The air bombings during World War II on the city of Rostock were extremely heavy.
 All buildings and enclosures in Rostock Zoo were destroyed.
The garden architect, Arno Lehmann, started in 1951 the renovation and rebuilding of the zoo.
Many people from the town volunteered in this work, with direct manual work, as well as with their support.
The zoo was re-opened for the public in 1952, was enlarged in 1956, and renamed and refounded 16 January 1956 as Zoologischen Garten Rostocks
In 1960, the two first Asian elephants arrived to the new built elephant enclosure, and later Rostock Zoo took over the breeding of Arabian horse and became the largest breeder of the horse in the entire East Germany.
In 1963, the first polar bear was born in the zoo, and it was given the name Katja.
In 1973, the zoo was once again enlarged with an added 56 Hectares, coordinated with a new master plan.

Since 1980, Rostock Zoo is studbook keeper of Polar bears within the European Endangered Species Programme.
The air bombings during World War II on the city of Rostock were extremely heavy.  All buildings and enclosures in Rostock Zoo were destroyed. The garden architect, Arno Lehmann, started in 1951 the renovation and rebuilding of the zoo. Many people from the town volunteered in this work, with direct manual work, as well as with their support. The zoo was re-opened for the public in 1952, was enlarged in 1956, and renamed and refounded 16 January 1956 as Zoologischen Garten Rostocks
In 1960, the two first Asian elephants arrived to the new built elephant enclosure, and later Rostock Zoo took over the breeding of Arabian horse and became the largest breeder of the horse in the entire East Germany. In 1963, the first polar bear was born in the zoo, and it was given the name Katja. In 1973, the zoo was once again enlarged with an added 56 Hectares, coordinated with a new master plan.
Since 1980, Rostock Zoo is studbook keeper of Polar bears within the European Endangered Species Programme.
Rostock Zoo