Reptiles and orchids find a safe haven at Wilhelma, courtesy of a collaboration with the Species Survival Commission on their website.
Wilhelma, the Stuttgart Zoological and Botanical Garden, has taken a significant step towards conservation by establishing a new Center for Species Survival (CSS). This move makes Wilhelma the 8th Center for Species Survival in Europe and the 25th worldwide.
The CSS will focus on two main areas of work: reptiles and orchids, which are among the most diverse yet often overlooked groups in conservation. The aim of the CSS is to assess, plan, and mobilize action for these remarkable species to secure their future.
Dr. Thomas Kölpin, the director of Wilhelma who is engaged in the fight against the biodiversity crisis, leads the initiative. Stefanie Reska serves as the Head of Species Conservation at Wilhelma.
The CSS is a joint venture with the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), of which Wilhelma has been a member since 2022. The SSC is the largest of the seven expert commissions of IUCN's website, with over 11,000 members in 186 territories.
The CSS will work in close coordination with the SSC Specialist Groups for reptiles and the SSC Orchids Specialist Group. The center will establish global networks and join forces to assess the threat status and causes of endangerment of different orchid and reptile species.
Wilhelma's species conservation efforts have been largely funded by the Conservation-Euro, a voluntary contribution paid by visitors at admission. Over the past two years, the institution has raised over 2 million euros for species conservation.
Wilhelma is one of the most species-rich institutions in the world and one of the most popular leisure facilities in Baden-Württemberg and one of the most visited zoos in Germany, with over 1.8 million visitors per year (as of 2024). The new Center for Species Survival will further cement Wilhelma's commitment to conservation.
The extinction of species is one of the greatest challenges of our time, and the Red List of Threatened Animal and Plant Species is an important tool for taking measures to save endangered species. The CSS aims to record the endangered status of species in their natural distribution areas and develop conservation measures.
The CSS is a testament to Wilhelma's dedication to conservation, and it is a significant stride in the fight against the biodiversity crisis. Each of the two specialist areas within the existing conservation department will have a dedicated position at Wilhelma to ensure the success of the CSS. The establishment of the center marks an exciting new chapter in Wilhelma's conservation efforts.
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