Wilhelma - The Only Zoological and Botanical Garden in Germany.

 

Wilhelma is a zoological-botanical garden in Germany and one of the most biodiverse zoos in the world. Promoting domestic and global biodiversity, botanical collections and scientific research work are the most important missions of this garden. Wilhelma is a public service institution of the state of Baden-Württemberg committed to the common good. The park has a wide variety of animals and plants from all regions of the world, besides having several restaurants and biergarten for its visitors.

 

Wilhelma was built in 1842 as a residence for King Wilhelm 1 of Wurttemberg in Moorish style. From the historic park, with the charm of 1001 nights, a botanical garden was developed, Later it became the zoo. With some 11500 animals of 1200 species, and more than 7000 plant myths, Wilhelma is one of the most species-rich places in the world.​

 

 

The plants are divided into three categories: show plants, collection plants and crop plants. Show plants are all plants that are exhibited in the greenhouses. Collection plants, some of which are also show plants, belong to one of the twelve special plant collections and are available for scientific exchange and research. Nearly 90,000 plants are cultivated in the nursery each year to decorate the show houses and the parks, depending on the season.

 

Wilhelma is a zoological-botanical garden in the setting of a 19th-century park protected as a historic monument. The combination of a zoo, botanical garden and historic park creates a special high value and the unique charm of Wilhelma. Wilhelma Zoo is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Baden-Württemberg, seeing more than 2 million visitors annually.

 

 

Wilhelma is structured into five departments, which report to the director: zoology, botany, park maintenance, administration and the craft and construction department. There are two additional divisions: for environmental education and conservation, respectively public and media relations as well as marketing.

 

At Wilhelma, children can not only meet animals and learn about them. They can also feel like an animal themselves in a playful, sporty way by imitating their movements: shimmy like monkeys, run like nandus or hop like kangaroos. These playgrounds were created to encourage kids to be sportive by Kinderturn-Welt, designed and realized in cooperation with the children's gymnastics foundation Kinderturnstiftung Baden-Württemberg.

 

 

The centerpiece is the main playground around the theme of the rainforest. The play area of 1,000 square meters is embedded in tall bushes and trees. In a hedge maze made of bamboo, children learn how difficult it is to find their way in the jungle. A large wooden structure uses elements of the rainforest such as walkways, ropes, bridges, ramps and a tree hut to encourage climbing, balancing and sliding. With reference to the Amazon River, there is a water area for experimenting with the wet element.

 

 

Recreation: Strolling among magnolias, smelling exotic scents, meeting animals, experiencing diversity - Wilhelma offers an enrichment for all the senses.

 

Education: Discovering nature, understanding ecological connections, feeling enthusiasm - environmental education is a central task at Wilhelma.

 

Research: Observing behavior, collecting data, creating scientific plant collections - the Zoological-Botanical Garden collaborates with research teams at home and abroad.

 

Conservation: Protecting animals and their habitats, preventing poaching, breeding rare species - Wilhelma is committed to more than two dozens of conservation projects worldwide.

 

 

Wilhelma is open every day of the year. Admission always starts at 8.15 am, but the closing times vary depending on the month and daylight. The main ticket booths close at 4 pm (in the winter season from November to February at 3.30 pm). During the main season, evening tickets valid after 4 pm are available online and at ticket machines. So, please place your inquiry at a booth no later than 3.50 pm in main season or 3.20 pm in winter.

 

Wilhelma Zoologisch-Botanischer Garten

Wilhelma 13, 70376 Stuttgart

Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Telephone: +49 (0)711 / 54 02 0

Fax: +49 (0)711 / 54 02 22 2

E-mail: info@wilhelma.de