The first exhibition of whole bodies was held in Japan in 1995.
Plastination is a laborious process with each specimen taking up to 1,500 man hours to prepare.
A giraffe took three years to complete; an elephant took 64,000 hours.
Dr von Hagens plastinated human bodies too, which is the source of all controversy.
A collection of 20 animals are currently on display at the Cologne Zoo.
The exhibition starts today, April 15, 2011, and will run till the end of September 2011.
A plastinated bull during an exhibition preview
A preserved gorilla is shown during the opening of the exhibition.
Dr Gunther von Hagens and his wife in front of a plastinated 3.2 tonne elephant at last years exhibition.
A plastinated horse at Body Worlds of Animals exhibition held in Melbourne in June 2010.
A visitor inspects a plastinated dog at the Melbourne exhibition in 2010.
Photo Courtesy: Associated Press, Reuters, Getty Images
