Decline in Vienna's Schönbrunn Zoo: Why Are the Zoo Residents Decreasing?
Schönbrunn Zoo is experiencing a decline in its animal population due to upcoming changes and the construction of a new species protection aquarium. This affects the animal count, which is temporary, as reported by ORF.
Inventory Shows: Animal Population in Schönbrunn Zoo Decreases
Indian rhinoceroses are easy to count due to their impressive presence – there are currently exactly two of these animals living in Schönbrunn Zoo. In comparison, the lively group of blackbuck antelopes with their nine young ones creates a lot of movement in the enclosure.
Counting animals becomes more complicated when it comes to aquatic creatures. Zoological department head Rupert Kainradl explains that for insects or large schools of fish, a flat number of 30 often flows into the statistics as a fixed value. According to current figures, there are a total of 7,749 animals living in the zoo in 2023, 6,860 in 2024, and the number is expected to drop to only 6,043 animals in 2025. The reasons for this decline are multifaceted.
New Species Protection Aquarium and Its Impact
A major reason for the decline in the number of animals is the construction of a new species protection aquarium. To make room for this project, some animals had to leave the zoo. Some of them were housed in the new Aqua Research Station. Kainradl emphasizes that animals that could no longer be accommodated in the zoo were given to other zoological institutions. These facilities work closely with the zoo, including private keepers whom the zoo trusts because they have extensive knowledge.
Transition Phase and Future Prospects
The decline in animal numbers in Schönbrunn is regrettable, but the selected transitional locations ensure good care for the animals. For example, more than 40 species from the Schönbrunn reef tank are temporarily housed in the Pula Aquarium. Kainradl assures that when the new species protection aquarium in Vienna is completed in 2028, all species will be brought back. This will also increase the number of residents in Schönbrunn Zoo again.
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