Petting Zoo in the Animal Kingdom

The animals at the petting zoo know exactly how important it is to start the morning off right: they eagerly await the animal caretakers early in the morning—after all, they’ve had a long night and are very hungry. Although, for some of them, a good night’s sleep might actually be a little longer.

While Ferdinand the mini pig is already waiting for the sound of the feed truck’s engine (he gets a special treat every morning), his Kune Kune buddy Robbie rolls over comfortably onto his other side and, nestled in his bed of hay, dreams of a hot summer day and a refreshing dip in the mud.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the farmyard, in the goat barn, things are already in full swing: the little goat kids are getting their first milk of the day from their mothers before heading back out to the pasture for another round of climbing lessons. Leo, the leader of the pack, keeps an eye on everything from a safe distance—he certainly doesn’t want to get caught up in the commotion! And even the Mini Appaloosas prefer to keep their distance from the goat kindergarten, since those little rascals love to nibble and tug at their tail hairs.

Guinea pigs and rabbits enjoy the first rays of sunshine of the day, which are still very welcome in the spring but are only pleasant in the early morning or late afternoon during the height of summer. For the rest of the day, these heat-sensitive animals prefer to stay in the shade.

Once everyone has been fed and the stalls and pens have been cleaned, everyone waits impatiently for the next highlight: the first children coming through the gate. Some approach cautiously, while others can’t get to the petting ZONE fast enough (and it’s the same story on the goats’ side—here, too, some are cautious, while others love being petted and can’t get enough of it). Leo is right up front now; petting and brushing are right up his alley—he can stand there patiently for hours, enjoying every single stroke.

From the Donkey Tower, you can already hear loud “Iaaahs”—even the white Baroque donkeys would like a little attention. And anyone who lets those long, fluffy ears droop a bit while gazing into a child’s eyes with their sky-blue eyes is sure to be rewarded with eager, petting hands.

The llamas and alpacas are a bit more reserved here—these South American animals aren’t really into being petted or touched. They’d rather be admired from a distance. But when the feed truck rounds the corner again in the afternoon and fresh branches peek out of the cargo area, even the small camels’ reserve vanishes—everyone wants to enjoy the fresh greenery. And by the time the first argument breaks out among the llamas over which branch belongs to whom, visitors would be wise to keep some distance between themselves and the whole herd: otherwise, you might accidentally get splattered while they’re spitting at each other.

By evening, when the entrance gates close, everyone has had a great day —even the wildest troublemaker among the baby goats (there’s always one) has finished running around and comes obediently to his mom when he’s called to rest (or to drink from Mom’s udder).