Stiftung Wildnispark Zürich

What Stiftung Wildnispark Zürich does

Stiftung Wildnispark Zürich is a Swiss non-profit foundation (Stiftung) that operates two complementary nature park sites near Zurich: the Naturerlebnispark Sihlwald—a 25+ year-old natural forest reserve designated as a Park of National Importance, with the Sihlwald forest set aside for unmanaged wilderness regeneration—and the Tierpark Langenberg in Langnau am Albis, a wildlife park featuring native European species including wolves, lynx, bears, bison, Przewalski horses, otters, and deer. The foundation's mission is nature conservation, environmental education, and public access to wilderness experiences for the urban populations of Zurich and Zug. Its technical and biological assets include a dedicated bat emergency care station with bioacoustic monitoring for species detection, a European lynx breeding and reintroduction program with releases into Thuringia (Germany), and on-site interpretive exhibitions including a new underwater otter exhibit.

The foundation monetizes across multiple revenue streams: per-transaction guided tours (CHF 580-780), children's programs (CHF 380), school educational programs, corporate volunteering days at CHF 2,200 per group (run approximately 10 times per year), Restaurant Langenberg with group catering and children's birthday packages, two retail shops (Wildnispark Shop Langenberg and Shop Besucherzentrum Sihlwald), B&B and campsite accommodation, and donations/sponsorship programs. The main sponsor is Zürich Kantonalbank. Distribution is a hybrid of free walk-in access (Langenberg East enclosures are freely accessible 24/7, 365 days/year) and online self-serve booking for paid programs. Customer segments are diversified across families with children, schools, corporate groups, clubs/private groups, and general nature enthusiasts. The foundation also maintains partnerships with BatLife Europe, Stiftung Fledermausschutz (Zurich Zoo) for bat rehabilitation, and indual GmbH for web services.

The foundation operates under Swiss foundation law (non-profit) without outside ownership, public listing, or disclosed funding rounds; financial statements and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed in the input data. Headcount is reported at 11-50 employees. Strategic emphasis in recent periods has been on expanding conservation science capacity (bioacoustic monitoring, research publications), deepening institutional partnerships (BatLife Europe recognition as European Bat of the Year 2026/2027), and incrementally enhancing the visitor product (new underwater otter exhibition) rather than geographic or commercial expansion.

Name

Stiftung Wildnispark Zürich

Legal name

Stiftung Wildnispark Zürich

Website

https://wildnispark.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stiftung Wildnispark Zürich is a Swiss non-profit foundation operating two nature parks near Zurich—Naturerlebnispark Sihlwald (wilderness forest reserve) and Tierpark Langenberg (native wildlife park)—serving families, schools, corporate groups, and nature enthusiasts with wildlife viewing, guided tours, educational programs, conservation, and on-site hospitality.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nature Parks and Wildlife Conservation

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation Parks & Private Nature Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA), Wildlife Sanctuaries & Rescue Centers (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAA), National Park & Conservancy Lodges (THAGAIAI)

Keywords

• Nature park operations
• Wildlife conservation
• Environmental education
• Guided forest tours
• Corporate volunteering programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Sihlwald, Zurich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Park Admissions and Entry Fees: Revenue from visitors entering the Tierpark Langenberg and accessing facilities at the Naturerlebnispark Sihlwald. The majority of animal enclosures at Langenberg East are freely accessible 365 days per year.
2. Guided Tours and Educational Programs: Revenue from bookable guided tours including 'In die Wildnis' (CHF 580-780), 'Wildtiere unter uns' (CHF 580), and children's programs like 'Echt tierisch' (CHF 380). School programs and educational excursions generate additional revenue.
3. Corporate Volunteering Programs: Corporate team-building activities focused on landscape maintenance and nature conservation, priced at CHF 2,200 flat rate per group, with optional lunch packages at CHF 15 per person.
4. Food and Beverage Services: Restaurant Langenberg operations including à la carte dining, children's birthday parties with cake and beverage sales, and group catering for events. Restaurant hours are Monday-Friday 09:00-17:00, weekends 09:00-19:00.
5. Donations and Sponsorships: The foundation accepts donations for wildlife conservation efforts including lynx reintroduction projects. Sihlwald sponsorships and animal sponsorships are offered as support mechanisms. Main sponsor is Zürich Kantonalbank.
6. Retail and Souvenir Sales: Wildnispark Shop at Langenberg and Shop at Besucherzentrum Sihlwald sell merchandise and souvenirs to visitors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Stiftung Wildnispark Zürich operates two nature parks near Zurich: the Naturerlebnispark Sihlwald, a natural forest reserve and wilderness area, and the Tierpark Langenberg, a wildlife park with native Swiss animals in natural enclosures. The foundation offers paid guided tours, children's and school educational programs, corporate volunteering activities, on-site dining, accommodation, retail shops, and conservation services including a bat emergency care station and a lynx reintroduction program, supported by donations and sponsorships.

Product overview

Stiftung Wildnispark Zürich operates two nature and wildlife parks as a single integrated offering: the Tierpark Langenberg (wildlife park with native Swiss animals in natural enclosures) and the Naturerlebnispark Sihlwald (nature discovery park with forest, wilderness, and river landscapes). The foundation offers a portfolio of paid programs including guided tours (In die Wildnis, Wildtiere unter uns), children's educational programs (Echt tierisch), school curricula, and corporate team-building (Corporate Volunteering). Visitor amenities include Restaurant Langenberg, two retail shops, B&B accommodation, and campsite facilities. Conservation services include a bat emergency care station with bioacoustic monitoring, and lynx breeding for wild reintroduction. The parks serve as visitor attractions open year-round with free admission to most outdoor enclosures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tierpark Langenberg A wildlife park in Langnau am Albis featuring native Swiss wild animals (wolves, lynx, bears, bison, otters, wild boar, red deer, ibex, Przewalski horses, etc.) in natural enclosures. Langenberg East enclosures are freely accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; Langenberg West is open daily 09:00-19:00. On-site amenities include Restaurant Langenberg, Wildnispark-Shop Langenberg, and B&B Langenberg.
• Naturerlebnispark Sihlwald A nature discovery park offering a unique combination of forest, wilderness, and river landscape with a wilderness playground, fire pits, and forest adventure trail. Includes the Sihlwald-Ausstellung exhibition at the Besucherzentrum Sihlwald and access to the Naturwaldreservat where the forest is allowed to develop into wilderness without human intervention. Open year-round.
• Besucherzentrum Sihlwald Visitor center in Sihlwald featuring the Sihlwald exhibition, a wilderness playground, and information services. Open seasonally from March to October on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from 13:00-17:00.
• Guided Tours: In die Wildnis (Into the Wild) Forest wilderness guided tours through the Sihlwald. Short tour: 2 hours at CHF 580; Long tour: 3 hours at CHF 780. Includes guided experience, forest wilderness exploration, and admission to the Sihlwald exhibition during visitor center opening hours. Maximum 25 participants.
• Guided Tours: Wildtiere unter uns (Wildlife Among Us) Guided wildlife observation tour of the Langenberg Wildlife Park focusing on native wild animals and their natural behaviors. Duration 2 hours, cost CHF 580 (incl. VAT). Maximum 25 participants.
• Echt tierisch (Really Beastly) Children's Program Interactive children's program for kids aged 7+ exploring animals and their characteristics through discovery and hands-on activities. 1.5-hour program for CHF 380 (incl. VAT). Maximum 12 children with 1-2 adult companions. Includes craft souvenir.
• Corporate Volunteering Full-day corporate team volunteer programs in landscape maintenance and nature conservation, offered approximately 10 times per year. Flat rate CHF 2,200 per group of 10 persons (max 2 groups). Optional lunch package vegetarian or with meat at CHF 15 per person.
• School Programs Educational programs for schools from kindergarten through upper secondary level. Base offerings cover wolves, wild boars, predators, bears, lynx and wildcats, Sihlwald excursions, and alpine animals. Advanced offerings cover Into the Wilderness, Four Seasons program, nature conservation, Stone Age experience, forest colors workshop, and fire kitchen.
• Restaurant Langenberg On-site restaurant at Tierpark Langenberg offering à la carte dining, snacks, and group dining options including children's birthday parties (cakes from CHF 5.70 per person, syrup at CHF 4.50 per litre, table decorations from CHF 2.00 per person, table bombs at CHF 9.50 each). Hours: Monday-Friday 09:00-17:00, weekends 09:00-19:00.
• B&B Langenberg Bed and breakfast accommodation within the Tierpark Langenberg grounds for overnight stays.
• Campingplatz Sihlwald Campsite located in the Sihlwald area for nature-based overnight camping experiences.
• Wildnispark-Shop Langenberg Gift shop at Tierpark Langenberg selling souvenirs, nature-themed products, and educational materials to park visitors.
• Shop Besucherzentrum Sihlwald Retail shop at the Besucherzentrum Sihlwald selling merchandise and souvenirs to park visitors.
• Sponsorship and Patronage Programs Sihlwald patronage (own or gift) and animal patronage (own or gift) programs allowing individuals and supporters to contribute to park conservation efforts, available as personal gifts or direct support.
• Fledermaus-Notpflegestation (Bat Emergency Care Station) Emergency care and rehabilitation facility for injured bats at the Langenberg Wildlife Park, equipped with bioacoustic monitoring capabilities. Patients requiring long-term rehabilitation are transferred to Stiftung Fledermausschutz at Zurich Zoo.
• Lynx Reintroduction Program (Sprung in die Freiheit) Conservation program supporting European lynx survival by breeding lynx at the park under near-natural conditions and releasing them into the wild, particularly as part of a reintroduction project in Thuringia, Germany.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successful lynx reintroduction: Multiple lynx born in the park have been released into the wild in Thuringia, Germany, contributing to European lynx conservation

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• BatLife EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026BatLife Europe selected the Lesser Noctule bat species (found in the Wildnispark) as European Bat of the Year 2026/2027, bringing attention to the park's conservation work with forest-dwelling bat species.
• Stiftung FledermausschutzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Bat Conservation Foundation located at Zurich Zoo for bat rehabilitation and overwintering care. The Wildnispark's bat emergency care station transfers patients to this partner facility.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Parc Animalier de Sainte-Croix: Large French animal park with European wildlife focus, conservation programs, and educational offerings. Comparable as a regional wildlife park with broader paid attractions.
• Zoo Zürich: Major Swiss zoo located in the same Zürich catchment area with broader species portfolio and significantly larger scale. Overlaps on conservation, education, and visitor base but covers a much wider scope.

Others

• Stiftung Fledermausschutz: Swiss bat conservation foundation partnered with Wildnispark for bat rehabilitation. Listed as a peer given the operational partnership around the bat emergency care station.

Direct peers

• Wildpark Bruderhaus: Swiss wildlife park in Winterthur serving a similar urban-adjacent, native-wildlife mission. Closest geographic and operational peer within the Swiss market.
• Wildpark Schwarzach: Wildlife park in the German/Austrian region emphasizing native European species in natural enclosures. Comparable visitor experience model and species focus.
• NaturZoo Rheine: German zoo focused on European species and conservation, with school programs and family visitor offerings structurally similar to the Wildnispark model.
• Tierpark Dählhölzli: Swiss zoo and wildlife park in Bern with comparable native species focus, conservation programs, and educational offerings. Direct competitor for school and family visitors in Switzerland.
• Wildpark Bad Mergentheim: German wildlife park offering native European species observation in large natural enclosures, with comparable education and family visitor programming.
• Natur- und Tierpark Goldau: Swiss nature and wildlife park focused on native European species and conservation, located in Central Switzerland. Highly comparable to Wildnispark Zürich in scale, mission, and native wildlife focus.

Regional players

• Schweizerischer Nationalpark: Switzerland's only national park, offering wilderness experiences and guided tours. Not a direct competitor (different scale and remote location), but a comparable nature-tourism peer in the same country.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stiftung-wildnispark-zuerich

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Stiftung Wildnispark Zürich