“Dragon House”: New Tropical Exhibit Open at Cologne Zoo

(eap) After reopening its extensively renovated giraffe enclosure in July, Cologne Zoo recently followed up with the “Drachenhaus” (“Dragon House”), the second major new project to open this summer. Covering more than 3,000 square meters, the new Southeast Asian tropical world invites visitors to explore bridges, waterscapes and winding paths. Along the way, they encounter tree kangaroos, birds of paradise, tiger pythons, Asian small-clawed otters and Bali mynas, as well as a variety of other Southeast Asian species.

The highlight of the new Drachenhaus Tropical World is the Komodo dragons. // Photo: Rolf Schlosser © Kölner Zoo At the heart of the new exhibit are two Komodo dragons, which have found a new home in the Dragon House. According to Cologne Zoo, this marks a first for the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Nationwide, Cologne Zoo is said to be one of the only three zoos, alongside Leipzig Zoo and Frankfurt Zoo, to keep the giant lizards, which can grow to more than three meters in length. The Komodo dragon pair “Tessa” and “Jiwa” inhabit an approximately 200-square-meter enclosure separated from the visitor area by a glass pane.

These giant lizards can grow to be more than three meters long. // Photo: Rolf Schlosser © Kölner Zoo The zoo invested 9.8 million euros in the new tropical experience. Following around 18 months of construction, it was created within the building that formerly housed the “Rainforest House”, which was destroyed by fire in 2022 and had to be renovated as a result. The backstage areas were also extensively reconfigured. They now include a breeding facility for endangered Asian songbirds, as well as rooms for the zoo library and for school and university courses. Prof. Theo B. Pagel and Christopher Landsberg, members of the Cologne Zoo Executive Board, explain: “We are very pleased to be able to offer so many new highlights in such a large space here. With its many facets, the Dragon House is one of the most interesting visitor experiences at our zoo.”

Since July, AG Zoologischer Garten Köln has also had a newly constituted nine-member Supervisory Board. Biologist Robert Schallehn (Green Party) was elected Chairman. Referring to the new Dragon House, he also highlights its significance for the zoo’s future direction: “The building is a symbol of what modern, scientifically managed zoos stand for today: It offers exciting, up-close animal experiences that engage people and make them more knowledgeable. Behind the scenes, additional space has also been created for the zoo’s important conservation and educational activities – all based on modern environmental technology. […]”. ■