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The Wilhelma Zoo in Stuttgart, Germany, recently unveiled a new enclosure for Amur tigers, spanning an impressive 5,000 square meters. The new residents, male tiger Amazar and female tiger Noia, were born in zoos in the Netherlands and France in 2023.
This state-of-the-art enclosure offers optimal conditions for keeping and breeding the largest cat in the world. The enclosure was financed by the state of Baden-Württemberg and the association of friends and supporters of Wilhelma.
The Wilhelma Zoo, like many zoos worldwide, recognises its special responsibility for species preservation. All tiger subspecies are severely endangered or on the brink of extinction in nature. The zoo is confident that Amazar and Noia will provide offspring in the future, contributing to the approximately 200-strong reserve population of Amur tigers in European zoos.
In a unique approach to conservation, the Wilhelma Zoo supports the "Time instead of Money" model. This model encourages individuals or organisations to contribute their time and effort to conservation activities, rather than direct financial donations. This approach emphasises the value of active participation in conservation work, allowing contributors to engage on the ground with habitat restoration, monitoring, or community education, which benefits the species' survival.
The Wilhelma Zoo's Indonesian project, while not explicitly detailed in the provided search results, aims to foster a more involved and sustainable conservation ethic by making conservation accessible through time investment and hands-on help. It also promotes community involvement and awareness, which are crucial for long-term conservation success.
Visitors can learn more about the new Amur tiger enclosure at an Info Day scheduled for July 29th, from 11 am to 5 pm, included in the entrance fee for Wilhelma.
As Amazar and Noia continue to get to know each other in their new home, the hope is that they will play a significant role in the conservation efforts for Amur tigers both at Wilhelma and beyond.
At the Wilhelma Zoo, visitors can attend an Info Day on July 29th to learn about the lifestyle and conservation efforts related to Amur tigers, specifically the new home-and-garden-like enclosure for the tiger duo. Similarly, the education-and-self-development initiative of Wilhelma encourages individuals to invest time and participate in hands-on conservation activities, such as habitat restoration, monitoring, or community education, to help secure the survival of Amur tigers.