parking garage. On weekends P&R strongly adviced|
| & ||By public transport: From main railway station city train 13 + 14, buses no. 52, 55, 56. Or 30 min. walking from city center through Schloßgarten.|
| || Arial view and map at maps.google, in new window|
(for street map, click there on ´map´ and zoom out)
Staff & contact informationPersons in charge:
| ||Prof. Dr. Dieter Jauch, Direktor|
| ||Dr. Marianne Holtkötter, stellvertr. Direktorin und Kuratorin Säugetiere|
| ||Isabel Koch, Kuratorin Reptilien, Fische, Invertebraten|
| ||Annika Krengel und Dr. Tobias Knauf-Witzens, Tierärzte|
|Address: ||Wilhelma 13, 70376 Stuttgart, GERMANY|
|Postal address:||Postfach 50 12 27, 70342 Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt|
|Operated by: ||Land Baden-Württemberg|
| Member of: AGTL, EAZA, ISIS, VBG, VdZ, WAZA|
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