Giant otter
Wait at the underwater window for a dive, then follow the animal back towards the surface. If the pool is quiet, return after another stop rather than tapping the glass.
IllustrationZooBrandenburg, Germany
Tierpark Cottbus
Come to Tierpark Cottbus for a relaxed animal-watching day with giant otters, elephants and an unusually rewarding collection of waterbirds.
About
Come to Tierpark Cottbus for a relaxed animal-watching day with giant otters, elephants and an unusually rewarding collection of waterbirds. The 25-hectare grounds sit between the River Spree, Branitzer Park and Spreeauenpark. This is a place to spread out your visit: combine the animal houses with time at the ponds, and leave room for the children’s zoo. Start by checking the day’s feeding boards, especially if otters or penguins are high on your family’s list.
Make the Raubtierhaus a priority. Despite its name, the renovated predator house has much more to investigate than big cats: the giant-otter extension includes panoramic windows with underwater views, and the building also houses ring-tailed mongooses and leafcutter ants. At the otter glass, give yourselves time to follow a whole dive rather than taking one photograph and moving on. The elephant house, opened in 2023, is another important stop. Elephant activities can change from day to day; details are posted at their enclosure.
The birds deserve their own part of the afternoon. Look for Australian pelicans in the Africa area and Caribbean flamingos at the lagoon. Add a pause at the upper pond, then compare those long-legged and long-billed birds with the Humboldt penguins. For something less familiar, seek out the Visayan warty pigs, which joined the zoo in autumn 2026. Their arrival links a small enclosure animal with a serious conservation story: Cottbus is participating in the European breeding programme for this threatened Philippine species. Explore the grounds like a pro—download the Snappit app to instantly identify animals and plants.
Tierpark Cottbus opened on 1 June 1954 as a local animal park, helped into existence by civic effort. It later became one of the German Democratic Republic’s recognised zoological gardens. The first predator house opened in 1968 and the first elephant arrived the following year. Waterbirds became a particular strength. More recent additions include the flamingo lagoon in 2018, the German-Polish Zooschule in 2019, the elephant house in 2023 and the giant-otter section in 2024.
What to do here
Build your visit around three kinds of stop: the Raubtierhaus for underwater viewing and smaller animals, the elephants and other large mammals, and a slower circuit of the bird areas. Choose the order around the day’s keeper activities and the weather. This is a flexible sightseeing plan; you can spend longer with an animal that is active and return later to one that is resting.
In the Tapirhaus, look for emperor tamarins as well as the tapirs. Pause to watch the little monkeys interact, and see which individuals move together or sit apart. With children, try a simple observation game: choose one animal and notice how it moves, what it pays attention to and which parts of its enclosure it uses. Let the animal set the pace.
For a more structured family outing, pick up a Rätselspaß booklet at the ticket office and bring pencils. There are versions for preschool children through year 2 and for children from year 3; the school-oriented Tierpark-Rallye has four age levels. Work through a few questions between animal stops, then use the petting zoo and playground for a change of pace. The seating by the Zooschule is a useful place to finish the puzzles and unpack a picnic.
Seasonal info
The zoo opens throughout the year, with shorter winter days. From April to September the published closing time is 19:00; in winter it is 17:00, with last admission an hour earlier. Check the seasonal timetable before travelling, especially around the autumn clock change and Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve. Bring a waterproof layer for the outdoor stretches between animal houses.
Accessibility
Step-free routes are possible, but the grounds are extensive and many paths are sandy, with only some asphalt. Larger stroller wheels can make the outing easier, and wheelchair users should ask the zoo about the best surfaces for their visit. Accessible parking is near the entrance. An accessible toilet with a changing table is near the petting zoo and uses a Eurokey. Ask ahead about borrowing a wheelchair or arranging an adapted guided visit; pull-along wagons are also available.
Don't miss
1
Giant otters
Watch through the Raubtierhaus extension’s underwater windows and return for a second look if the animals are resting.
2
Elephants
Visit the house opened in 2023 and check the enclosure board for that day’s activities.
3
Bird-watching variety
Compare pelicans, flamingos and Humboldt penguins, with the upper pond adding another waterside stop.
4
Children’s discoveries
Combine the Rätselspaß booklet with the petting zoo, playground and a picnic by the Zooschule.
Wildlife and habitats
Asian elephant
Check the enclosure board for the day’s elephant activities, which may include feeding or showering. Watch how an elephant uses its trunk while you wait.
Sumatran tiger
Look across the enclosure before concentrating on the most obvious viewpoint. Give a resting tiger space and try another visit later; a keeper activity is not a promise of movement.
Ring-tailed mongoose
Make time for the smaller mammal exhibits inside the house. The ring-tailed mongooses are worth a separate pause; don’t confuse them with the zoo’s ring-tailed lemurs.
Visayan warty pig
Look for the Philippine pigs at the wild-pig enclosure. Use their story to talk about why breeding programmes also include animals that are less familiar than elephants or tigers.
Baird’s tapir
Include the tapirs in your larger-mammal stops, then check the Tapirhaus for emperor tamarins. Watching animals of such different sizes is a good reason to slow down here.
Caribbean flamingo
At the lagoon, compare flamingos with the roseate spoonbills sharing the area. The flamingos use winter accommodation at the wading-bird house during the colder part of the year.
Emperor tamarin
Look for the tamarins in the Tapirhaus. Watch the group as a whole rather than following only one animal. Notice which individuals move together and which sit apart.
Ring-tailed lemur
Include the kattas when comparing tails: contrast theirs with the ring-tailed mongooses you saw in the Raubtierhaus. Ask on arrival whether a keeper activity fits your visit.
Australian pelican
Stop at the pelicans even if you miss a feeding. Compare their bills and posture with the flamingos and penguins elsewhere in the zoo.
Sources and useful links
- Unser Tierpark
- Geschichte
- Öffnungszeiten
- Preise
- Fütterungen
- Fütterungen im Tierpark Cottbus: posted programme
- Anfahrt
- Service
- Gastronomie
- Tierparkordnung
- Tierpark-Rallye und Rätsel
- Aktuelles
- Tierpatenschaften: named collection animals
- Visayas-Pustelschweine neu im Tierpark
- Tierpark Cottbus: accessibility details
- Tierpark
- Projektstart MUNGOMANIA
- Kubaflamingos wieder in der Lagune
- Zwillinge bei den Kaiserschnurrbarttamarinen
- Tierpark Cottbus member profile
- Parkeisenbahn Cottbus
- Riesenotter und Ringelschwanzmungos neu im Tierpark
- Fahrpläne
- Snappit species registry source snapshot
Wildlife you might spot
10Each card links to a full Explore page with photos, traits, and fun facts.
Snap map for this place
Start with the big picture, then zoom in to explore individual wildlife observations around this place.
Loading map…
Good to know before you go
Getting here
Use Kiekebuscher Straße 5, 03042 Cottbus. From Cottbus Hauptbahnhof, the zoo recommends bus 10 towards Branitz; check the current connection before setting out.
By car or bike
From the A15, take Cottbus Süd and follow Tierpark/Branitzer Park signs. Parking, cycle stands and lockable bicycle boxes are available at the entrance; the boxes require a key deposit.
Feeding boards first
Check the current programme when you arrive. Elephant activities are announced at the enclosure and may happen at different times.
Food and toilets
The restaurant operates year-round; the snack bar by the children’s zoo is seasonal. Both have toilets, and there are picnic areas outside the catering spaces.
Give animals space
Keep hands outside enclosures, don’t tap glass or call to attract attention, and never offer food brought from home.
Bring a pencil
The family puzzle booklet is designed to be used during the visit. A pencil is also more practical than a pen if it starts raining.
Dogs and wheels
Dogs must stay on a short lead and outside animal enclosures and the playground. Bicycles and inline skates cannot come in; balance bikes, tricycles and pull-along wagons are allowed.
Frequently asked questions
- Yes, on its operating days. The park railway has a Bahnhof Zoo stop directly by the zoo, and you can join it at Sandower Dreieck. Check the railway’s own calendar and the return service before planning around it; it does not run every day throughout the year.
- The Raubtierhaus and other animal houses provide indoor stops, so light showers need not end the outing. You will still cross outdoor paths between them. In steady rain, prioritise a few houses and a restaurant break rather than trying to cover the full grounds.
- For an independent puzzle visit, buy a Rätselspaß booklet at the ticket office. A guided visit needs advance arrangement. School groups can choose age-specific rally materials, with specialist topics organised through the Zooschule.
- Compare the two family-ticket options with individual tickets: one covers one adult and up to three children, the other two adults and up to four children. Check the zoo’s current prices and age conditions before travelling.
Recent snaps at this place
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
More zoo guides
View all ›
Photo coming soon
Zoo48 sightings50 species
North Carolina, US
Coker Arboretum
You might spot American Robin and Eastern Gray Squirrel.
View guide →
Photo coming soon
Zoo47 sightings50 species
Florida, US
Silver Springs
You might spot Anhinga, American Alligator, and Wood Duck.
View guide →
Photo coming soon
Zoo46 sightings50 species
New Mexico, US
Rio Grande Botanic Garden
You might spot Wood Duck, Duck, and Canada Goose.
View guide →
Photo coming soon
Zoo27 sightings22 species
Michigan, US
John Ball Zoo
You might spot African Lion, Komodo Dragon, and Brown Bear.
View guide →
Take the discovery with you
Exploring Tierpark Cottbus?
Identify the wildlife you spot, learn as you go, and keep a collection of the adventure.
- 1Spot it
- 2Snap it
- 3Keep the discovery