Schwerin (dpa/mv) - On the state zoo day on Friday, 18 animal and adventure parks in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are offering special promotions and free entry for children. "There is a lot to see and a lot to experience. This is the best advertising for our zoos and animal parks and at the same time a small thank you to the families in the country who had to bear special burdens in the corona pandemic," explained Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig ( SPD). For the head of government, the opening of the zoo day in Schwerin today will be one of the first official acts after several weeks of summer vacation.
In addition to the large zoos in the state capital and in Rostock, the Grimmen Zoo, the Lelkendorf domestic animal park near Teterow, the Marlow Bird Park, the Bansin Tropical Zoo and the Stralsund Sea Museum also take part in the State Zoo Day. One of the highlights is likely to be the baptism of the orangutan offspring in Rostock. Entry to all participating parks is free for children from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania up to the age of 14.
According to the responsible State Ministry of Agriculture, around three million people visit the zoos and animal parks in the north-east every year. According to Minister Till Backhaus (SPD), the facilities are more than tourist magnets and popular leisure spots. They also made important contributions both to species protection and to nature and environmental education.
