About us

4,500 animals in 450 different species from all over the world live at the Rostock Zoo in near-natural habitats which are surrounded by a unique park landscape. Founded in 1899, the zoo looks back on a long history and has evolved from a former Wildlife and Dendrological Garden to become the present-day largest zoo on the German Baltic Sea coast.

Guiding principles

We have subordinated three major guiding principles to our work, which we would gladly like to present to our visitors: Passion, Curiosity, Diversity.

Awards

Best Zoo in Europe, Certified holiday quality and many more - the Zoo Rostock is proud of its several awards.

Our guiding principles

We have subordinated three major guiding principles to our work, which we would gladly like to present to our visitors:

Passion
We work with full commitment to the animals which have been entrusted to us. They are our passion.
We passionately accompany you as a visitor and provide you with very special impressions and adventures. In particular, we want to inspire and encourage children to become acquainted with their environment and put them into action to protect it. We do our utmost so that the spark of our enthusiasm electrifies you. Catch on to the enthusiasm!

Curiosity
We are curious about the future and would like to shape it together with you. Walk on unknown paths with us. Marvel at the wonder and treasures of nature which provide us with ideas for many new projects. Try things out with intellectual curiosity and spirit of adventure. Knowledge helps to explain and to understand. Nature has so much in store for us. Go on a journey of knowledge with us!

Diversity
We love and live for diversity. Life is a fascinating network: animals and humans, young and old, grey and colourful – so many living environments and worlds of experience. We respect and cherish this diversity, and as signatories of the nationwide “Diversity Charter”, also in social interaction with each other. We are mindful of an appreciative, impartial environment among visitors, employees and business partners. Immerse yourself and experience the diversity!

Awards

Best Zoo in Europe, Certified holiday quality and many more - the Zoo Rostock is proud of its several awards. They are our motivation to develope the zoo in the future - for our animals and our visitors.

Awards

“Best Zoo in Europe - Category II”

In 2018, the Rostock Zoo was chosen for the second time in succession as the best zoo in Europe among the zoological gardens in category II (500,000 to 1 million guests annually). Zoological gardens from 28 countries were considered in the assessment. This exclusively concerns zoological gardens which are members of EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria). The prize is awarded by Anthony Sheridan, author of the book entitled “What Zoos Can Do”. For the current survey in different categories according to the number of annual visitors, the internationally acknowledged zoo expert took into account 40 criteria such as species conservation, animal husbandry, zoo education, species diversity and number of visitors.

TripAdvisor: Certificate of Excellence 2015

TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel website, awarded the Certificate of Excellence to the Rostock Zoo in 2015. This prestigious distinction is awarded when visitors continually submit good ratings on the website. As a result, we are among the best enterprises in our sector on the TripAdvisor website.

The big "Q" - Initiative ServiceQualität Deutschland

Service quality in leisure facilities is one of the central themes in order to achieve the highest possible satisfaction among visitors. That is why the Rostock Zoo joined the initiative of the Rostocker Gesellschaft für Tourismus und Marketing (Rostock Company for Tourism and Marketing) to become the first "QualitätsStadt" (Quality City) in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. After taking part in quality training and the implementation of diverse measures, the Rostock Zoo received the quality seal and is therefore an institution of the Initiative ServiceQualität Deutschland (German Service Quality Initiative).

More information is available at: rostock.de/qualitaetsstadt

Red Dot Design Award

The Red Dot Award (until 2001 also known as the “German Prize for Communication Design”) is awarded annually by Design Zentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen (Design Centre North Rhine-Westphalia), and addresses all creative minds from agencies or design studios, freelancers and enterprises with strong campaigns. The Darwineum won in the category Communication Design and is now allowed to bear the famous “Red Dot” as a trademark.

ADAC Tourism Award 2013

The ADAC (General German Automobile Association) distinguished the Darwineum at the Rostock Zoo with the Tourism Award 2013. Thanks to this acknowledgment, tourists from all over Germany shall now be made aware of the unique world of natural experience and knowledge. In addition, it rewards zoo employees for their efforts in recent years. The ADAC granted the award for the first time for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to honour exceptional projects.

The 50 most attractive leisure facilities in Germany

The Rostock Zoo with the Darwineum and Polarium is among the 50 most attractive leisure facilities in Germany. This was revealed by a current survey conducted by the Stiftung für Zukunftsfragen (Foundation for Future Studies) in Hamburg, which determined the 50 best, most exciting and original offers for STERN magazine. More than 30 criteria in various categories were taken into account, such as the signage by the approach to value for money as well as educational and entertainment offers. Among other aspects, zoos, science centres, adventure offers, theme parks and museums were tested.

Certified holiday quality

The “Fish King” - His Majesty Gustav I - smiles wherever the family land Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (MV) offers certified holiday quality. Only providers who have achieved the required score in the certification process are allowed to use the quality seal “Certified Quality”. The Rostock Zoological Garden has been a bearer of the quality seal since 2006.