The Planckendael Zoo in Mechelen have become the proud owners of the tallest bamboo tower in Europe.
The impressive structure can be seen from far and wide and is said to be a real feat of engineering, having undergone all sorts of testing for things like fire safety and resistance to snow. “It was quite a challenge, but the result is very nice,” said the zoo’s technical director, who also mentioned that bamboo is “a super strong material”, albeit not widely known in Europe.
Planckendael’s latest attraction can be seen as a tribute to the stork. The director compared it to “a modern-day stork nest: big and tall, visible and strongly anchored in nature.” The zoo boasts the biggest stork colony in Belgium and wanted to honour these storks, Planckendael’s most prized residents. It’s also an ideal way to mark the 70-year anniversary of the park, respecting their values of caring for nature, creating a space for marvel, and evolving in line with the times.
Young and old have the opportunity, if they dare, to climb all the way up the impressive structure by way of a ladder.
