In the early 1970s, the animal park was founded and maintained by a business owner from Hattersheim. The city provided the property. In 1993, the park was on the verge of closing following a period of great difficulties. To avoid this, the city took over the animal park.
In 1998, a remodelling concept was agreed upon. The buildings were renovated, and instead of having classic zoo animals, the focus was laid on domestic animals and farm animals, which also opened up options for an environmental education approach.
Hattersheim Animal Park is well-known, even beyond the town boundaries. Children’s groups can make an appointment to visit the park and learn important about the animals and how to take care of them. The annual sheep shearing event is particularly attractive, as is the opportunity for schools to borrow the chick incubator. There is a professional exchange of knowledge set up with the Weilbacher Kiesgruben Nature Conservation Centre, and animals are exchanged as required.
In summer of 2013, another review to close the park was conducted by the city. As a result, citizens formed an association with the aim of keeping the animal park going. Since then, the animal enclosure has been maintained and run by the association 'Verein Tierpark Hattersheim e.V.'.
Key data:
Size: approx. 4,600 m²
4 enclosures (one of which is for guinea pigs and rabbits), a pheasant house with aviary, a stable building, a duck house, a feeding trough, duck pond, climbing rock
Animals:
Donkeys, Rhön sheep, pygmy goats, geese, turkeys, ducks, chicken, guinea pigs, rabbits, budgies, golden-mantled rosellas, quails, Barbary doves, red-shouldered ducks, silkie chicken, bantams, golden pheasants, pigeons
