Prospects

During the 170 years that it has been in existence (planning began in 1837), the appearance of Wilhelma has undergone constant change. The reasons for this are, for example, destruction caused by wars, but above all a change in its function. At the beginning it was treasure in the possession of King Wilhelm I of Württemberg. Today it is a leisure-time facility with some 2 million yearly visitors. Its development into zoological and botanical gardens after the Second World War is the chief reason for constant change and modernization in the field of animal keeping.

The most important projects for the future:

Redesigning the Main Entrance

During main visiting periods up to 15,000 visitors come to Wilhelma daily. In order to be better equipped for these huge amounts of visitors, the Main Entrance area is to be enlarged. There will then be further manned cash desks open at rush hours and more automatic ticket vendors in addition. Our aim is to further reduce waiting times and to increase the quality of service to the visitor.

Predicted costs: € 2 million
Construction commencement (planned): autumn 2008
Completion (planned): spring 2009

Construction of a new Enclosure for African Apes

The present Ape House has been in existence since 1973. In those days it was designed according to the latest findings on criteria for keeping apes. Wilhelma keeps all four species of apes there: the "Africans", bonobos, the chimpanzees and the gorillas, as well as the only "Asians", the orang utans.
Today, however, the house does not comply with the demands made on such an enclosure by European zoo experts or with those made intuitively by visitors. The sterile "bathroom architecture" of the house is often criticized by visitors.
In the year 2006 Wilhelma began a competition for architects' tenders. The winning design was chosen in January 2007. The Architects' Bureau Hascher und Jehle will plan and build the new Ape House on a new site in the park.
The Society of Friends and Supporters of Wilhelma has promised to take over half of the envisaged costs.

Predicted costs: € 13 million
Construction commencement (planned): autumn 2008
Completion (planned): spring 2010

Redesigning of the Compound for African Hoofed Animals

Coupled with the construction of the new Ape House, the enclosures for the African hoofed animals must also undergo alteration. This is because the Ape House will be built partially on free areas in the upper Wilhelma park, but also partially on areas which are at present occupied by the African hoofed animals.
For this reason some of the hoofed animals will no longer be present at Wilhelma. These animals will be given to the keeping of other zoological gardens. Some of the hoofed animals will stay, and be given a new enclosure at Wilhelma at a different location.

Construction commencement (planned): autumn 2007
Completion (planned): summer 2008