Hellabrunn Zoo, Munich Tierpark Hellabrunn

Landscape and architecture harmonize to a degree rarely achieved. Species which normally share habitats are kept together wherever possible (e.g. chamois and marmots).Such popular features as the Elephant House (now a listed building), the enormous 5,000sq.m/6,000sq.yd covered free-flight aviary, the polarium and the ape houses, which are among the highlights of the zoo, have been enlarged and improved in the last few years at considerable expense.Hellabrunn Zoo is situated on a lower terrace of the Isar, now a designated nature conservation area. In the case of enclosures recently refurbished, railings have been kept to a minimum. Delightful footpaths, children's playgrounds, eating and picnic places, contribute to making the zoo a recreational oasis.Hellabrunn enjoys an international reputation for its success both in resurrecting the extinct aurochs and gray wild horse (by selective breeding from primitive domestic breeds), and in safeguarding rare species threatened with extinction. These include Przewalski's horse, bison, musk-ox, ibex, king penguins, gorillas, orang-utans, chimpanzees, gibbons, Siberian tigers, Persian leopards, tapirs, Indian rhinos and Mhorr gazelles (which latter are already extinct in the wild).