Zoologischer Garten Augsburg GmbH

What Zoologischer Garten Augsburg GmbH does

Zoologischer Garten Augsburg GmbH operates Zoo Augsburg, a 55-acre zoological garden located at Brehmplatz 1 in Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany. Founded in 1938, it is one of the oldest zoos in Germany and houses approximately 1,500 animals across 80 mammal species and over 200 bird and reptile species, attracting roughly 650,000 visitors annually. The zoo is a member of VdZ, EAZA, and WAZA and participates in 20 European Endangered Species Programmes (EEPs), integrating conservation breeding, academic research (with Goethe University Frankfurt, University of Ulm, and TU Munich), and international species-protection funding, including €250,000 committed to the Endau-Rompin (Malaysia) project since 2021.

The company's offering centres on the physical visitor experience — gate admissions, guided tours (early-bird, evening, World Elephant Day), children's birthday parties, and educational programmes for schools and kindergartens — complemented by on-site gastronomy, a souvenir shop, and an events programme (annual Zoolauf charity run). A diversified subscription and donation layer sits on top: the Freundeskreis des Augsburger Zoo e.V. (1,400+ members, €5 million contributed since 1995), individual and corporate animal sponsorships priced €50–€4,000 per year, the Stiftung Zoo Augsburg foundation, and recurring corporate logo sponsorships. The digital layer is a WordPress-based marketing and ticketing site (tickets.zoo-augsburg.de) using IONOS hosting, PayPal, Borlabs Cookie, SolidWP, Google Analytics, and WP Statistics — standard tooling with no proprietary AI or platform technology.

Revenue mechanics combine one-time ticket sales with recurring membership, sponsorship, and donation streams. Distribution is primarily walk-in and direct online, augmented by a cross-promotional partnership with Allgäu Skyline Park. The managing director is Dr. Philipp Wagner; the supervisory board is chaired by Reiner Erben. The zoo is currently undertaking its largest capital project to date — the Himalaya complex — alongside sustainability investments including a 2.4 MWh rooftop photovoltaic system, an electric fleet, and an energy-efficient cooling cell, supported by ÖKOPROFIT certification achieved in 2024.

Name

Zoologischer Garten Augsburg GmbH

Legal name

Zoologischer Garten Augsburg GmbH

Website

https://zoo-augsburg.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Zoologischer Garten Augsburg GmbH operates Zoo Augsburg, a 55-acre German zoological garden (founded 1938) hosting ~1,500 animals and ~650,000 annual visitors, funded through gate admissions, memberships, sponsorships, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoological Garden / Wildlife Park

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Zoological garden operations
• Wildlife conservation programs
• Animal sponsorship services
• Zoological education programs
• Visitor attraction services

Headquarters

HQ city

Augsburg

HQ country

Germany

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Admission fees collected at the gate and through the online ticket portal. Single-entry tickets for adults, children, families, and annual passes.
2. Animal Sponsorships (Tierpatenschaften): Annual food sponsorship for specific animals ranging from €50 to €4,000 per year. Sponsors receive a certificate, name plaque at the zoo, and invitations to special sponsor events.
3. Membership Fees (Freundeskreis): Annual membership in the Friends Circle provides free year-round entry, free info booklet, special guided tours, summer party access, trips to other zoos, and monthly Stammtisch events.
4. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors provide financial support in exchange for logo placement on the zoo's website, promotional materials, and partner benefits.
5. Food & Beverage (Gastronomie): On-site restaurants and taverns serve visitors. Zoo gaststätte is operated independently.
6. Souvenir Shop: On-site souvenir shop selling zoo-related merchandise.
7. Donations: One-time and recurring donations accepted, including the Zoo Augsburg Foundation (Stiftung Zoo Augsburg) with 80% of contributions going to the foundation endowment and 20% to current zoo projects.
8. Guided Tours & Special Events: Revenue from special tours (Frühaufsteher Führung, Abendführung), birthday parties, and educational programs for schools and kindergartens.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Zoologischer Garten Augsburg GmbH operates Zoo Augsburg, a zoological garden in Augsburg, Bavaria housing approximately 1,500 animals across roughly 22 hectares. The core offering is a public zoo visitor experience that combines animal exhibits, conservation breeding participation in 20 EEPs, educational programs, on-site gastronomy and souvenir retail, and a digital ticketing platform. Ancillary paid offerings include guided tours, animal sponsorships, an annual charity run, and corporate sponsorship packages.

Product overview

Zoologischer Garten Augsburg GmbH operates the Zoo Augsburg, a single-site zoological garden in Augsburg, Germany. The offering is not a software product but rather a visitor services platform centered on the physical zoo (approximately 1,500 animals, 80 mammal species, 200+ bird/reptile species), complemented by digital and service modules including online ticket sales, animal sponsorship programs (Tierpatenschaften), guided tours, educational programs for schools and groups, conservation projects, a charitable run (Zoolauf), on-site gastronomy, a souvenir shop, a friends' association (Freundeskreis e.V.) with over 1,400 members, and donation/stiftung options. The digital presence is primarily a marketing and ticketing website with no documented public API or AI-driven product features.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zoo Augsburg Visitor Experience Public zoological garden open daily from 9:00 to 18:30, housing approximately 1,500 animals (80 mammal species and over 200 bird and reptile species) across 22 hectares in Augsburg, Bavaria; welcomes around 650,000 visitors per year.
• Admission Tickets Day admission tickets with age-tiered pricing (adults, children, students, seniors), family passes, and annual passes; sold at the on-site gate and via the dedicated online ticket portal tickets.zoo-augsburg.de.
• Guided Tours Themed guided tours including early-bird Frühaufsteher tours (adults €16, children €9.50, with optional breakfast packages), evening Abendführung tours (adults €18, children €11.50, annual pass holders €4), and special event tours for groups.
• Animal Sponsorships (Tierpatenschaften) Annual sponsorship of a specific animal (€50 for rabbits up to €4,000 for elephants), valid for one year and renewable; sponsors receive a certificate, name plaque at the zoo, donation receipts above €201/year, and invitations to special sponsor events.
• Educational Programs for Schools and Kindergartens Curriculum-aligned out-of-school learning offerings for schools, kindergartens, and other children's groups, including guided tours, holiday programs, and dedicated programs for all age levels; bookings via direct contact with the zoo.
• Children's Birthday Parties at the Zoo Organized children's birthday party experiences held on zoo grounds, with guided tours and themed activities tailored for kids.
• Freundeskreis Annual Membership Annual membership in the Freundeskreis des Augsburger Zoo e.V. (founded 1995), with more than 1,400 members; benefits include free year-round entry, a free info booklet, special guided tours, summer party access, trips to other zoos, and a monthly Stammtisch.
• Corporate Sponsorship Program Annual corporate sponsorship packages providing logo placement on the zoo's website, inclusion in promotional materials, and partner benefits; aimed at local and regional businesses seeking visibility and CSR positioning.
• Donations and Stiftung Zoo Augsburg One-time and recurring donations accepted through the website (including PayPal), plus testamentary and legacy giving channelled through the Stiftung Zoo Augsburg, where 80% of contributions go to the foundation endowment and 20% to current zoo projects.
• Zoolauf Charity Run Annual charity run through the zoo on a 1.4 km course, with participation fees supporting zoo construction projects; organised with sports agency km Sportagentur and charitable partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~650,000 visitors annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Rotary-Club Augsburg RenaissancestadtminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 June 2026Charitable sponsor of the annual Zoolauf charity run. Rounded up runner-generated €4,170 to €5,000 for the Himalaya facility construction in 2026.
• Verband der Zoologischen Gärten (VdZ) e.V.coreOthersZoo Augsburg is a member of the VdZ, the association of scientifically managed zoos in German-speaking countries. Founded in 1887, it is the oldest zoo organization worldwide and the seed of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).
• European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA)coreOthersZoo Augsburg participates in EAZA, a pan-European zoo organization established in 1988 that coordinates conservation, breeding programmes, and best practices across European zoos.
• World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)coreOthersZoo Augsburg holds membership in WAZA, the global zoo and aquarium association committed to animal care, welfare, environmental education, and conservation.
• Allgäu Skyline ParkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint partnership offering combined value for visitors to both the zoo and the nearby Allgäu Skyline Park theme park, with cross-promotional ticket offerings.
• km SportagenturminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports agency partner supporting the annual Zoolauf charity run through the zoo.
• Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZoo Augsburg supports the WCS-managed Endau-Rompin conservation project in Malaysia, contributing €250,000 since 2021 through its species and nature conservation fund.
• Goethe University FrankfurtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity research partner hosting graduate students (Jan-Hendrik Kaub, Nicole Ackermann) for microbiome and virome studies of marsupials and camelids using next-generation sequencing.
• University of UlmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner for Nadja Sick's bachelor thesis on social behavior of ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) during group introductions.
• TU Munich (Lehrstuhl für Philosophie und Wissenschaftstheorie)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for M. Reißner's master thesis on the zoo as an extracurricular learning location, examining signage effectiveness and educational design.
• FRIENDS – Menschen Marken MedienminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic communication, marketing, and advertising agency partner for Zoo Augsburg.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Pairi Daiza: Large privately operated zoo and botanical garden in Belgium with EAZA membership, immersive themed habitats, lodging, and high per-visitor spend. Comparable as a privately run EAZA zoo with major capital expansion projects, though at substantially larger scale.

Direct peers

• Tiergarten Schönbrunn: World's oldest zoo, located in Vienna. Comparable as a German-speaking EAZA/WAZA member zoo with animal sponsorships, membership programs, education, and conservation focus, and similar heritage positioning.
• Wilhelma Stuttgart: Combined zoological and botanical garden in Stuttgart. Directly comparable as a German state-run zoo with mixed species collection, EAZA participation, educational programs, and a similar mid-large scale. Operates as both zoo and botanical institution, sharing the educational-collection positioning with Zoo Augsburg.
• Zoo Frankfurt: Frankfurt's municipal zoo, EAZA member with structured educational programming and species conservation focus. Directly comparable as a mid-large German city zoo with similar visitor, education, and membership dynamics.
• Zoologischer Garten Berlin: Germany's oldest and one of its largest zoos, with EAZA membership, extensive EEP participation, animal sponsorships (Tierpatenschaften), and Friends Circle structures. Highly comparable operating model even at significantly larger scale.
• Allwetterzoo Münster: Mid-sized German zoo differentiated by indoor/outdoor integrated habitats. Comparable in scale, EAZA participation, and educational mission; its capital projects and revenue model offer a useful reference for Zoo Augsburg's Himalaya-style expansion.
• Opel-Zoo (von Opel Hessische Zoostiftung): Mid-sized zoo near Frankfurt operated as a foundation. Directly comparable as a German regional zoo of similar scale with foundation/Friends-style funding, EAZA membership, and educational programming.
• Zoo Heidelberg: Mid-sized German zoo with EAZA membership and comparable educational outreach. Closely comparable in scale and operating model to Zoo Augsburg, making it a useful benchmark for visitor economics and capex.
• Zoo Leipzig: Large German zoo with strong EAZA involvement, themed enclosures (e.g., Gondwanaland), and a similar mix of ticketed admission, education, and conservation programs. Comparable in operating model even though larger in visitor scale.
• Tierpark Hellabrunn (Münchner Tierpark Hellabrunn AG): The zoo of Munich, located in Bavaria roughly 60 km from Augsburg. Directly comparable as a German municipal-style zoological garden operating on a similar scale, with EAZA membership, educational programming, animal sponsorships, and conservation breeding programs targeting the same regional visitor base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCrwI1OQWEEWV86gBSZACtPQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/ZooAugsburg
• Instagraminstagram.com/zooaugsburg/?hl=de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zoologischer-garten-augsburg-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Zoologischer Garten Augsburg GmbH