Leipzig Zoo: Life's a Jungle in Gondwana-Land
Zoo Leipzig: Havoc in Gondwana Exhibit!
Imagine being an animal at Leipzig Zoo, living in the lush, verdant landscape of Gondwana-Land. Every day, the keepers ensure you've got everything to thrive, while the gardeners keep the jungle looking picture-perfect. But, it's not always smooth sailing. Sometimes, a little 'massacre' is necessary, even causing quite the ruckus among the residents. The MDR documentary series, "Elephant, Tiger, and Co.", recently captured one such event.
Gondwana-Land: A Trim Too Far
Spring, the peak breeding season, saw a sudden appearance of a towering steel behemoth in the middle of Gondwana-Land! The avian inhabitants certainly let the staff have it as the workers hoisted their articulated lift and cranked the heavy equipment in the tropical hall. The treetops were in dire need of some serious attention.
Behind the Scenes in Leipzig Zoo - The Tragic Reason
"Lower plants need more light," Christine Anger explains in the "Elephant, Tiger & Co." episode broadcast on June 6. "The trees are spreading out quite a bit, and the lower planting is suffering as a result." So, the gardeners strap in every year to prune those treetops, high up and with precision. Rest assured, the trees don't mind. In fact, they benefit from it!
A Fresher, Greener Gondwana-Land
"We've seen it time and time again, when we do a radical pruning on the trees, how quickly they bounce back, and how swiftly they regrow," Michael Ernst shares in the documentary. "It's like cutting hair - you trim it down, and it grows back just as fast."
Of course, the gardeners don't take a knife to every tree without careful thought. They check first for any nests in the treetops, preserving the breeding habitats of our feathered friends.
New episodes of "Elephant, Tiger & Co." air every Friday at 7:50 PM on MDR TV. You can catch up on earlier episodes at any time in the mediathek.
Whilst the gardeners in Leipzig Zoo strive to maintain the home-and-garden of Gondwana-Land, they sometimes need to prune the large trees to promote a healthier lifestyle for the plants underneath – a process that mirrors gardening techniques on a home scale. During these periods, the birds in the area may become agitated, but the gardeners carefully monitor the treetops for any nests before trimming to ensure the protection of wildlife.
