The Frankfurt Zoo has always had many friends.

More than 800,000 visitors in years that have not been affected by a pandemic testify to the popularity of the zoo.

A fan page on Facebook has more than 1000 members, but from now on some zoo supporters also want to acknowledge themselves as such in terms of association law: On Tuesday, the newly founded Friends of Zoo Frankfurt presented itself to the public.

The association wants to support the zoo selectively through income from membership fees and donations and offer friends of the zoo the opportunity to meet like-minded people in joint activities.

Daniel Meuren

Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

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    "We want to bring people together who have a passion for the zoo, animals and nature," said the chairman of the association, Professor Bruno Streit, who has been a senior professor for ecology and biodiversity at Goethe University since his retirement in 2013.

    "With us, every member can contribute and thus have a little influence on the development of the zoo."

    Improvements to the Grzimek house

    While almost all other German zoos already have sponsoring associations, there have been other support models in Frankfurt so far: on the one hand, individual commitment with the help of the currently around 3,000 animal sponsorships, on the other hand the Frankfurt Zoo Foundation, which specifically supports projects such as the current redesign of the lion's outdoor area. It was founded in 2014 with funds from the Frankfurt Zoological Society (ZGF), which was launched in 1857 as a kind of forerunner of the zoo friends, as a civic association to found a zoo in Frankfurt. The FZS later developed into a global nature and species protection organization.

    The zoo friends now want to resume the original idea, so to speak. "We have an ambitious but realistic goal of gaining 400 members in the first year of existence," said Streit. “These members should ideally cover the entire breadth of society, just as the zoo attracts everyone to its territory. I would be particularly pleased if we could also attract members with a migration background, because they seem to me to be underrepresented in many similar clubs. "

    Already in the first year the Grzimek house, in which nocturnal animals are kept, is to be embellished with smaller measures both inside and outside for the visitors as well as the animals. The zoo friends want to raise 12,000 to 15,000 euros for this. The membership fee is 30 euros for an individual and 50 euros for couples. The rate for a lifetime membership is 990 euros. In return, there is a 15 percent discount on the purchase of an annual ticket and the opportunity to participate in joint events such as meet-and-greets with zoo employees or club trips.

    Controversy made it clear that the development association was not competing with the foundation.

    The association also does not want to release the city from its responsibility as the zoo's sponsor.

    Larger projects would have to remain publicly funded.

    Ina Hartwig (SPD), head of the cultural affairs department, who is responsible for the zoo, once again made this commitment.

    “We are still happy about any support.

    Especially in a time of uncertainty caused by the pandemic, this is a great sign of civic engagement, ”said the city councilor.

    "I am sure that the association will quickly establish itself as the zoo has many friends."

    Further information and membership application at www.zoofreundefrankfurt.de

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