Goldau Nature and Animal Park
| Goldau Nature and Animal Park | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| motto |
Every zoo is half as wild (Before: (The) Central Switzerland Zoo) |
|
| place | Parkstrasse 40 6410 Goldau |
|
| surface | 42 hectares | |
| opening | 1925 | |
| Animal species | about 100 species | |
| Individuals | approx. 1000 animals | |
| Visitor numbers | 387,492 (2016) | |
| organization | ||
| management | Anna Baumann | |
| Sponsorship | Goldau Nature and Animal Park Association | |
| Funding organizations | Zoo Foundation | |
| Member of | WAZA , EAZA , VdZ , Zooschweiz | |
| www.tierpark.ch | ||
|
||
Coordinates: 47 ° 3 ′ 1 " N , 8 ° 33 ′ 11" E ; CH1903: six hundred and eighty-four thousand six hundred seventy-seven / 211628
The Goldau Nature and Animal Park is one of the nine scientifically managed zoos in Switzerland . It lies in a scenic area that was hit by the Goldau landslide at the beginning of the 19th century . In 2016 it counted 387,492 visitors.
history
In 1806, massive rock masses fell from the Rossberg during the Goldau landslide and buried the villages of Goldau and Röthen. 457 people died. This huge natural disaster went down in history as the Goldau landslide and formed a charming, wild landscape.
At the beginning of the 1920s, some animal lovers decided to found a nature and animal park from part of this wild landscape. In 1925 the nature and zoo association Goldau was founded and an area was marked out for a zoo and bird protection system. Since funds were scarce, many of the facilities in the park were created as a result of voluntary work by club members. From the beginning, Goldau was supposed to be a zoo for native mammals and birds. Soon after it opened in May 1926, the park was given an ibex and a stone chisel from the St. Gallen wildlife park to Peter and Paul - plus red , fallow and sika deer .
In 1999 the zoo was hit by another natural disaster. Hurricane Lothar destroyed 80 percent of the forest and caused great damage to the animal enclosures. Thanks to the great willingness of the population to help, the damage was repaired. A grant from the cantons of Schwyz and Zug as well as generous donations kept the financial impact on the zoo within limits.
Attractions
Mainly native and European animals can be seen in Goldau. In the large free-range area, visitors can make direct acquaintance with sika deer and mouflon and feed the animals themselves. In the zoo, rare mammals and birds , such as the bison and the bald ibis, are bred in conservation breeding programs . The international conservation breeding program for bearded vultures is particularly worth mentioning .
Various animal enclosures offer visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of animals and, if possible, exhibit this without bars and without the animal. Opportunities for the animals to retreat are just as important as being able to see visitors so that the animals can be observed. Various exhibitions provide additional information on bearded vultures, honey bees, etc.
Another highlight is the zoo tower , which was opened in 2016. The 29.6 meter high tower was designed by the Bündner architect Gion A. Caminada and offers a panoramic view of the surrounding landscapes and places.
The nature and animal park Goldau operates its own school in the park. Zoo educators and zoo rangers offer workshops for school classes and guided tours for school classes and groups on the animals and the zoo. The zoo rangers feed bears, cormorants and wild boars with commentary. They are also available to visitors to provide information on the tour.
Park extension
The zoo expanded its area from 17 to 40 hectares. A window to nature is being created in the Grosswiyer area, which is directly adjacent to the existing area. The main component of the first stage, which cost 13 million francs and was completed in 2004, is a 70-meter-wide green bridge that blends harmoniously into the existing landscape like a natural step and connects the existing park area with the extension area. On the way from the old to the new zoo area, visitors cross a street that is largely hidden from the eye. In the Grosswiyer area itself, a spacious community facility for wolves and bears was created as the centerpiece of the zoo expansion , which was opened on June 27, 2009.
In 2014 the restaurant Grüne Gans was opened. The restaurant offers daily changing daily menus in self-service, seminar and conference rooms as well as offers for banquets. In addition, the green roof offers a habitat for orchids.
In 2016, two major projects were implemented: In July, the multifunctional building (MUFU) was opened, which, in addition to feed and veterinary treatment rooms, also includes a care and quarantine station. In November of the same year the zoo tower was opened.
Species and nature protection
As a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums WAZA ( World Association of Zoos and Aquariums ) , the Goldau Nature and Animal Park undertakes to network locally and nationally and to act as a nature conservation center and environmental education institution.
The aim is to awaken and promote an understanding of nature. The park is committed to treating animals, natural resources and people with dignity. As a nature conservation center, it shows, maintains, and protects the living network that plants, animals and people form in mutual dependence on one another.
Protection and conservation of threatened species and healthy ecosystems are the main goals of zoos and aquariums. The Goldau Nature and Zoo participates in various conservation breeding and resettlement programs and makes an important contribution to the continued existence of genetic diversity. Some of these species are the bearded vulture, wisent, European wildcat, European tree frog, and the European pond turtle.
Organizational form and philosophy
The Goldau Zoo employs 60 full-time employees and up to 147 people during the season.
The nature and animal park is organized as an association, the Nature and Animal Park Goldau Foundation ensures the long-term existence of the animal park and is the owner of the property. It is responsible for the earmarked use of legacies and larger donations and is under strict federal control. Together with the Natur- und Tierpark Goldau association, it forms the umbrella organization of the park as a nature conservation center.
The Goldau Nature and Animal Park does not receive any regular subsidies from the state and has been ZEWO-certified as a non-profit company since 2005. The seal of approval distinguishes trustworthy institutions. It stands for a dedicated and efficient use of financial resources.
Web links
- Official website of the Goldau zoo
- E-learning with reading texts, questions, pictures and games about the park
Individual evidence
- ↑ Data sheet on the Goldau Nature and Animal Park on the homepage of the Association of Zoological Gardens, accessed on December 29, 2017.
- ^ Reto E. Wild: Travel destination Switzerland. Migros Magazin, Zurich July 13, 2015, page 8
- ^ Goldau / Switzerland - Association of Zoological Gardens (VdZ) eV . ( zoodirektoren.de [accessed December 29, 2017]).