Germany: Leipzig Zoo Presents Master Plan 2020

About twelve years ago, in 2000, when Leipzig Zoo saw itself confronted with declining visitor figures and enclosures that were no longer up to date, a strategic concept named „Zoo of the Future“ was initiated to renovate some of the zoo’s areas. About 100 million Euros have been invested in the zoo and new areas like “Pongoland”, “Kiwara-Savanne” and the “Gondwanaland” tropical hall (EAP 5/2011) have been opened since then. The visitor numbers have virtually tripled from 750,000 in 2000 to 2.1 million in 2011. In July the city council of Leipzig confirmed the further developments of the zoo declared in the master plan 2020. The further refurbishment of the zoo is planned to be carried out within five construction phases to be completed in 2020 with a cost factor of 56.6 million Euros (30 per cent invested by the city of Leipzig, 70 per cent financed by loans and own resources). (eap)