Renovation of the ibex plant
A new home for the King of the Alps
Joy reigns! The renovation of the ibex enclosure has been completed. The herd can now climb around on the newly renovated rocks again.
The ibex enclosure in Wildnispark Zurich is over 75 years old. As the structure is getting a bit long in the tooth, it has had to be renovated in recent months. Some of the striking rocks had become crumbly, and the flooring and fence also had to be replaced. In principle, however, the facility was retained in its current form, as both its size and design have proven their worth.
Construction work began at the end of October 2025. During this time, the ibex herd remained in the adjacent pasture or in areas of the enclosure that were not affected by the renovation. On Tuesday morning, the time had come: the herd, currently numbering 23, was allowed back into its old habitat and soon took possession of the "brand new" rocks. And who knows: perhaps there will soon be young animals to see again.
Better hygiene, more shade
Ibexes love to be able to retreat under a shady ledge from time to time. As many of these stone slabs had crumbled away over the years or were removed for safety reasons, new stone slabs have now been added and more feeding troughs placed. In addition, the oldest climbing rock in the front part of the enclosure had to be stabilized. This is particularly popular with visitors to the zoo because the young animals love to romp around on it
The flooring was also renovated so that the zookeepers can clean the enclosure efficiently. In particular, the brittle joints between the stone slabs had to be renewed. "Droppings were always getting stuck in the brittle mortar between the floor slabs," explains Martin Kilchenmann, Head of Animals at Wildnispark Zurich. This made cleaning the facility more time-consuming and good hygiene conditions are important for the health of the animals.
Facility creates new insights
"In all projects at Langenberg Wildlife Park, we make sure that the animals, the animal care team and the visitors benefit equally," says Kilchenmann. Visitors now have the opportunity to enter the facility on a guided tour so that they can get an even closer look at the king of the mountains. The "Ibex Safari" takes place on Sundays and public holidays during the summer season. Registration in the store. Dates and further information.
Expensive item: a new fence mesh
Metal fences are durable, but they also wear out and need to be replaced regularly. The current mesh is metal-colored, the new one will be black. "For visitors, this is a visual plus," explains Kilchenmann.
Donations for the ibexes
The renovation cost half a million francs in total. Thanks to grants from foundations, a contribution from Coop and private donations, the project could be tackled. The Zurich Wilderness Park is grateful for further donations in support of the ibexes at Langenberg Wildlife Park. Click here to go directly to the donation form.
