Tiergarten Nill, Cultural heritage zoo in Stuttgart, Germany
Tiergarten Nill was a private zoological garden in Stuttgart spanning approximately 9,500 square meters with custom-built enclosures and several ponds. The facility housed over 500 animals at its peak, including elephants, zebras, lions, monkeys, snakes, and tropical birds distributed across different sections.
Johannes Nill, a master builder, founded this private zoo in 1871 by housing local animals in self-constructed cages at his property on Herdweg. The garden later grew into one of the region's notable zoological collections.
The zoo hosted ethnographic shows and presentations that drew visitors from across Germany during an era when audiences were fascinated by distant lands and peoples. These events reflected the popular curiosity of the time about the wider world.
The site was easily accessible and allowed visitors to observe various animals during a weekend outing and explore the grounds. The best conditions for walking and viewing the animals occurred on dry days and in the morning hours when the creatures were more active.
The zoo successfully bred giant anteaters through collaboration with zoologist Gustav Jäger, an achievement that was considered remarkable at the time. This breeding success brought the garden widespread recognition and demonstrated its expertise in animal care.
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