Evolution of Animals with PLAYMOBIL: Special Exhibition at Zoo Rostock

(eap) From 1 March 2026, Zoo Rostock will present the special exhibition “The Evolution of Animals with PLAYMOBIL – Marvel, Play, Learn”. In the “Mirror Hall” of the zoo’s Darwineum, detailed miniature landscapes designed by diorama artist Oliver Schaffer will tell the story of the development of life on Earth.

Giganten der Urzeit im Kleinformat. © Grafik: Adrián Limón The special exhibition combines scientific content with a distinctive form of playful staging. Artistic display landscapes (dioramas), constructed from thousands of Playmobil figures and elements, offer an unusual perspective on 4.5 billion years of Earth’s history. From the earliest life forms and prehistoric habitats to scenes of cultural evolution, a visual narrative is intended to emerge that functions across generations and creates space for individual discoveries.

The main exhibition area in the Darwineum will be complemented by additional stations throughout the zoo: further dioramas will also be on display in the entrance area of the Darwineum near the Galápagos giant tortoises and in the Polarium. In addition, photographic perspectives by Adrián Limón will be presented in the Ape House. Admission to the special exhibition, which is included in the regular zoo entrance fee, will be possible from the coming month until and including 30 April this year. ■