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Frankfurt Zoo takes stock for 2024: anniversary, record figures and new projects

23.01.2025 | 12:18 Clock | culture Ampersand leisure time
Frankfurt Zoo takes stock for 2024: anniversary, record figures and new projects

Frankfurt Zoo has drawn a very positive balance for the year 2024. In addition to an impressive increase in visitor numbers and numerous innovations, the zoo celebrated a special anniversary: 150 years ago, the zoo and all its animals moved from the city center to its current location in Ostend.

Increasing visitor numbers and attractions

With a total of 765,207 visitors, the zoo recorded an increase of almost 15,000 guests compared to the previous year. The Sumatran tiger cubs and the modernized outdoor lion enclosure were among the highlights for visitors.

"To ensure that our zoo remains a place for leisure, education and nature conservation, we need to invest continuously. I am particularly pleased to see how much support we receive in this regard - be it from support associations, foundations or the visitors themselves," explained Dr. Ina Hartwig, Head of the Department of Culture and Science.

ZOOKUNFT2030+ master plan and new projects

The zoo is venturing a look into the future with the ZOOKUNFT2030+ master plan presented in September. This provides for extensive modernization and the conversion of large areas. The first steps have already been taken: The decision has been made to build a new zoo restaurant, and the outdoor marmoset enclosures at the Grzimekhaus are to be extended with the support of the Friends of Frankfurt Zoo association.

An inclusive playground, which was built with the help of the Leberecht Foundation, as well as new indoor pens for the Addax antelopes and improved climbing trees for the spectacled bears show that the zoo is also responding to the needs of its animals and visitors.

Developments in the animal population

The annual inventory brought exciting figures and new additions to light: on December 31, 2024, over 5,727 individuals from 479 species were living at the zoo. Particularly noteworthy is the return of a black rhinoceros named Taco as well as the offspring of endangered species such as the okapi, aardvark and Papua soft-shelled turtle.

New animal species also enrich the zoo, including the Madagascar white-tailed rat, the blue tree monitor and the Vietnam pheasant. A female of the highly endangered Jamaican iguana has also moved in - an important step for species conservation.

Education work with distinction

The zoo's education programs were awarded the "Education for Sustainable Development" (ESD) certificate in 2024. With 490 programs, including guided tours for schools and children's birthday parties, the zoo reached thousands of visitors and raised awareness of topics such as nature conservation and sustainable action.

Nature conservation in focus

Around 8,000 old cell phones were collected and recycled with campaigns such as "A cell phone for the gorilla". The resulting proceeds support the protection of mountain gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The voluntary conservation euro, which visitors can pay when purchasing tickets, raised an impressive sum of 202,534 euros in 2024, which benefited various conservation projects.

Commitment and volunteering

Thanks to the volunteer nature conservation ambassadors of Frankfurt Zoo and the Frankfurt Zoological Society (ZGF), 166 missions were carried out. This involved over 1,300 hours of voluntary work to raise awareness of nature conservation projects.

Looking to the future

With the ZOOKUNFT2030+ master plan and numerous ongoing projects, Frankfurt Zoo is optimistic about the coming years. Thanks to a successful combination of species conservation, education and modernized infrastructure, the zoo remains a place where nature and wildlife can be experienced - for over 750.000 visitors annually.

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