Great joy in the Görlitz Nature Conservation Zoo: “Tibet Bear Enclosure” funding project starts

The Nature Conservation Zoo Görlitz eV is celebrating an important milestone: Yesterday, the Prime Minister of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer, officially handed over the grant notice for the construction of the new Tibetan bear enclosure. This important funding measure is part of the comprehensive project to expand and modernize the zoo's infrastructure.

90% subsidy through the investment law for coal regions

Thanks to the structural change funding “Coal Regions Investment Act”, this project is supported with a 90% subsidy of the eligible costs amounting to 2.6 million euros. The federal government and the Free State of Saxony therefore bear the majority of the financing, which provides the zoo with considerable financial relief.

A long-awaited moment for the team

Carsten Liebig, the chairman of the board and project manager, was relieved about this progress: “This means that an important stage of the internal preliminary planning, applications, approvals and releases has been completed. Now everyone involved can work intensively on the immediate realization of the project. Our goal is to start construction in late summer.”

A new home for Mischa and Franz

The future residents of the facility, the Tibetan bears Mischa and Franz, are currently spending their vacation at the Augsburg Zoo in Bavaria. In Görlitz you can expect a species-appropriate facility that meets the most modern animal husbandry criteria. Here Mischa and Franz will find numerous employment and climbing opportunities as well as retreat areas. Carsten Liebig explains: “We are creating a place in our zoo that inspires and sensitizes visitors to the animals and to the topics of nature and species protection.”

A special highlight: socializing with rhesus monkeys

A unique feature of the new facility is the planned socialization of Tibetan bears with rhesus monkeys. The monkeys can not only stay in the bear enclosure, but can also explore other buildings in the Tibet village via special network tunnels.

Public relations and support

Extensive public relations work for the new major project has been underway in the zoo for several weeks. “We want to get our visitors excited about the project right from the start and hope to generate our own funds through their support,” says Carsten Liebig.

Support the project that is close to your heart

If you would also like to support the zoo's heart project, you can find all the information on the zoo's website.

The construction of the Tibetan bear enclosure marks a significant step in the further development of the Görlitz Nature Conservation Zoo. The team and the future residents Mischa and Franz are looking forward to the upcoming changes with great anticipation.