Some animals and plants have a very specific meaning for Easter, first and foremost the Easter Bunny, which is actually an “Easter rabbit” in many countries. Australians even know an Easter marsupial, the “Easter Bilby”. The Easter lamb is another very popular animal. But where does the cult surrounding sheep come from in the first place and when, where and why did sheep become domestic animals? The same question can be asked about chicken, the most important domesticated bird species. And why are the flower heads of the pussy willow called Palmkatzerl (“palm kitties”) in German, although the willow is a deciduous tree and not a palm tree? During the holiday week visitors will get answers to these questions and insights into the biological roots of Easter customs! 
 
Thematic tour:
 
Easter lamb, Easter Bunny, Easter eggs and catkins: Easter animals and plants explained (Osterlamm, Osterhase, Osterei und Palmkatzerl: Tiere und Pflanzen zu Ostern und ihre Bedeutung), tour in German
Guided tour with Peter Sziemer
Sunday, 2 April, 15:00
Meeting point: foyer
Guided tour: € 5.- plus entrance fee  


Programme for children and families:

Mini-Treff (for children from 3 years)
Eggs galore (Allerlei rund ums Ei), programme in German
Eggs are wonderful, because baby animals hatch from them! But not every egg looks like the egg you eat for breakfast. Eggs are big and small, round and square, green and spotted. Come to the Mini-Treff and marvel at strange egg shapes and exciting egg stories!  

Saturday, 1 to Monday, 10 April, 11:15
Programme on Deck 50.
Participation in this programme is free, no registration required. 

Kids & Co (for children from 6 years)
Eggs galore (Allerlei rund ums Ei), programme in German
Go on an egg hunt through our zoological show collection! Many animal babies hatch from eggs. Learn interesting stories about egg-laying animals during the short guided tour. Then, you will be challenged to discover many strange eggs in our treasure hunt: the biggest and the smallest, eggs that are not even egg-shaped and eggs with special colours and patterns. Good luck searching and finding them all!  


Saturday, 1 to Monday, 10 April, 14:00
Meeting point: foyer.
 Participation in this programme is free of charge, no registration required. 
 
Microshow:
 
Meet the onset of spring under the microscope
(Frühlingserwachen unter dem Mikroskop), programme in German
Spring offers microscope users a wealth of things to see. New life is stirring in small bodies of water, and there are interesting details to explore in the first spring flowers, including snowdrops, winter lilies or liverleaf.  
Saturday, 1 to Monday, 10 April, 15:30 
Programme on Deck 50.
Show ticket: € 5 plus entrance fee 
 
Additional open day during the week leading up to Easter:
Tuesday, 4 April 2023, 09:00 – 18:00.