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Münster (dpa) - An 82-year-old from Münster has fulfilled an old promise to his wife who died years ago - and made the Münster Zoo with the largest single donation in its history of 750,000 euros.
Zoo director Simone Schehka thanked the donor Horst Eschler on Thursday at a press conference.
The zoo wants to use the money to finance the renovation of its bear house, among other things.
A trip to Australia made the difference, said the donor.
There he saw how animals suffered from the devastating bush fires and how many people had helped them.
The zoo wants to honor Eschler with a plaque for him and his wife.
The donor said this was one of the most beautiful days of his life - because he had kept the old promise to his wife.
The couple had agreed to help animals and children with donations.
The aid organization for sick children and their families Bunter Kreis Münsterland also received a notable donation, the message said.
Very high individual donations to zoos occur every now and then.
In Cologne, a 93-year-old widow even pledged 22 million dollars to the local zoo in 2017 (around 18.4 million euros at today's rate).
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