A partnership agreement signed between the Basel Zoo and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation

Fundraising dinner with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

On Saturday 15 October 2016, Basel Zoo held the third edition of its ”Zolli Bâle” fundraising dinner. The fundraising dinner, themed around marine environment protection, was attended by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. His eponymous foundation is dedicated to the protection of the environment, and safeguarding the marine environment in particular.  HSH Prince Albert welcomed the creation of the future Ozeanium aquarium in Basel’s “Heuwaage” district.

More than 200 guests were present at the fundraising dinner on Saturday 15 October 2016, organised in Basel Zoo’s restaurant in collaboration with the Swiss arm of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. The foundation celebrated its tenth anniversary in June this year. It has supported 370 projects and is actively engaged in environmental protection and the promotion of sustainable development on a global scale. In May 2016, Basel Zoo and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation entered into a partnership. Basel Zoo will provide a financial contribution to the foundation’s “Trust fund for Mediterranean marine protected areas”. The contribution will be raised from part of the ticket price for the zoo and the future Ozeanium aquarium in Basel.

Promote the most vulnerable ecosystems

“I welcome this collaboration with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the organisation of this event,” said Olivier Pagan, director of Basel Zoo. Through the “Trust fund for Mediterranean marine protected areas”, the Foundation is committed to conserving the Mediterranean’s marine environment. For years, safeguarding the sea bed has also been one of Basel Zoo’s priorities. A commitment that the creation of the future Ozeanium in Basel’s Heuwaage district should strengthen in the future. Financing this project is on track: CHF 52 million (EUR 47.5 million) has already been raised of a total of CHF 100 million (EUR 91.3 million) required for this project, which is entirely financed with private funds.

“Landlocked countries should also be concerned with the marine environment,” said Mr Pagan, the zoo’s director. All of Basel Zoo’s work is based on the concept of environmental education. The future Ozeanium thus has the objective of enabling visitors to discover the beauty of the sea bed but also to discover vulnerable ecosystems and convince them of the need to protect them. “In the future, Basel Zoo and the Ozeanium are likely to become a unique and innovative centre dedicated to recreation, education, research and nature conservation in Switzerland.”

Support from the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation

Numerous patrons of Basel Zoo, as well as a delegation from Monaco and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, were among those attending the fundraising dinner hosted by Eva Nidecker in the Zoo’s restaurant. The delegation was headed by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, accompanied by His Excellency Bernard Fautrier, Vice President of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and François Rumpf, President of the Swiss arm of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

 “I hope that this will be a long-term partnership with Basel Zoo. In launching the wonderful Ozeanium project, and in initiating the nature conservation contribution, this excellent institution is leading the way in a resolute and creative fashion and mobilising the public,” said HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco during his address. “I am confident this collaboration will be solid and fruitful[...]” His Excellency Bernard Fautrier, Vice-President and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, said: “By the end of 2016, we will have financed the first projects linked to protected marine areas in Morocco, Albania and Tunisia.”