Maul and claw disease: “Conscientious conscience”: Tierpark Berlin open again

Almost three weeks after the precautionary closure to protect against the mouth and claw disease (MKS), the zoo has reopened. “In close coordination with the authorities, we have developed a security concept with the responsible offices, a hygiene concept under which we can also open our doors again with a clear conscience,” said spokeswoman Philine Hachmeister in the RBB interview.

The closure was a pure precaution and not an official order, Hachmeister said. Therefore, the operators could have decided whether they close or open.

Dogs have to stay outside

According to a message from the zoo, disinfection mats were laid out at the entrances. Since these are not suitable for dog paws, dogs should not be brought to the zoo until further notice. The Himalaya area, the petting zoo with parts of the pet area and the three main paths to the castle, the enclosures of the deer lie on.

Furthermore, the zoo asks all guests who had contact with ruminants such as cattle, sheep, goats, alpacas, lamas, fallow deer or pigs in the past ten days. This also applies to residents of the MKS outbreak area at Hönow and people who have recently been there.

Tierpark is located in surveillance zone

MKS is a highly contagious viral disease. It is harmless to humans, especially claw animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and goats can be infected. The outbreak was discovered on January 10th in a buffalo herd in Hönow in Brandenburg. Since then there has been no further confirmed case.

The disease is dangerous for red buffalos, alpacas or giraffes living in the zoo and Berlin Zoo. The zoo is located within the surveillance zone of ten kilometers around the outbreak of the outbreak, which requires extensive prevention measures.

New addition with alien look in the monkey house

One day after the reopening, a rare new addition can be admired in the monkey house: the female female Vassago.

“Ears like a bat, eyes as big as golf balls, fingers as long as that of ET, the extraterrestrial”, the mystical look of the monkey is described by the zoo. Since finger animals are nocturnal, Vassago was built “a palace of darkness” when the night becomes the day.

Finger animals-also called Aye-Aye-are a type of lemur from Madagascar. Due to its rarity and unique way of life, the animal is often referred to as the “monster of nature”. His presence also applies as a sign of intact forests. Due to the increasing destruction of this habitat on Madagascar, the Aye-Aye is very threatened in its homeland.

On the Red List of the World Natural Protection Union IUCN, the type of lemur is listed as “strongly endangered”. The animals can only be seen in seven European zoos.