About us
At the foot of the “Nordkette” mountain range, above the rooftops of Innsbruck,
the
Alpenzoo is located in the capital of Tyrol, 750 metres above sea level. Roughly
2000 Alpine animals across approximately 150 species are kept in natural
enclosures, terrariums and aquariums on just over 10 hectares (although only 5
hectares have been developed up to now; the zoo was expanded in 2022). No
other zoo in the world has such a complete collection of wild animals from the
Alpine region. This is just one reason why a number of world firsts and
remarkable breeding successes have been achieved here.
The Alpenzoo is a non-profit organisation that generates most of its annual
operating funds itself
(with the support of the City of Innsbruck and the Province of Tyrol). The
association “Friends of the Alpenzoo” (“FREUNDE DES ALPENZOO”), sponsors and
donors also contribute to financial security. With around 300,000 visitors a year,
the Alpenzoo is the largest cultural institution in Tyrol. As an employer, it secures
permanent jobs for around 30 employees.
Association Alpenzoo Innsbruck-Tirol
History
The Alpenzoo is located at the foot of the “Nordkette” mountain range on the sunny side of Innsbruck, just a 15-20 minute walk from the city centre. At the entrance is Weiherburg Castle, which the citizen of Innsbruck, Christian Tänzl, had built as his residence from 1460. Emperor Maximilian I was also a guest here. Archduke Ferdinand II had an imperial zoo built at Weiherburg Castle in 1591
With the opening of the “Alpenzoo Innsbruck”, a bridge was built to the Renaissance zoo of the 16th century. In doing so, at least part of Weiherburg Castle’s former surroundings and atmosphere were restored. Right at the entrance, the beaver enclosure with its “pond” is reminiscent of the historic fish ponds that gave the Weiherburg its name. The Alpenzoo opened its doors on 22 September 1962 and was immediately well received by the public. By the turn of the year, 30,000 people had already visited, and in the years that followed the number steadily increased to an average of 300,000 visitors per year.
Anyone who admires brown bears, beavers and ibexes in the Alpenzoo today may not realise that these successes in the keeping and breeding of native wild animals are thanks to the vision and work of Prof. Hans Psenner (1912 - 1995) and the then mayor of Innsbruck Dr Alois Lugger From 1962-94, Dr Alois Lugger was President of the InnsbruckTyrol Alpenzoo. He was followed by DDr. Herwig van Staafrom 1994 to 2024, after which the office of President was handed over to Günther Platter at the beginning of 2024.
Prof Hans Psenner is regarded as the “father of the Alpenzoo”, having promoted the idea of establishing an “Alpenzoo” to the public at a young age. In 1962, at the age of 50, he was finally able to realise his life’s work. The history of the Alpenzoo stretches from its beginnings under Hans Psenner (Director 1962 - 1979) to the enormous upswing under Dr Helmut Pechlaner (Director 1979 – 1991, 1992 – 2006 Director at Vienna’s “Schönbrunn Zoo”) to Dr. Michael Martys who was director from 1992 - 2017, to the current zoo director Dr. André Stadler.
22. September 1962
Opening of the Alpenzoo
Organisation & Management
Dipl. Biol. Dirk Ullrich
Zoological Curator
