ZooParc raises 20,000 euros for nature project in South America

Stichting Wildlife volunteers and ZooParc Overloon animal keepers have raised 20,000 euros for a conservation organization in Paraguay. For the fifth year in a row, money has been raised for a specific cause. It is a record amount! The amount will go to the World Land Trust Paraguay. The organization is dedicated to various natural areas and species in the South American country.

"Each year we choose one cause to support through additional activities in the park. In 2021, Madidi opened at ZooParc Overloon. In Madidi you experience a piece of South America in our park, which was the inspiration to choose this charity. The World Land Trust Paraguay buys nature reserves and trains rangers so that they can protect the nature reserves in Paraguay. We are really super proud of the volunteers and animal caretakers, because without them this would not be possible." said Niels Meboer volunteer coordinator at Stichting Wildlife.

Throughout the year, there were bracelet sales and several behind-the-scenes tours, both during the day and in the evening. In addition, dinner@thezoo took place twice, with each course offered at a different location in the park by Boompjes restaurant. The amount raised was handed over by general manager Roel Huibers to Marco Botden volunteer chairman of Stichting Wildlife.

Dwarf hippopotamus poop
"Again this year the volunteers and animal caretakers are going to raise money with the theme Save our African Wildlife. We will then support not one, but three charities. Part of the choice was a unique organization, namely the Institute for Breeding Rare and Endangered African Mammals (IBREAM). Using trained dogs, they will search for the endangered species: the pygmy hippopotamus. The dogs are trained in the Netherlands with the hippo droppings from ZooParc Overloon and this way they can track down the endangered species in Ivory Coast!" said Meboer. In addition to the above project, they are going to raise money for the Sahara Conservation Fund, where they are working for the endangered Mhorrgazelle. And the Biodiversity Conservation Organization on behalf of the African wild dog.

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