Tierpark Lange Erlen, Zoo in Basel, Switzerland

Tierpark Lange Erlen covers about 20 hectares of riverside forest on the south bank of the Wiese in Basel. Its roughly 450 trees range from red weeping beech to giant sequoia. The zoo specialises in native animals and is run as a complement to Basel Zoo.

The Tierpark and its supporting Erlen-Verein were founded in 1871 by Basel citizens. It was conceived from the start as a complement to Basel Zoo, focusing on native animals rather than competing with it. The Erlen-Verein marked its 125th anniversary in 1996, as documented in the Basler Stadtbuch.

The park is run by the Erlen-Verein, the association of Basel citizens that founded it in 1871 and still supports it today. Its focus is native wildlife, and it presents itself as a complement to Basel Zoo rather than a rival. Among the domestic breeds shown are rare Swiss ones such as the Appenzeller Spitzhaubenhuhn, the Bündner Strahlenziege and the Walliser Landschaf.

The park lies in the Lange Erlen riverside forest on the south bank of the Wiese, about 20 hectares in all, and entry is free during daylight hours. Paths lead past ponds, aviaries and terrariums, so allow time to walk between the animal groups. The Erlen-Verein association runs the site.

The park holds around 450 trees, from a red weeping beech to a giant sequoia, on its roughly 20-hectare riverside site. Among the rare domestic breeds kept are the Appenzeller Spitzhauben chicken, the Bündner Strahlenziege goat, the Diepholzer goose, the Swiss chicken, the Walliser Landschaf sheep and the Wollschwein, a woolly pig.