Zoo Rostock
Zoo Rostock is a non-profit zoological park in Rostock, Germany, founded in 1899, housing 6,500 animals across 500 species. It serves families, tourists, and school groups through the Darwineum, Polarium, Aquarium, annual memberships, educational programs, and conservation initiatives.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1899
- HeadquartersRostock, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Zoo Rostock does
Zoo Rostock is a non-profit zoological park operating under the legal name Zoologischer Garten Rostock gGmbH, located in Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. Founded in 1899, the facility has operated continuously for over 120 years and currently houses approximately 6,500 animals across 500 species from around the world. The zoo is structured around a multi-attraction complex that includes the Darwineum (a living museum focused on Darwin, Wallace, and evolution, featuring gorillas and a tropical hall), the Polarium (an exhibition dedicated to polar animals including polar bears and penguins), an Aquarium, and the main Tierpark grounds. Visitor-facing infrastructure also encompasses on-site restaurants, cafés, and gift shops, plus an online ticketing storefront at Barnstorfer Ring 1 and administrative headquarters at Rennbahnallee 21.
The zoo generates revenue through five primary streams: admissions and tickets including annual memberships (Jahreskarte), experience-based offerings such as guided tours, animal encounters, zookeeper courses, children's birthday parties, photo workshops, and a Zooexpress shuttle, on-site retail and gastronomy, event venue rental for corporate events and celebrations, and gift vouchers. Customer segments are diversified across families with children (primary), regional and international tourists visiting the Rostock/Ostsee Baltic Sea region, and school groups served through the Zooschule educational program. Pricing is not publicly disclosed in the source material but is structured around day tickets and annual cards with family options available.
Beyond commercial operations, Zoo Rostock pursues a non-profit conservation mission supported by the Rostocker Zooverein support association, EAZA membership with participation in European conservation breeding programs, and partnerships with organizations such as Polar Bears International. Premium regional partners include Lotto Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, OstseeSparkasse Rostock, Rostock Port, Stadtwerke Rostock, and WIRO Wohnen. The zoo maintains an active digital presence across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn, supplemented by email newsletters and a blog. Revenue, headcount growth, and detailed financial metrics are not disclosed in available source data; the operation runs with 11-50 employees under the leadership of Managing Director Antje Angeli, with Sebastian Rohde serving as Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
Zoo Rostock firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zoo Rostock
- Legal name
- Zoologischer Garten Rostock gGmbH
- Website
- https://zoo-rostock.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1899
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Zoo Rostock is a non-profit zoological park in Rostock, Germany, founded in 1899, housing 6,500 animals across 500 species. It serves families, tourists, and school groups through the Darwineum, Polarium, Aquarium, annual memberships, educational programs, and conservation initiatives.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Zoo Rostock industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Zoological Park and Wildlife Attraction
- NAICS
- Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions) (THAJAEAE)
Keywords
Where Zoo Rostock is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rostock
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Zoo Rostock business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Admissions and Tickets: Day tickets and annual memberships for zoo entry during standard opening hours
- Experiences and Tours: Guided tours, animal encounters, zookeeper experiences, zoo express shuttle, children's birthday parties, and photo workshops
- Retail and Gastronomy: Zoo shops, restaurants, and cafés on premises
- Event Venue Rental: Corporate events, Christmas parties, celebrations and meetings hosted at zoo facilities
- Gift Vouchers: Value vouchers and gift certificates for zoo entry and experiences
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Day tickets for individual visitors |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Zoo Rostock product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Zoo Rostock operates a 120+ year old zoological park housing approximately 6,500 animals across 500 species, including signature exhibits such as the Darwineum (a living museum featuring gorillas and evolutionary science), the Polarium (polar bears and penguins), and an Aquarium. The zoo sells daily admissions, annual memberships, guided tours, animal encounters, zookeeper courses, children's birthday parties, photo workshops, school programs, and event venue rentals, complemented by on-site gastronomy and retail shops.
Product overview
Zoo Rostock is a zoological park and tourist attraction offering visitors access to approximately 6,500 animals across 500 different species. The zoo operates as a multi-attraction complex featuring the Darwineum (a living museum dedicated to Darwin, Wallace, and evolutionary science featuring gorillas), the Polarium (focused on polar animals including polar bears and penguins), an Aquarium, and the main zoo park. Beyond animal exhibits, the zoo offers educational programs through its Zoo School and student network, experience-based services including guided tours, children's birthday parties, zookeeper courses, animal encounters, photo workshops, and a zoo shuttle. The facility also operates retail (shops), hospitality (restaurants and cafes), membership programs (annual passes), and accepts donations through animal sponsorship. Conservation and species protection represent core missions of the zoo.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Zoo Park Admission (Tierpark)
Quantifiable outcome
- 4.6/5 Google rating based on 16,461+ reviews
Companies that use Zoo Rostock
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Zoo Rostock technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Zoo Rostock partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Lotto Mecklenburg-VorpommernminorPremium partner for nature and species conservation. Listed as a premium partner supporting the zoo's conservation mission.
- OstseeSparkasse Rostock (OSPA)minorPremium partner for nature and species conservation. Listed as a premium partner supporting the zoo's conservation mission.
- Rostock PortminorPremium partner for nature and species conservation. Listed as a premium partner supporting the zoo's conservation mission.
- Stadtwerke RostockminorPremium partner for nature and species conservation. Listed as a premium partner supporting the zoo's conservation mission.
- WIRO Wohnen in RostockminorPremium partner for nature and species conservation. Listed as a premium partner supporting the zoo's conservation mission.
- Rostocker Zooverein (Zoo Association)coreOfficial support association/förderverein for Zoo Rostock. Supports zoo operations, conservation efforts, and fundraising. Named as the zoo's dedicated support organization.
- Polar Bears InternationalminorConservation partner for polar bear protection. Associated with the Polarium exhibit.
- EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria)coreZoo Rostock is a member of EAZA, participating in European conservation breeding programs and campaigns such as 'Wetlands for Life'.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Zoo Rostock competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Zoo Leipzig: Zoo Leipzig is a major German zoological park in Leipzig with themed world exhibits (e.g., Pongoland, Gondwanaland) and conservation programs. Its exhibit-driven, immersive approach to a zoological park closely mirrors Zoo Rostock's Darwineum/Polarium model.
- Tierpark Hagenbeck: Tierpark Hagenbeck is a major zoological park in Hamburg, Germany operating animal exhibits, signature themed enclosures, and visitor experiences. It is one of the most comparable German zoo peers in scale, exhibit design, and family/tourist positioning.
- Zoo Hannover: Zoo Hannover is a zoological park in Hannover, Germany featuring themed exhibits including an elephant palace and gorilla house. It is a comparable mid-to-large German zoo with similar family tourism positioning and EAZA involvement.
- Zoo Berlin: Zoo Berlin operates the Berlin Zoo and Aquarium complex in Berlin, Germany, offering animal exhibits, conservation programs, and EAZA-affiliated breeding. It is a leading German zoological park and direct competitor for regional tourist visitation.
- Wilhelma Stuttgart: Wilhelma Stuttgart is a combined zoological-botanical garden in Stuttgart, Germany operating as a state-funded institution. It is highly comparable as a German zoological park with strong educational programming and signature themed buildings.
- Tierpark Hellabrunn: Tierpark Hellabrunn (Munich Zoo) is a geo-zoo in Munich, Germany operating across large enclosures with conservation and education programs. It is a comparable major German municipal zoological park targeting families and tourists.
- Zoo Frankfurt: Zoo Frankfurt is a zoological park in Frankfurt, Germany operating the Exotarium and animal houses with an education focus. It is a comparable mid-size German zoo with similar emphasis on education, conservation, and family visitation.
- Zoo Dresden: Zoo Dresden is a zoological park in Dresden, Germany operating animal exhibits and conservation programs in eastern Germany. Comparable geographic setting and tourist catchment to Zoo Rostock as another eastern German zoological attraction.
Regional players
- Pairi Daiza: Pairi Daiza is a large zoological park in Belgium with immersive themed worlds comparable to Zoo Rostock's Darwineum/Polarium model. It is a relevant regional European peer that competes for inbound European zoo tourism.
- Copenhagen Zoo: Copenhagen Zoo is a major zoological park in Denmark, across the Baltic Sea from Rostock. It is a regional peer attracting overlapping Baltic Sea tourism flows and shares EAZA conservation programming.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Zoo Rostock social profiles
Digital presenceZoo Rostock financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zoo Rostock leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Zoo Rostock funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zoo Rostock M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Zoo Rostock
What does Zoo Rostock do?
Zoo Rostock operates a 120+ year old zoological park housing approximately 6,500 animals across 500 species, including signature exhibits such as the Darwineum (a living museum featuring gorillas and evolutionary science), the Polarium (polar bears and penguins), and an Aquarium. The zoo sells daily admissions, annual memberships, guided tours, animal encounters, zookeeper courses, children's birthday parties, photo workshops, school programs, and event venue rentals, complemented by on-site gastronomy and retail shops.
Is Zoo Rostock a public or private company?
Zoo Rostock is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Zoo Rostock founded?
Zoo Rostock was founded in 1899. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Zoo Rostock based?
Zoo Rostock is headquartered in Rostock, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Zoo Rostock make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Admissions and Tickets are the primary driver. The others are experiences and Tours, retail and Gastronomy, event Venue Rental and gift Vouchers.
Who are Zoo Rostock's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Zoo Leipzig, Tierpark Hagenbeck, Zoo Hannover, Zoo Berlin, Wilhelma Stuttgart, Tierpark Hellabrunn, Zoo Frankfurt and Zoo Dresden. Regional players are Pairi Daiza and Copenhagen Zoo.
Does Zoo Rostock have an API?
No public API is recorded for Zoo Rostock.
What industry is Zoo Rostock in?
Zoo Rostock's product category is Zoological Park and Wildlife Attraction. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJADAL, Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections), with a secondary code of THAJAEAE, Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions). Its NAICS code is 71213.