Details Matter

Appearance

A thick coat, large eyes, or brightly coloured feathers, everything has a purpose. An animal’s appearance plays a vital role in its survival. Effective camouflage can help it hide from predators, while striking colours may attract a mate. Special adaptations allow animals to thrive in environments ranging from polar ice to scorching deserts. In this area, you’ll discover why animals look the way they do. Take a closer look and learn how they use their appearance to warn, attract, keep warm, deter rivals or predators, and blend into their surroundings.

Plan your visit

In this area you’ll discover the following animals:

A unique perspective on this theme area

Educational Penguin Presentation - 3:00 PM

Visit the Humboldt penguins and discover their distinctive black-and-white plumage. Why is their belly white and their back black? During this presentation, you'll learn how this remarkable appearance helps them blend into their environment.

View all educational talks

Close-up van een ijsbeer in Eindhoven Zoo

Visit the polar bears

Take a seat on the bench and spend some time watching the polar bears. Did you know that a polar bear’s skin is actually black? Polar bears are perfectly adapted to life in the Arctic. Take a closer look and see how many of these adaptations you can spot for yourself.

De rode ibis, goliathreiger en kleine zilverreiger in de volière bij Eindhoven Zoo.

Explore the Great Aviary

Step into the aviary and discover the amazing diversity of birds. Take a closer look at the shape of their beaks and find out how each species is perfectly adapted to the it’s diet and way of life.

Did you know that...?

🔎 A polar bear’s hairs are transparent and hollow on the inside. Light reflects off these hairs, making the bear’s fur appear white. Beneath the fur, a polar bear’s skin is actually black. The transparent hairs allow sunlight to reach the skin, helping the bear absorb heat and stay warm.

☀️ Northern bald ibises live in very warm regions. To prevent overheating, they have a clever adaptation. The skin on their heads is thin and contains many blood vessels. By releasing heat through their bare heads, they can keep their bodies cool.

🦩Flamingos aren't born pink, they're born grey! Their pink colour comes from natural pigments in the food they eat. It takes around two years for young flamingos to develop their famous pink feathers, and the intensity of their colour varies from one species to another.

We care about nature too

Every day, Eindhoven Zoo and Stichting Wildlife work to protect endangered species and vulnerable nature reserves around the world. During your visit, you’ll discover more, including:

Een ijsbeer ligt op een steen bij Eindhoven Zoo.

Polar Bears International

The ice on which polar bears depend is melting. Polar Bears International’s mission is to protect polar bears and the ice through education, research and political advocacy. The organisation aims to inspire as many people as possible to take action themselves to combat climate change.

Protecting Dutch wildlife

At Eindhoven Zoo, you can learn all about animal species from around the world, but the stories of native species are just as important. These animals play a vital role in Dutch biodiversity. Moreover, many native species are just as threatened as some of the animals living in our park. That is why we are actively committed to protecting these species.