IllustrationGo to Zoo Stralsund for a day that brings big cats, rare farm animals and local farming history into the same leafy park.
Go to Zoo Stralsund for a day that brings big cats, rare farm animals and local farming history into the same leafy park. Start at the Grünhufer Bogen entrance, pick up the map and choose one keeper feeding to anchor your visit. The white donkeys near the entrance make a gentle first stop before you head further into the grounds.
The farm areas give this zoo much of its character. Around the historic Ackerbürgerhaus, chickens, ducks and geese bring the yard to life; elsewhere, rare sheep and goat breeds show how varied familiar farm animals can be. Look at the names on the signs: preserving old domestic breeds is an important part of the zoo’s work. The Mahnkesche Mühle, a reconstructed historic windmill above the paddocks, puts those animals into a local farming landscape.
Leave plenty of time for the chimpanzees, bears and lions too. The white lions Malibu and Ariza arrived in 2025, while the South America House offers smaller animals to look for. Between enclosures, planted flowerbeds, ponds and mature trees make good places to slow down. This is a zoo collection: the animals described here live in human care. Don't forget to bring the Snappit nature identification app along to scan local species.
Stralsund’s first animal-park association began in 1928, followed by deer enclosures at the Küterbastion in 1929. The present park was founded in the Stadtwald in 1959 and later grew towards Grünhufer Bogen. Its farming-history theme includes the Mahnkesche Mühle: the windmill dates from 1882, was dismantled and rebuilt in the zoo, and reopened there on 13 June 2011.
For a varied family walk, link the entrance-side donkeys and windmill area with the ponds, South America House and farmyard, then make time for the chimpanzees and bears. Use the map to choose the order and skip side paths when little legs tire. There is no need to complete every branch of the zoo’s walking circuit.
The feeding programme gives children something specific to watch. The published times include chimpanzees at 11:00, the South America House at 12:00 and pelicans at 13:30; confirm them when you arrive because they can change. Pick one and leave time afterwards for questions. At the Festwiese, the adventure playground has climbing, swings and a large treehouse, with Bistro Delikater beside the meadow. For younger children, the dwarf-goat petting enclosure can be another highlight, with close adult supervision.
The zoo opens daily: April–September 9:00–18:30, March and October 9:00–17:00, and November–February 10:00–16:00. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve have shorter hours, 10:00–14:00. The outdoor animal-show season runs from Easter to late October, with 14:30 performances on scheduled days. Check the current programme and any weather closures before travelling.
Ask for the accessible-circuit leaflet at the ticket desk. Accessible toilets, a wheelchair carousel and free wheelchair loans are available; call 03831 253480 ahead about a loan and your particular needs. Main-path improvements have made travel easier, but natural woodland paths, discovery trails and viewing platforms have limitations. The route between the Ackerbürgerhaus and South America House has a gradient, and the map marks steps by the windmill. With a pushchair or wheelchair, ask staff for the suitable alternative before taking those sections.
White donkeys, distinctive sheep and goats, and a historic farmyard
Chimpanzees, brown bears, bison and the white lions
A historic windmill rebuilt among the zoo’s paddocks
Dwarf goats, a treehouse playground and a bistro beside the Festwiese
For roughly 90 minutes to two hours, start with the donkeys and choose one further animal area that your children particularly want to see. Allow a play break if you continue to the Festwiese. Ask for the accessible-circuit leaflet if you want to avoid unsuitable side paths.
Arrive before the 11:00 chimpanzee feeding, then choose either the South America House feeding or more time outside. Put lunch and play around the Festwiese together, and save the farm breeds and windmill for the part of the day when everyone still has energy to stop and look. Allow about 3–4 hours, longer if you stay for a scheduled show.
At the farm animals, find a sign for Rauhwolliges Pommersches Landschaf or the Stralsunder Hochflieger pigeon. Read where the breed comes from and compare its appearance with another breed. Conservation here includes animals shaped by generations of farming.
Between the enclosures, choose a labelled tree and compare its leaf shape with a neighbour. The zoo marks selected trees for visitors and changes its planted displays with the seasons. Look without picking leaves or flowers.
The 11:00 keeper feeding can be a useful starting point. Before or afterwards, watch hands, feet and social interactions quietly for a minute; an animal sitting still is worth watching too.
Look for the heavy shoulders, woolly head and shorter-haired rear of the body. If the bison are resting, watch for chewing rather than waiting for them to walk towards you.
Scan the whole visible enclosure before settling on a viewpoint. Watch how a bear uses its nose and paws if it is active, and give it space to rest without calling or tapping.
Watch a bird on the water as well as one on land, noticing the different posture. The published pelican feeding is at 13:30; ask whether it is running that day.
Choose one animal and compare its ears, coat and outline with the others. Antlers vary with sex and season, so use the enclosure sign rather than expecting every deer to look like a stag.
Look closely at the European white donkeys’ pale coat. They have light pigmentation and blue eyes rather than being completely unpigmented albinos. The breed is part of the zoo’s rare-domestic-animal work.
Notice the two humps and compare the camel’s body shape with the nearby donkeys. Stay behind the visitor boundary and let the animal choose whether to approach.
Ask staff where to find the meerkats if they are not marked on your map. Watch for different activities within the group instead of expecting all of them to stand upright at once.
Each card links to a full Explore page with photos, traits, and fun facts.
Start with the big picture, then zoom in to explore individual wildlife observations around this place.
Entrance
Navigate to Grünhufer Bogen 2, 18437 Stralsund. Barther Straße is the postal address, so use the visitor entrance for your arrival.
Parking
Zoo visitors may use STRELAPARK’s outdoor parking and parking garage free of charge. If security staff ask, tell them you are visiting the zoo.
By bus
VVR line 3 links Stralsund Hauptbahnhof with Strelapark/Zoo. Check the current timetable for your outward and return journey.
Tickets
Compare the small and large family tickets with individual admission. Prices vary by season; bring any concession evidence. Handcarts can be hired for a fee and deposit.
Feeding animals
Use only zoo feed, and only for the animals the zoo permits. Your own bread, fruit and snacks must stay out of the enclosures. Supervise children closely around the goats.
Photos
You may photograph for your own use. The zoo’s visitor rules require prior written permission before publishing images, including sharing them online; ask before posting your animal photos.
Dogs
Dogs need a paid ticket and a short lead. They cannot enter walk-through enclosures, indoor animal areas or stables, so plan how your group will manage those stops.
Stay inside for lunch
Day tickets cease to be valid when you leave. Bistro Delikater has indoor seating and a terrace; check its serving hours before planning a late meal.
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
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Michigan, US
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Take the discovery with you
Identify the wildlife you spot, learn as you go, and keep a collection of the adventure.
