Berlin Zoological Garden

Berlin Zoo is the biggest and most visited zoo in Europe. With more than 14,000 species, set over 35 hectares, three million visitors meander through the leafy Tiergarten setting each year. Half the price of London zoo, and being confronted with a map of the park on entering, which ticks off the plethora of animals you hope and expect to see, one by one, is a feat rarely achieved on previous zoo visits. 

To be welcomed by five Asian elephants at the first enclosure was fantastic. Having already lost my heart to these incredible animals in India, it was wonderful to be reacquainted in such close proximity. There is such serenity about them, and it always delights me how quietly they move for their immense size and flat-footed approach. 

 

Next up was the Great Panda. Bao Bao, lay on his back, content soles of his pads facing skywards, munching bamboo- the Panda's signature move on television- made him feel familiar, like the habits of an old friend. Bao Bao is the oldest Giant Panda in captivity, and is on a permanant visa from China for breeding reasons. 

Our eyes brimming with open jawed wonder at seeing a panda within three feet of us, perhaps inexplicably led to us not taking any photos. That, and perhaps the number of perma-tanned Germans, chainsmoking, flashing their cameras through the glass within a foot of Bao Bao's patch framed eyes.

We reached the lions mid-game. One mischievously looking round the corner of his leafy cover, like an excited kid waiting to scare his sister. Seeing lions move is vaguely similar to when you first saw the moonwalk. It looks impossible to move that gracefully, but then you start to see the different stages play out, before being flummoxed all over once more at how it is achieved.

 

Panthers, leopards, tigers and the sand cats were other highlights of the big cat area. The warthogs were an unexpected surprise. I loved how they walked quickly in packs; some had the crazed look of an agoraphobic trying to escape from a throng of people, while others looked like they were reveling in the numbers.

Bears were our next prority. A pair of black bears looking like they were searching for ants greeted us. On seeing black bears I have an almost twitch like tendency to extoil my favourite and perhaps, only fact about them. Although very friendly in comparason to a grizzly, if they do look a little perplexed to see you on a narrow mountain path, just spark your lighter. They are terrified of fire due to the sap from the trees making them exstremely flammable. For some reason they are fully aware of this fact...now you are also.

We also admired a muddy polar bear, and a patrolling brown bear. We saw seals- who really dont look like they are meant to go on land given how awkward it seems for them.  They look a little like grandparents who stubbornly refuse to use a chair lift.

After seeing the Flamingos looking as poncy as ever, the anotherl highlight was seeing Pedro the Chimp, who within 48 hours after  our visit chomped off a Zoo directors finger. We also watched a very grumpy silver back Gorilla glower at his admirers through the glass, before sending us all skittling back on our heels as he thumped the glass menacingly.

After finishing with a quick gaze at the elephants we left the zoo, satisfied and excited by the day we'd had. The zoo is a must visit in Berlin and a place I hope to return to in the near future.