Nordens Ark

What Nordens Ark does

Nordens Ark is a Swedish non-profit foundation (Stiftelsen Nordens Ark, organization number 854600-6191) founded in 1989 and headquartered at Åby säteri in Hunnebostrand, Bohuslän. It operates a public wildlife park and runs conservation programs for more than 20 countries spanning mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects, with documented reintroduction successes including 215+ peregrine falcons released since the 1970s, 90,000+ green-spotted toad tadpoles per year, the first-in-world captive breeding of Montserrat mountain chicken frogs, and contribution to a tripled Amur tiger population in the Russian Far East. The foundation holds 90-konto certification from Svensk Insamlingskontroll and operates the Turtle Ark facility inaugurated in 2023 by Crown Princess Victoria.

The foundation generates revenue from five primary streams: visitor admissions and park tickets at the physical park; corporate sponsorship at 10,000–100,000+ SEK per year (corporate godparent and partner tiers); accommodation, conference, and educational camp bookings; web shop merchandise (delivered via PostNord with click-and-collect); and individual donations including the fodervärd (foster-parent) sponsorship program and memorial gifts. Its go-to-market is event- and partnership-driven: seasonal programs drive footfall, live webcams broadcast hedgehog, Persian leopard, and Arctic fox enclosures, and IKEA SANDLÖPARE/SKOGSDUVA plush toy collaborations channel 10 SEK per item sold to the foundation.

Technical infrastructure centers on specialized breeding and incubation facilities (including a solar-powered turtle breeding facility), public-facing live webcam systems, an e-commerce storefront, and standard payment and shipping integrations. The organization is led by CEO Mats Höggren (appointed August 2015) with a team of 51–100 employees, and is anchored by a long-term funding relationship with Svenska PostkodLotteriet (approximately 7M SEK in recurring annual support plus project-specific grants) and strategic co-development partnerships with WWF, Snow Leopard Trust, Red Panda Network, BirdLife Sverige, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, and Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.

Name

Nordens Ark

Legal name

Stiftelsen Nordens Ark

Website

https://nordensark.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Nordens Ark is a Swedish non-profit foundation operating a public wildlife park in Hunnebostrand and running breeding and reintroduction programs for endangered species across more than 20 countries. It is funded by lottery proceeds, corporate sponsors, visitors, and donors, and partners with WWF, IKEA, Snow Leopard Trust, and Red Panda Network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation & Zoo Park

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Guided Wildlife Safaris & Game Drives (Sanctuary/Reserve-Based) (THAAAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wilderness & Backcountry Lodges (Remote/Off-Grid) (THAGAIAB)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation programs
• Endangered species breeding
• Zoo visitor experiences
• Conservation education
• Animal reintroduction programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hunnebostrand

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Visitor admissions and park tickets: Revenue from entrance fees, summer cards, and day tickets for visitors to the public park in Hunnebostrand.
2. Corporate sponsorship and partnerships: Corporate partners pay 100,000 SEK+ annually; corporate godparents (faddrar) contribute 10,000–100,000 SEK; one-time corporate gifts are also accepted.
3. Accommodation and conference services: Revenue from on-site lodging, conference facilities, summer camps, and school camps.
4. Web shop and retail: Online store selling merchandise with delivery via PostNord; click-and-collect also available at the park shop.
5. Individual donations and supporter programs: Donations via Swish, memorial gifts, foster parent (fodervärd) programs, and membership in Nordens Arks Vänner.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nordens Ark is a Swedish wildlife conservation zoo and non-profit foundation that operates breeding and reintroduction programs for endangered species, both in Sweden and internationally. The organization runs a public zoo park in Hunnebostrand offering visitor admissions, accommodation, conference facilities, educational camps, and on-site experiences. It is funded through visitor fees, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, grants, and merchandise sales, with all proceeds supporting its conservation mission.

Product overview

Nordens Ark is a Swedish wildlife conservation zoo operating as a unified visitor destination with multiple integrated offerings. The core visitor experience centers on zoo admission, enhanced by the Sommarkort seasonal pass for unlimited summer access. The Fodervärd animal sponsorship program enables direct support for specific animals. Gift cards provide flexible present-giving options. Live cameras extend the park experience digitally. Accommodation includes on-site rooms and cabins, while experiences encompass guided tours, educational camps, and conference facilities. The web shop offers merchandise with PostNord shipping and in-park pickup. All offerings support the organization's mission to conserve endangered species.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sommarkort (Summer Card) Seasonal pass granting unlimited park visits during the summer season through August 31, designed for visitors who want to return multiple times during the summer.
• Fodervärd (Animal Sponsorship) Program allowing individuals to become foster parents for specific animals at the park, supporting ongoing care and conservation work.
• Presentkort (Gift Cards) Gift vouchers redeemable for entrance tickets, merchandise in the park shop, and food service locations; powered by the BookVisit booking platform.
• Boende (Accommodation) Overnight stays in hotel rooms and cabins located within the park grounds, allowing visitors to extend their wildlife experience.
• Upplevelser och Aktiviteter (Experiences) Guided tours, lessons, and wildlife activities available for booking at Nordens Ark.
• Lägerskolor och Sommarläger (School and Summer Camps) Overnight camps for children featuring wildlife education and hands-on activities, marketed to schools and youth groups.
• Konferens (Conference Facilities) Meeting rooms and event spaces for corporate conferences and gatherings at the park.
• Webbutik (Web Shop) Online merchandise store with shipping via PostNord and Click & Collect option at the park shop.
• Minnesgåvor (Memorial Donations) In-memory gift donations honoring deceased loved ones while supporting wildlife conservation.
• Företagsfadder (Corporate Sponsorship) Corporate animal sponsorship program where companies donate 10,000–100,000 SEK to support specific animals at the park.
• Partner Program Long-term corporate partnership commitment of 100,000 SEK or more per year, with joint goal-setting and collaborative reporting.

Quantifiable outcome

• 215+ peregrine falcon chicks bred and released since the 1970s, contributing to the species' recovery from near-extinction in Sweden.
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• WWF (World Wildlife Fund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNordens Ark and WWF collaborate on multiple conservation projects including amur tiger conservation in Russia's Far East (10+ years), Japanese crane conservation with WWF Russia, and joint funding from Svenska PostkodLotteriet's Drömprojekt for Swedish endangered species.
• BirdLife SverigecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNordens Ark and BirdLife Sverige collaborate on the southern dunlin (sydlig kärrsnäppa) conservation project, with headstart breeding programs at Ottenby and joint releases on Öland.
• Snow Leopard TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNordens Ark has partnered with Snow Leopard Trust since 2009 on snow leopard research in Mongolia's Tost Mountains. This is the longest-running and most comprehensive snow leopard population study in the world, involving GPS collaring and camera trap research.
• PICA (Pallas's Cat International Conservation Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNordens Ark is the driving force behind PICA, distributing 50,000 EUR annually to Pallas's cat conservation projects in Mongolia, Nepal, and China. Nordens Ark hosts breeding programs and coordinates international research efforts.
• IKEAmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerIKEA collaboration with two plush toy collections: SKOGSDUVA (2024, Swedish forest theme) and SANDLÖPARE (2025, African savanna theme). 10 SEK per sold item donated to Nordens Ark's conservation work. Both campaigns ran for limited periods in IKEA stores.
• Svenska Länsstyrelserna (County Administrative Boards)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNordens Ark collaborates with Länsstyrelserna in Kalmar, Gotland, Blekinge, and other counties for species reintroduction projects including green-spotted toad releases on Öland and Gotland, larger stag beetle in Kalmar, and southern dunlin conservation.
• Red Panda NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNordens Ark and Red Panda Network co-built the Himalayan Habre Centre in Taplejung, Nepal, inaugurated in 2021. The center serves as a hub for red panda conservation and community livelihood improvement in eastern Nepal.
• Naturskyddsföreningen (Swedish Society for Nature Conservation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNordens Ark breeds white-backed woodpeckers (vitryggig hackspett) for release in partnership with Naturskyddsföreningen, under a multi-year agreement for reintroduction in Värmland and Dalarna.
• Svenska Turistföreningen (STF)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a cooperation partner in the site's partner section; STF is Sweden's leading tourist association and may cross-promote Nordens Ark as a travel destination.
• Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRZSS and Nordens Ark collaborate on Scottish wildcat conservation, with Nordens Ark breeding wildcats whose offspring will be released in the Scottish Highlands to prevent hybridization and extinction.
• Svenska Jägareförbundet (Swedish Hunters' Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint project leadership on Arctic goose (fjällgås) conservation, one of Sweden's most threatened birds, with coordinated breeding at Nordens Ark and release in Lappland.
• Durrell Wildlife Conservation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDurrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and London Zoo provided Montserrat mountain chicken frogs to Nordens Ark for breeding, as part of an international breeding program for this critically endangered amphibian.
• Free the Bears (Luang Prabang Wildlife Sanctuary, Laos)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNordens Ark provides expert support and planning for turtle conservation facilities in Laos, collaborating with Free the Bears to rescue and reintroduce confiscated turtles into the wild.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Copenhagen Zoo: Leading Danish zoo with strong ex-situ conservation, international breeding programs, and research partnerships. Closest geographic peer with a comparable Nordic conservation-zoo operating model.
• Skansen: Stockholm-based open-air museum and zoo operating Nordic and exotic animals. Comparable combination of cultural heritage, family visitor attraction, and live animal exhibits, anchored in Sweden.
• Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust: Jersey/UK-headquartered conservation charity with active ex-situ breeding and global reintroduction programs. Direct peer in mission (saving species from extinction) and an existing partner that supplied Montserrat mountain chicken frogs to Nordens Ark.
• Pairi Daiza: Belgium-based large wildlife park and conservation center with accommodation, themed regions, and conservation-breeding programs. Comparable integrated visitor, lodging, and conservation offering at European scale.
• Chester Zoo: UK-based conservation-focused zoo and charity with global field programs, ex-situ breeding, and award-winning sustainability positioning. Highly comparable mission and funding-model profile to Nordens Ark.
• Kolmården Wildlife Park: Sweden's largest wildlife park, located on the east coast near Norrköping. Direct competitor for Swedish wildlife-park visitors, school group bookings, and family-day admissions, with overlapping conservation and education messaging.
• Borås Djurpark: Swedish zoo in Borås with conservation breeding programs and family-oriented visitor experiences. Direct competitor in the Swedish wildlife-park and conservation-education market.
• Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS / Edinburgh Zoo): Scottish zoo and conservation charity with active breeding-for-release programs, including Scottish wildcat — a program Nordens Ark already supplies breeding stock for. Closest European conservation-zoo peer and active partner.

Broad incumbents

• Berlin Zoo: Historic German zoo with global conservation involvement. Broader incumbent with overlapping conservation and visitor missions, but operating at substantially larger scale across a wider portfolio.
• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: US-headquartered conservation and zoo organization with global field programs and the largest ex-situ collection in North America. Far larger incumbent offering overlapping conservation, science, and visitor experiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NordensArk1
• Facebookfacebook.com/Nordensark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nordens-ark
• Instagraminstagram.com/nordensark

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nordens Ark