Natur- und Tierpark Goldau

Natur- und Tierpark Goldau is a zoological park and conservation-oriented visitor attraction in Goldau, in the Swiss canton of Schwyz. It occupies a landscape shaped by the Goldau landslide of 1806, when a massive rockfall from the Rossberg buried parts of Goldau and killed 457 people. Large boulders and other traces of the disaster remain visible in the wooded area between the rebuilt settlement and Lake Lauerz, giving the park an unusual setting in which natural history, local memory, and wildlife interpretation are closely connected. The park originated in the early 1920s, when local animal and nature enthusiasts proposed establishing an animal park and bird sanctuary in the landslide landscape. The association Tierparkverein Goldau was founded in 1925, and land was set aside for the project. Because the founders had limited funds, members contributed labor and created facilities on leased land. From the outset, the institution was intended to emphasize mammals and birds native to Switzerland and the wider European region rather than presenting an exclusively tropical or global collection. Early animals included Alpine ibex obtained from a park in St. Gallen, followed by red deer, fallow deer, and sika deer. Today, Natur- und Tierpark Goldau is recognized as one of Switzerland's scientifically managed zoos. Its principal visitor experience is a large, walkable natural landscape in which guests can encounter species such as sika deer, fallow deer, and mouflons at close range. The park permits visitors to feed certain animals under its rules, making interaction a central part of the experience. Alongside these accessible exhibits, the institution participates in coordinated conservation breeding and population-management programs, including European Endangered Species Programme work involving Syrian brown bears, European bison, and northern bald ibises. It also has a notable role in international efforts concerning the bearded vulture. The park combines animal care with formal environmental education. A school within the park supports workshops and guided visits for classes, while zoo educators and rangers provide tours for schools, groups, and individual visitors. Ranger-led presentations may include supervised or commented feedings involving bears, cormorants, and wild boar. These activities interpret animal behavior, habitat, conservation, and the site's landscape rather than treating the park solely as an entertainment venue. A major expansion increased the park's area from approximately 17 to 34 hectares. The first expansion phase included a 70-metre-wide wildlife crossing over a road, linking the original forest-and-lake grounds with land on the opposite side. That phase was completed in 2004. In the Grosswiyer area at the foot of the Rossberg, the park subsequently opened a large enclosure for gray wolves and brown bears on 27 June 2009. Further development has included or contemplated facilities such as beaver lodges, vivariums, a pheasantry area, an amphibian biotope, and a farm for rare domestic animals. Restoration of an artificial stream channel in Grosswiyer was intended to improve ecological conditions and enable the return of plants and animals. The institution is operated through an association with approximately 22,000 members, while a foundation supports its long-term continuity and administers earmarked bequests and major donations under Swiss federal supervision. Together, the association and foundation constitute the park's umbrella structure. Natur- und Tierpark Goldau is also associated with the international zoo community through membership in the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Its identity therefore combines regional recreation, landscape interpretation, zoological management, species conservation, and public education.

The landscape in which Natur- und Tierpark Goldau operates was transformed by the Goldau landslide of 2 September 1806. Rock masses broke away from the Rossberg and overwhelmed parts of Goldau, killing 457 people. Although the town was rebuilt, the forested area near Lake Lauerz retained extensive boulders and other physical traces of the catastrophe. More than a century later, local animal lovers saw the setting as suitable for a park devoted to animals and nature. The organizational foundation for the park was laid in 1925 with the creation of Tierparkverein Goldau. The association designated land for an animal park and bird sanctuary, but its financial resources were modest. Members therefore relied heavily on voluntary work and built several installations on leased land. The founders' concept emphasized indigenous and European mammals and birds. Among the early animals were Alpine ibex supplied by a park in St. Gallen, followed by red, fallow, and sika deer. This emphasis on regional fauna remained a defining characteristic as the institution developed. Over time, the park evolved from a locally organized animal collection into a scientifically managed zoological institution. Its work expanded beyond display to include education, animal husbandry, conservation breeding, and participation in coordinated European and international species programs. The park became involved with endangered or vulnerable species including Syrian brown bears, European bison, northern bald ibises, and bearded vultures. Its visitor model also retained a strong nature-park element: large areas allow people to walk through landscapes where selected animals, particularly deer and mouflons, can be observed at relatively close range. A serious setback occurred in 1999 when Hurricane Lothar destroyed roughly 80 percent of the park's forest and substantially damaged enclosures and other infrastructure. Recovery was supported by local residents, donations, and subsidies from the Canton of Schwyz. The repairs were completed with comparatively limited financial pressure on the institution, demonstrating the importance of local support to the park's operating model. The most significant physical development in the modern period was an expansion that doubled the grounds from about 17 to 34 hectares. The first stage, completed in 2004, connected the original forest-and-lake area with land on the other side of a road through a 70-metre-wide wildlife crossing. In the expanded Grosswiyer area at the foot of the Rossberg, the park opened a substantial gray wolf and brown bear facility on 27 June 2009. Additional planning and habitat work addressed beavers, vivarium animals, pheasant species, amphibians, and rare domestic breeds. An artificial stream channel was restored to improve the ecological quality of Grosswiyer and encourage the return of flora and fauna. Education became an integrated part of the park's public role. Zoo educators and rangers conduct workshops, school visits, guided tours, and interpretive feedings. These programs explain animal behavior, habitats, conservation, and the relationship between the park and its geological setting. The park's organizational structure consists of the operating association, which has approximately 22,000 members, and a foundation responsible for supporting long-term continuity and administering earmarked bequests and major donations under Swiss federal oversight. Together they form the park's umbrella organization. The institution is also connected to the global zoo sector through the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

• 2009

  Grosswiyer wolf and bear area opens

  [1]Natur- und Tierpark Goldauen.wikipedia.org

  A large habitat for gray wolves and brown bears opened in the expanded Grosswiyer area on 27 June.

• 2004

  First major expansion stage completed

  [1]Natur- und Tierpark Goldauen.wikipedia.org

  The park expanded from approximately 17 to 34 hectares, including a 70-metre-wide wildlife crossing over a road.

• 1999

  Hurricane Lothar damages the park

  [1]Natur- und Tierpark Goldauen.wikipedia.org

  The storm destroyed about 80 percent of the forest and heavily damaged park facilities. Recovery received help from residents, donors, and the Canton of Schwyz.

• 1925

  Tierparkverein Goldau established

  [1]Natur- und Tierpark Goldauen.wikipedia.org

  Local animal and nature enthusiasts formed the association that organized the creation of an animal park and bird sanctuary.

• 1806

  Goldau landslide

  [1]Natur- und Tierpark Goldauen.wikipedia.org

  A catastrophic rockfall from the Rossberg buried parts of Goldau and killed 457 people. The surviving boulder landscape later became the setting for the animal park.

A nature-integrated Swiss wildlife park that combines close visitor contact with European fauna, conservation breeding, environmental education, and interpretation of the historic Goldau landslide landscape.

• Visitor attraction

  Walk-through deer and mouflon areas

  Large freely walkable areas allow visitors to observe and, where permitted, feed sika deer, fallow deer, and mouflons. These spaces express the park's nature-park identity and provide a more immersive alternative to conventional separated zoo exhibits.

• Wildlife habitat · 2009

  Grosswiyer wolf and bear area

  Located at the foot of the Rossberg in the expanded section of the park, Grosswiyer provides a large habitat for gray wolves and brown bears. It is one of the park's principal modern attractions and supports interpretation of large European carnivores.

• Education

  Education and ranger programs

  Zoo educators and rangers offer workshops, guided tours, school visits, and commented feedings. Programs are designed for classes, organized groups, and individual visitors and cover animal behavior, habitats, and conservation.

• Species conservation

  Conservation breeding programs

  The park participates in coordinated conservation programs, including European Endangered Species Programme activities. Species associated with this work include Syrian brown bears, European bison, northern bald ibises, and bearded vultures.

• 2009

  Opening of the Grosswiyer habitatProduct launch

  Background

  The expanded grounds enabled the park to create larger habitats for major European species.

  Action taken

  Natur- und Tierpark Goldau opened a large gray wolf and brown bear area in Grosswiyer on 27 June.

  Aftermath

  The facility became a prominent component of the park's modern visitor offer and European-fauna positioning.

  Source

• 2004

  Expansion across the roadStrategy

  Background

  The original park grounds were not sufficient for the institution's planned habitat and visitor development.

  Action taken

  The park expanded its estate from approximately 17 to 34 hectares and built a 70-metre-wide wildlife crossing to connect the two sections.

  Aftermath

  The expansion created space for additional habitats and formed the basis for later development in the Grosswiyer area.

  Reported cost of first expansion stage. CHF 13 million (Expansion stage completed in 2004)

  Source

1. 1Natur- und Tierpark Goldauen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official Natur- und Tierpark Goldau websitetierpark.ch