Zurich Zoo

What Zurich Zoo does

Zoo Zürich AG is a privately held Swiss corporation operating a zoological park at Zürichbergstrasse 221 in Zürich, Switzerland, housing over 380 animal species across nature-like habitats including the Masoala Rainforest, Lewa Savana, and Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park. The institution traces its operating history to 1929 and is structured under two affiliated charitable foundations (Getika Stiftung and Zoo Stiftung Zürich) that sit alongside the operating corporation, with its core philosophy articulated as four pillars: Conservation, Animals, Experience, and Education. The company's digital infrastructure comprises the zoo.ch web platform, a mobile Zoo App for ticket purchase and annual-pass storage, live habitat webcams (notably in Masoala Rainforest), an integrated e-commerce/online shop, and a third-party text chatbot (swiss moonshot AG / aiaibot.com) for standardized visitor inquiries; marketing analytics are routed through Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest pixels and Inxmail for newsletter deployment.

Revenue is generated through a portfolio of streams: one-time and recurring ticketed admissions and annual passes (individual, family, corporate transferable); named-donation and bequest programs structured in CHF tiers from CHF 10,000 recognition plaques up to CHF 6.5 million for major exhibit elements; recurring animal and plant adoption subscriptions (Tierpatenschaft); corporate events and private functions including the Masoala restaurant; merchandise and gift card sales through the onlineshop; school and educational program fees; and a free visitor WiFi service that doubles as a newsletter registration funnel. Distribution combines zoo-owned digital channels, on-site box office, group and corporate inquiry desks, and four flagship consumer-brand sponsors (ZKB, EWZ, Mobiliar, Migros) who distribute customer benefits through their own bases.

The zoo is mid-execution of a multi-decade physical and programmatic expansion framework (Zoo 2050 Development Plan), anchored by the Pantanal Wetland/Aviary project—an approximately 11,000 square meter overnetted habitat with a 35-meter-high free-span net housing hyacinth macaws, golden lion tamarins, and Chilean flamingos—with construction commenced in March 2024 and target completion in 2028, alongside a planned Ndoki Forest project. Eight priority international conservation projects extend the operational footprint into field-based biodiversity programs, while the enterprise combines a traditional consumer-visitation business with mission-driven, recurring-donor fundraising mechanics.

Name

Zurich Zoo

Legal name

Zoo Zürich AG

Website

https://zoo.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Zoo Zürich AG operates a Swiss zoological park with 380+ animal species across nature-like habitats, monetized through admissions, annual passes, donations, corporate events, and education programs while executing Development Plan 2050 anchored by the Pantanal Aviary project.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoological Park Operations

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions) (THAJAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

Keywords

• Zoological park operations
• Wildlife conservation programs
• Animal habitat exhibits
• Conservation education services
• Visitor attraction experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Entry fees for individual visitors, families, and groups with different pricing for adults, children, and annual passes.
2. Donations and Sponsorship: Project-based donations for conservation initiatives including the Pantanal Wetland, Ndoki Forest, and Orang-Utan Trail. Named donation opportunities with recognition tiers from CHF 10,000 upwards.
3. Animal and Plant Adoption: Sponsorship programs allowing visitors to become godparents (Gotte/Götti) of specific animals or Masoala plants.
4. Annual Passes: Corporate and individual annual passes with transferable cards for employees and customers.
5. Events and Catering: Corporate events, private functions, and dining experiences including the Masoala restaurant.
6. Online Shop: Sale of zoo merchandise, vouchers, and gift cards through the onlineshop.
7. School Programs: Educational programs for schools with guided tours and curriculum-aligned learning experiences.
8. Zoo WiFi: Free WiFi service provided to visitors on zoo premises, with registration including newsletter subscription.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Zurich Zoo operates a 380+ species zoological park with immersive bioregion habitats such as the Masoala Rainforest, Lewa Savana and Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park. The core commercial offering is paid admission (tickets and annual passes), augmented by guided tours, animal/plant adoption sponsorships, school and training education programs, corporate and private events, on-site dining (Masoala Restaurant) and a merchandise online shop.

Product overview

Zoo Zürich operates as a conservation-focused zoological park offering visitors a digital ecosystem alongside its physical attractions. The core digital offering consists of the Zoo Zürich Website/Online Platform and Zoo-App mobile application, which together enable ticket purchasing, annual pass management, online shopping, event bookings, donations, and animal sponsorship. Supporting services include Zoo WiFi for visitors, guided tours, educational programs for schools, training courses and workshops, a podcast series, live webcams, and dining options including the Masoala Restaurant. The zoo's Development Plan 2050 includes major habitat construction projects such as the Pantanal Wetland (a ~11,000 m² aviary habitat) and Ndoki Forest. Two associated foundations—Getika Stiftung and Zoo Stiftung Zürich—support the zoo's conservation and animal welfare missions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Admission Tickets Single-day entry tickets for individuals, families and groups visiting the zoo's 380+ species in nature-like habitats.
• Annual Passes Annual subscription passes for individuals, families and corporate clients, with transferable corporate cards usable by employees and customers.
• Zoo-App (Mobile App) Mobile application for zoo visitors to purchase tickets, store and present annual passes, and receive information about the zoo on their mobile devices.
• Online Shop E-commerce storefront selling admission tickets, vouchers, gift cards, zoo merchandise and annual passes.
• Guided Tours Guided group tours for visitors, including special themed tours, delivered at the zoo's habitats.
• Animal Adoption / Sponsorship Recurring sponsorship program allowing supporters to become Tierpaten (godparents) of specific animals or Masoala plants at the zoo.
• School in the Zoo Programs Curriculum-aligned educational programs and guided school tours for preschool through secondary school groups visiting the zoo.
• Training Courses and Workshops Educational courses and workshops offered at the zoo for various age groups.
• Events and Activities Calendar of bookable daily activities, special events and seasonal experiences at the zoo.
• Your Event at the Zoo (Corporate and Private Event Hosting) Private and corporate event hosting service using the zoo's venues, including the Masoala restaurant, for functions and team-building.
• Food & Drinks (Masoala Restaurant) On-site dining and catering service operated by the zoo, anchored by the Masoala Restaurant inside the Masoala Rainforest exhibit.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 380 animal species housed in naturalistic habitats
• +2 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

Integration10 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMain sponsor of Zoo Zurich providing financial support and promotional benefits for zoo visitors who are ZKB customers through special discounts and offers.
• EWZ (Elektrizitätswerk Zürich)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMain sponsor providing energy-related sponsorship and customer benefits for EWZ customers visiting the zoo.
• MobiliarflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMain sponsor offering insurance-related sponsorship and customer benefits for Mobiliar policyholders.
• Migros Genossenschaftsbund ZürichflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMain sponsor providing retail and customer benefits for Migros customers, including potential discounts on zoo entry.
• Getika StiftungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss nonprofit foundation based at Zoo Zurich dedicated to animal welfare, promoting understanding between humans and animals, awarding biennial recognition for exceptional achievements in animal protection.
• Zoo Stiftung ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation dedicated to supporting and preserving Zoo Zurich as a nonprofit enterprise, raising funds for development projects including the Pantanal Wetland.
• Tiergarten-Gesellschaft TGZminorOthersPartner organization supporting zoo conservation and animal welfare initiatives.
• Freunde MasoalasminorOthersFriends group supporting the Masoala Rainforest exhibit and related conservation efforts.
• Freunde der Galapagos InselnminorOthersFriends group supporting Galapagos Islands conservation projects associated with the zoo.
• ZooseilbahnminorOthersZoo cable car project partner providing visitor transportation to the zoo premises.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tiergarten Schönbrunn (Vienna Zoo): Vienna's Tiergarten Schönbrunn is the world's oldest zoo and a direct European peer — comparable scale, multi-habitat immersive design, conservation mission, education programs, and member/donor-driven revenue model. It benchmarks directly against Zurich Zoo on attendance, ticket revenue, and donor capacity.
• ZSL London Zoo: London Zoo, operated by the Zoological Society of London, is a flagship European zoological park with immersive habitats, conservation breeding programs, education, and major capital projects — directly comparable in mission, scale, and visitor proposition.
• Zoologischer Garten Berlin (Berlin Zoo): Berlin Zoo is one of Europe's most-visited zoos with extensive species collection, signature immersive exhibits, and conservation programs. Closely comparable to Zurich Zoo on habitat design, species breadth, and German-speaking-market competition.
• Pairi Daiza: Pairi Daiza in Belgium is widely regarded as Europe's leading immersive, themed-zoo experience with large-scale walk-through habitats (e.g., Land of the Cold, The Last Frontier). Direct peer in immersive exhibit design, visitor experience, and major capex-driven habitat rollouts.
• Tierpark Hellabrunn (Munich Zoo): Hellabrunn is a geo-zoo style park with regional and international species in naturalistic habitats, strong conservation and education mandate, and DACH-market visitor overlap with Zurich. Direct peer on operating model, species breadth, and member programs.
• Wilhelma Stuttgart (Zoo and Botanical Garden): Wilhelma combines a zoological garden and botanical garden with historic architecture and immersive habitats, sharing the conservation/education mission and DACH visitor base. Direct peer on combined animal/plant collection and event-led revenue.

Regional players

• Zoo Basel (Zoologischer Garten Basel): Zoo Basel is the other leading Swiss zoological garden with a similar conservation, education, and member-based model. Comparable on species collection, donor base, and Swiss regulatory environment, but serves a different Swiss urban catchment and is therefore a regional rather than direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance operates a flagship zoological park plus safari park, with a global conservation mandate. Larger and more global than Zurich Zoo, but the closest analog on immersive habitat design, conservation-driven donor model, and large-scale capital projects.
• Bronx Zoo (Wildlife Conservation Society): The Bronx Zoo, run by WCS, is one of the largest metropolitan zoos with deep conservation, education, and breeding programs. Broader portfolio than Zurich Zoo, but directly comparable on species breadth, conservation leadership, and donor/sponsorship model.
• Mandai Wildlife Group (Singapore Zoo): Mandai Wildlife Group operates multiple zoological parks including Singapore Zoo and Night Safari with immersive habitats, conservation programs, and significant capex pipeline. Direct analog on multi-park visitor experience and tropical immersive exhibits, with broader scale.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/zoozuerich
• Instagramprivacycenter.instagram.com/policy
• Xx.com/zoozuerich
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zoozuerich

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Zurich Zoo