PanEco

What PanEco does

PanEco Foundation (Stiftung PanEco) is a Swiss non-profit foundation established in 1996 by Regina Frey and headquartered in Berg am Irchel, Switzerland. The organization operates three integrated programs: the Sumatra Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP), a holistic orangutan and rainforest conservation program in Indonesia; the Greifvogelstation Berg am Irchel, a bird of prey and owl rehabilitation station operating since 1957; and the Naturzentrum Thurauen, a nature education center in the Zürcher Weinland floodplain area. Spinoff assets include the Orangutan Haven (a 2023 sanctuary for non-releasable orangutans) and environmental education centers in Java and Sulawesi.

PanEco does not operate a technology product. Its service delivery is grounded in physical infrastructure, wildlife veterinary services, ranger patrols, community development programs, and educational exhibitions. Marketing and donor acquisition are conducted through a multilingual website (German, English, French), email newsletters with topic-based subscription groups, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, plus on-site events such as the Junior Ranger Olympiade and nature film evenings. Annual visitor figures include over 2,700 guests at the Greifvogelstation and over 12,900 guests at the Naturzentrum Thurauen (2024).

PanEco is funded through individual donations (one-time and recurring, with suggested tiers of CHF 50, 80, 120 or 200), the PanEco-Gönnerschaft sponsor program, animal and project sponsorships, membership fees, and testamentary bequests. Institutional grant funding comes from sources including the Arcus Foundation (Leuser Landscape Conservation Project) and UK Aid (project evaluation in Indonesia). The foundation holds ZEWO certification, the Swiss quality seal for charitable organizations. PanEco has 27 employees in Switzerland and works with 218 employees across implementation partner organizations in Indonesia; a new co-CEO team (Martin Schmid and Loredana Sorg) took over the management on April 1, 2025.

Name

PanEco

Legal name

PanEco Foundation

Website

https://paneco.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PanEco is a Swiss non-profit foundation operating since 1996 that delivers orangutan and rainforest conservation in Sumatra, a bird of prey rehabilitation station in Berg am Irchel, and the Naturzentrum Thurauen nature education center, funded largely through donations, sponsorships, and institutional grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation & Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

akta.pro primary industry

Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation (BPADALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG), Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAAAG), Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

Keywords

• Nature conservation
• Wildlife rehabilitation
• Environmental education
• Orangutan protection
• Bird of prey care

Headquarters

HQ city

Berg

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

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. Donations and charitable contributions: PanEco raises funds through individual donations (one-time and recurring), the PanEco-Gönnerschaft sponsor program, and animal sponsorships. Donations are accepted online via the website with preset amounts (CHF 50, 80, 120, 200) or custom amounts. The foundation holds ZEWO certification, a Swiss seal of quality for charitable organizations.
2. Foundation grants and institutional funding: PanEco receives grants from institutional funders such as the Arcus Foundation (for Leuser ecosystem conservation) and UK Aid (for project evaluations). Funding supports specific conservation programs in Indonesia and Switzerland.
3. Membership and testamentary bequests: The foundation generates revenue through membership fees and legacy bequests (Testamentsspende), providing long-term financial stability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PanEco is a Swiss non-profit foundation that runs integrated nature conservation, wildlife rehabilitation, and environmental education programs across Switzerland and Indonesia. Its core programs include the Sumatra Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP), the Greifvogelstation Berg am Irchel for injured raptors and owls, and the Naturzentrum Thurauen nature center, supported by the Orangutan Haven and two Indonesian environmental education centers (PPLH Seloliman and PPLH Puntondo).

Product overview

PanEco is a Swiss conservation foundation operating multiple interconnected programs and facilities focused on nature and species protection in Switzerland and Indonesia. The organization operates on three main pillars: the Greifvogelstation Berg am Irchel (bird of prey sanctuary), the Naturzentrum Thurauen (nature education center), and the Sumatra-Orang-Utan-Schutzprogramm (SOCP). These are supported by additional facilities including the Orangutan Haven in Sumatra for non-releasable orangutans, and environmental education centers in Indonesia (PPLH Seloliman and PPLH Puntondo). The foundation also offers various support mechanisms including donations, sponsorships, and school education programs. PanEco is not a technology company but a traditional conservation nonprofit organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sumatra-Orang-Utan-Schutzprogramm (SOCP): Holistic orangutan and rainforest conservation program operating in Sumatra, Indonesia
• Orangutan Haven
• Greifvogelstation Berg am Irchel
• Naturzentrum Thurauen

Products and services

• Sumatra-Orang-Utan-Schutzprogramm (SOCP) A comprehensive orangutan and rainforest conservation program operating in Sumatra, Indonesia, including rescue, rehabilitation, and release activities for orangutans affected by habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade, with operations across the Leuser Ecosystem, Jantho Nature Reserve, and Batang Toru Protected Area.
• Greifvogelstation Berg am Irchel A bird of prey sanctuary and rehabilitation station in Berg am Irchel, Switzerland, providing care for injured and orphaned birds of prey and owls, open to visitors for guided tours and school programs, in collaboration with the University of Zurich Veterinary Hospital.
• Naturzentrum Thurauen An environmental education center in the Thurauen floodplain area in Zurich wine country, serving as an information platform, ranger service base, and exhibition space, offering guided tours and educational programs for school groups and the general public.
• Orangutan Haven A specialized facility in Sumatra providing long-term care for orangutans that cannot be released into the wild, serving also as an environmental education center for rainforest and conservation topics.
• Angebote für Schulen (School Programs) Environmental education programs for schools and teachers at the Greifvogelstation and Naturzentrum Thurauen, including guided school trips, Junior Ranger programs, and educational materials tailored for different age groups.
• Spenden (Donation Service) Donation service allowing supporters to contribute financially to PanEco's environmental education, species protection, and habitat conservation work via the foundation website, with preset amounts (CHF 50, 80, 120, 200) or custom free-amount donations.
• PanEco-Gönnerschaft A recurring sponsorship program allowing individuals to provide ongoing financial support to PanEco's conservation activities, providing long-term financial stability for the foundation.
• Patenschaften (Sponsorships) Animal and project sponsorship programs where supporters can sponsor specific orangutans or conservation initiatives, receiving updates on their sponsored animal or project.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,700 visitors per year to the Greifvogelstation Berg am Irchel and over 12,900 guests per year to the Naturzentrum Thurauen (2024 figures)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• YEL (Yayasan Ecosystem Lestari)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYEL is PanEco's sister organization and key implementation partner in Indonesia, operating the orangutan rescue team, the rehabilitation and release station, and environmental education programs on Sumatra. YEL staff conduct confiscations, manage the SOCP programs on the ground, and collaborate closely with Indonesian authorities.
• HAkA (Hutan Alan atau Hutan Kita?)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAkA is a local Indonesian partner organization. During the November 2025 flood disaster on Sumatra, PanEco's HAkA team was stranded for several days and worked on relief efforts, illustrating the deep operational integration between the organizations.
• Bioparc GenèveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBioparc Genève joined as a new partner in May 2025, providing financial support and collaboration for conservation projects. PanEco announced the partnership with appreciation for the valuable support.
• Greifenhof WalkringenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2025, the Greifenhof in Walkringen (canton Bern) is a partner station for the care, rearing, and rehabilitation of birds of prey and owls in the Bern area, complementing PanEco's Greifvogelstation in Berg am Irchel.
• University of Zurich Veterinary Hospital (Tierspital Zürich)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Greifvogelstation has a long-standing and close collaboration with the Tierspital Zürich. Veterinary students from the university do internships at the station, and the partnership provides specialized medical expertise for bird patients.
• Zoo ZürichminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZoo Zürich participates in the Habichtskauz (Ural owl) breeding program, contributing young birds for the reintroduction project in Austria. PanEco's Greifvogelstation coordinates the breeding efforts with Swiss zoos.
• Staatswald Wyland (Forest Service)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Staatswald Wyland forest management team collaborates with PanEco's Naturzentrum Thurauen on forest management, habitat conservation, and public education about the floodplain ecosystem between the Rhine and Thur rivers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WWF Switzerland: Larger Swiss-domiciled international conservation organization with overlapping species, habitat, and education programs. Much broader portfolio but competes for the same donor mindshare and grant funding in Switzerland.
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): Global authority on species conservation status; PanEco's work on Tapanuli and Sumatran orangutans directly intersects with IUCN Red List priorities. Provides policy framework but not a direct fundraising competitor.

Regional players

• Vier Pfoten / Four Paws International: Austria-based international animal welfare and conservation foundation with wildlife sanctuaries, donor-funded model, and educational visitor operations. Comparable structure though broader animal welfare remit.
• Stiftung Wildnispark Zürich: Swiss foundation operating the Langenberg wildlife park and adjacent conservation areas in Canton Zurich, with visitor education programming directly comparable to PanEco's Naturzentrum Thurauen model.

Direct peers

• ProSpecieRara: Swiss foundation dedicated to preserving rare livestock breeds and plants, with visitor centers and educational programming. Comparable Swiss non-profit conservation model with ZEWO-style trust positioning and direct-to-consumer donor base.
• Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation: Operates orangutan rescue, rehabilitation, and reintroduction programs in Borneo (and increasingly Sumatra), directly overlapping with PanEco's SOCP mission. Similar NGO model, donor base, and species focus.
• Orangutan Foundation UK: UK-based charity dedicated to orangutan conservation in Indonesia, including habitat protection in the Leuser Ecosystem area where PanEco operates. Direct peer in species and geography, with comparable donor-acquisition approach.
• Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (YEL): PanEco's sister implementation organization running on-the-ground orangutan rehabilitation in Sumatra. Although a partner rather than competitor, YEL is the closest operational peer in species, geography, and program structure.
• BirdLife Schweiz / Schweizer Vogelschutz SVS: Swiss bird conservation organization with similar donor-funded model, regional visitor engagement, and overlap with PanEco's Greifvogelstation work. Comparable in scope, scale, and Swiss-NGO funding mechanics.
• Jane Goodall Institute Switzerland: Swiss branch of an international conservation NGO focused on primates and habitats, with donation-driven fundraising and educational programming analogous to PanEco's school and visitor offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/paneco.ch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paneco-foundation-for-sustainable-development-and-intercultural-exchange
• Instagraminstagram.com/paneco_ch
• Xx.com/paneco_ch

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 PanEco