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Getting to know the local wildlife is a part of living in the area. Germany offers a diverse ecosystem with a wide range of species. Foxes, birds of prey, deer and, of course, wild boar live in and around the Kaiserslautern area. There are a number of places that can help you get acquainted with your furry neighbor friends.
Daun Wildlife Park
This park is a safari park wherein guests drive around the course and interact with animals at designated feeding areas. It is located roughly thirty minutes from Spangdahlem Air Force Base. In addition to drive through areas, there are also bird and monkey areas for closer contact. Jessica Beach, wife of Tech Sergeant Gregory Beach, visited the park in 2010.
“Daun Wildlife Park is a great outdoor activity for families. It gives you the rare opportunity to meet monkeys without a fence to separate you and the possibility to feed different animals, like deer, right out of the palm of your hand,” said Beach. “Hands down our favorite part of the park was the monkey encounter.”
Wild- & Erlebnispark Daun, Wildparkstrasse 1, 54550 Daun, www.wildpark-daun.de
Tiergarten Worms
This zoo, located in Worms, offers access to a number of animals. It is a rather large zoo for the size of the town in which it is located with a vast number of exhibits. It is very family friendly and has a number of picnic areas to relax in after a day of walking around and a large playground for the kids.
Tiergarten Worms, Ham-mels-damm 101, 67547 Worms, www.tiergarten-worms.de
Zoo Kaiserslautern
The Kaiserslautern Zoo in Siegelbach offers seasonal promotions year round, but its busy season is spring and summer. A typical zoo, it is primarily comprised of caged exhibits and is home to a wide variety of animals; the zoo’s inhabitants are both German locals as well as animals from all over the world.
Kaiserslautern Zoo, Zum Tierpark 10, 67661 Siegelbach, www.zoo-kaiserslautern.com
Wildpark-Falknerei Potzberg
This park’s claim to fame is its daily bird show. Here, guests can interact with, and even hold, the birds of prey that soar the sky. It is a family-run park with an emphasis on conservation and being ecofriendly.
“We really like animals in general, but we went mainly to see the bird show and feed them. We had a wonderful time and cannot wait to get back again,” said Rose Doose, wife of Master Sergeant, Wayne Doose. The couple visited the park this year. “I think it’s a great place to bring family; just make sure you wear good hiking shoes and that the people are mobile because some of the paths are uneven, rocky and can be muddy. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to experience wildlife in Germany!”
Wildpark & Greifvogelzoo Potzberg, Am Potzberg, 66887 Föckelberg, www.wildpark.potzberg.de
Betzenberg Game Park
Located in Southeast Kaisers-lautern, this park is open daily and is free to the public. The animals featured here are pri-marily game animals that live in the surrounding area. Boasting over four hundred animals of fifteen European species, this park offers petting zoos and playgrounds for young visitors.
Wildpark Betzenberg, Entersweilerstrasse (parking area opposite Restaurant Quack), 67657 Kaiserslautern
Hochwildschutzpark Hunsrück
This educational wildlife park is home to a variety of forest animals, ranging from bears to wolves and birds of prey. Located in Rheinboellen, the park is close to a large natural pond and a vibrant verdant field. Currently, the park features polar wolf cubs, meerkat pups and red deer calves besides the usual inhabitants.
Hochwildschutzpark Huns-rück, 55494 Rhein-boellen, www.hochwildschutzpark.de
Wolfspark Werner Freund
This park, located in Merzig, is centered around interactions with wolves. This park is currently home to more than twenty wolves in seven packs. The park features Timber, Canadian, Mongolian, Swedish and Arctic wolves. Every first Sunday of the month, you can take part in a free guided tour, with a feeding presentation at the end. Alternatively, you can hike the 10 km-long ‘Wolfsweg,’ wolf path, surrounding the park.
Wolfspark Werner Freund, Wald-strasse 204, 66663 Merzig, www.wolfspark-
wernerfreund.de/
Family members young and old can experience German wildlife at any one of these locations. Of course, another great way to meet your neighbors is to take a walk in the forest. If you are really lucky, you might see one live!
