Inventory at Hoyerswerda Zoo - number of species on the rise

Counting finished: Hoyerswerda Zoo has taken stock and scrutinized its animals. The zoo is currently home to 1,107 males and females from 122 species. The animals were also measured, weighed and checked for their state of health, the zoo announced.

Heavyweights at Hoyerswerda Zoo

The two Galápagos giant tortoises Bert (62 years old) and Jolante (66 years old), the oldest residents, weighed in at 126 kilograms and 86.6 kilograms respectively. The heaviest specimens are the Bactrian camels, the smallest mammals are the dwarf mice and the smallest fish and crustaceans are the shrimps.

Number of species has increased

Compared to 2024, the number of species has increased slightly, although there are around 20 fewer animals. "The return of alpacas and golden eagles are two of the reasons why the number of species has increased by six. But a new stock of fish in the aquarium has also increased the diversity of species in the tropical house," explained zoo director Eugène Bruins.

Successful offspring

The meerkats had a successful offspring, with six young animals being born. The group thus grew to 13 animals. An alpaca foal was also born during a thunderstorm - a special surprise for the zoo, as the mother had unexpectedly come to Hoyerswerda pregnant. Other offspring included small monkeys, Emperor whiskered tamarins and jumping tamarins, as well as tree penguins, a rodent species.

But the zoo also had to mourn the loss of animals such as Emu Hilde, an Ouessant sheep and two squirrel monkeys. All of the animals had reached an advanced age for their species, it said.