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High temperatures in Leipzig Zoo: Animal joy despite the heat!
Find out news from Leipzig Zoo: summer heat, visitor numbers and new animals. A look at Prof. Jörg Junhold.
High temperatures in Leipzig Zoo: Animal joy despite the heat!
Summer has arrived in Germany in full swing! With warm temperatures and lots of sunshine, people are drawn to the outdoors, and Leipzig Zoo is a popular destination. Over 600 animal species are waiting to be discovered. However, the zoo director, Prof. Jörg Junhold, expresses concern in a current zoo podcast because the current temperatures above 30 degrees could have a negative impact on visitor numbers.
Junhold, who has worked as director at Leipzig Zoo since 1997, has a lot of experience in his profession. According to his biography, he was born on March 26, 1964 and has already set the course for the zoo's success. “When it’s over 30 degrees, many people tend to opt for outdoor swimming pools,” explains Junhold. Temperatures around 25 degrees would be ideal, as these would create the optimal conditions for numerous visitors to the zoo. Nevertheless, Junhold also sees the positive aspects of the heat: less crowding in the enclosures and more peace and quiet to observe the animals.
Visitor numbers and challenges
The challenges facing zoos are diverse. The Leipzig Zoo recorded a total of 1.67 million visitors in 2008, placing it in fourth place nationwide. And the Wilhelma zoological and botanical garden in Stuttgart has also had steadily increasing visitor numbers since 2008, as current statistics published for 2024 show. Here's a look at the numbers that show a significant increase:
| Year | Visitor numbers (in millions) |
|---|---|
| 2008 | … |
| 2023 | … |
Junhold increased the number of visitors to the Leipzig Zoo from 678,000 in the first year of his term in office to impressive numbers today. These successes are not only due to a good concept, but also to his passion for species protection. Junhold is not only involved in the zoo, but also in various committees, including the Leipzig Cultural Foundation and the Lions Club Leipzig-Saxonia.
An exciting time at the zoo
The zoo has gained new appeal with the mating season in spring, as many young animals have seen the light of day in the enclosures. At least it attracts one or two visitors, even if the high temperatures are currently a challenge. Junhold himself has developed a concept for the “zoo of the future”, which is intended to have a significant influence on the future development of the zoo.
Overall, it remains exciting to see how visitor numbers will develop this summer season. Jörg Junhold has the reins firmly in his hand and is optimistic about the future of the Leipzig Zoo.
For further information about Leipzig Zoo, interested readers can read the Report from Thüringen24 and the Biography of Jörg Junhold on Wikipedia as well Visit the Statistics on the Wilhelma in Stuttgart on Statista.