The Staguhn family is thrilled: 200,000. Visitors to the Nordhorn Zoo!

The Staguhn family is thrilled: 200,000. Visitors to the Nordhorn Zoo!

A very special day at Nordhorn Zoo: On July 18, 2025, the third largest zoo in Westphalia welcomed its 200,000th. Visiting family this year. The lucky ones were the Staguhns from Geeste-Dalum. The family, consisting of Martina, Daniel and their two sons Finn and Leon, were duly welcomed. Zoo manager Dr. Nils Kramer, District Administrator Uwe Fietzek and Mayor Thomas Berling presented the family with a colorful bouquet of flowers and a voucher for an annual ticket.

Although the weather didn't promise the best with occasional rain showers, the family didn't let that stop them. Finn, a real zoo fan at the age of five, proudly carried a handmade backpack decorated with motifs from the zoo hidden object book. His backpack also contained two cuddly toys that he had picked out at the zoo shop with his eight-year-old brother Leon. A real loyal companion for this exciting day.

A positive signal for the zoo

Dr. Nils Kramer sees the number of visitors as a good sign for the anniversary year, which is to be celebrated with a big ceremony in September. Other events are also planned, including the traditional Christmas market, which attracts many families. District Administrator Uwe Fietzek and Mayor Thomas Berling share this optimism and are looking forward to the coming months. The Nordhorn Zoo has established itself as a popular leisure destination that not only attracts new visitors, but also delights regular guests with varied programs and innovations, as regionalupdate reports.

In Germany, zoos and animal parks like the Nordhorner are in great demand - especially among families. Over 20 million people visit such amusement parks every year to see animals and have exciting experiences in nature. In addition to animal enclosures, botanical gardens, playgrounds, educational trails and petting enclosures are also on offer. There are more than 200 botanical and zoological institutions in Germany, which generated income of around 400 million euros in 2022, as Statista statistics show.

On the way to sustainable animal husbandry

Despite their popularity, zoos and animal parks are regularly criticized, especially when it comes to animal husbandry and animal welfare. Animal protection organizations urge people to improve the living conditions for animals and demand species-appropriate forms of keeping them. However, zoos play an important role in contributing to the conservation of biodiversity through breeding programs and acting as educational institutions, as highlighted in various discussions. The facilities continually work to improve husbandry and create protected areas.

The Nordhorn Zoo shows that it has a good hand in this regard. With constructive measures and a clear focus on family-friendliness, we not only create a safe environment for the animals, but also a place where visitors can feel comfortable and enjoy nature.

The Staguhns' trip is another example of how important such leisure destinations are for families and how much they contribute to regional identity. The anticipation for upcoming events at the zoo is clear and we are excited to see what the future holds.