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Neuwied / Mainz (dpa / lrs) - The Rhineland-Palatinate Prime Minister Malu Dreyer (SPD) assumes that the zoo in Neuwied can survive the corona crisis with financial aid from the state and federal government.

The largest zoo in the country is close to her heart and the state government wants to keep it and the jobs, according to the state chancellery in a letter from the head of government to the mayor of Neuwied, Jan Einig.

The CDU politician had previously pointed out the difficult financial situation of the zoo, which had to close in the pandemic.

According to several CDU politicians, the financial support from the state and federal government is not enough.

Dreyer writes that the country has set up the so-called Corona feed aid specially for zoos and animal parks.

With this aid measure, which already came into effect during the first lockdown, up to 80 percent of the feed and veterinary costs incurred during the closing days can be reimbursed.

The Neuwied Zoo had already successfully used this instrument twice in 2020.

These existential subsidies should also be able to be used during the now decided extension of the lockdown.

In addition, the zoos could receive funding from nature conservation funds and also take advantage of federal aid.

Dreyer writes that the zoo's friends' association applied for November aid in December and received an advance payment of 10,000 euros.

They assume that the association has also applied for the December aid and will use the further aid for 2021.

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The CDU top candidate for the state elections, Christian Baldauf, asked the state government for a bridging aid of 400,000 euros for the zoo.

The district and the municipality could each supplement this with 50,000 euros.

"The consequential costs of bankruptcy alone would be many times higher," said Baldauf.

In addition, the Supervision and Service Directorate (ADD) must finally release the last installment of the funding for the hall in the zoo amounting to 50,000 euros.

"This was opened in 2018, but a transfer is still a long time coming!"

The CDU local politicians Pascal Badziong and Martin Hahn have meanwhile started a petition to save the zoo, with which they want to address the Prime Minister.

“More than 80 jobs and the welfare of 1,800 animals are at stake,” they emphasized.

Private supporters donated almost 320,000 euros to the zoo during the first lockdown.

This shows the great support of the facility.

Neuwied Zoo