Alpenzoo: Longer Version

Okay, now that I'm back at Bogenhofen for a day, I'll write a bit more about the Alpenzoo. For starters, this is one of the main tourist attractions in Innsbruck. The zoo showcases many animals who represent the main species that you can find in the Alpine habitat in and around Innsbruck. As with many zoos, it also serves as a conservation center. One of the main creatures it serves to protect is the Northern Bald Ibis, which is extinct is Europe, but still survives in Africa. The zoo serves as a breeding center, as well as supervising introduction attempts in Austria and other countries.

As for showcasing animals representative of the Alps, the zoo does a superb job of this. Animals such as the Eurasian Brown Bear, Lynx, and mountain goats are shown in there natural habitats. Magnificent birds, such as the Golden Eagle, Lammergier, and Eagle Owl make you feel glad that you're not any lower on the food chain. The zoo also contains an aquarium with many different fish, frogs, and other water-loving creatures. There is also a terrarium that, in warmer months holds various lizards and snakes. I was surprised, I'm not used to thinking about reptiles living in an area with such a cold climate, but while we wandered around the zoo, I saw two different wild lizards!! 

According to the Alpenzoo's website, the zoo displays 20 of the 80 mammal species, 60 bird, 11 reptile, 6 amphibian, and most of the Alpine fish species. 

And if you ever get tired of looking at the animals, there is always the scenery!