Animal or plant adoption
o you have a favourite animal, plant or seating area, and would like to deepen your connection to Wilhelma while supporting it at the same time?
Are you looking for a special gift for someone who loves Wilhelma? Or would you like to capture a special memory of a special moment?
Are you an institution or a company that wants to get involved in protecting animals and plants while supporting a traditional Stuttgart brand?
Whatever applies to you: there are many good reasons to become a sponsor at Wilhelma.
The money goes into a separate investment fund for projects that could not be realised from the regular budget – or not in the same form. For example, this enabled the natural design of Terra Australis and the unusual planting of a rice field and banana plants in the Asian Farm.
Your benefits
- A personalised sponsorship certificate with a photo of the sponsored animal, plant or bench, along with a commemorative plaque
- Free admission to Wilhelma on the Annual Zoo Parents Day in October
- Report from the director on the use of sponsorship funds
- Invitation to the exclusive, non-public musical summer evening organised by the Assoiaction of Friends and Sponsors of the Wilhelma in July
- For donations of € 2.500 or more: upon request, a name plaque at the enclosure of your adopted animal or, if you adopt a plant, at its location
![[Translate to English:] Wilhelma-Direktor Dr. Thomas Kölpin übergibt Urkunde für Pinguin-Patenschaft an Finanzminister Danyal Bayaz](/fileadmin/_processed_/7/f/csm_Minister_Bayaz_%C3%BCbernimmt_Patenschaft_f%C3%BCr_Brillenpinguin_in_der_Wilhelma_cf56edd948.jpg "[Translate to English:] Wilhelma-Direktor Dr. Thomas Kölpin übergibt Urkunde für Pinguin-Patenschaft an Finanzminister Danyal Bayaz")
Step by step to your adoption – sign up online now
- Select animal or plant:
In the first selection step, you can find out which animal or plants can be adopted. - Choose an animal or plant:
You can then choose your favourite from numerous species, ranging from azaleas to two-toed sloths. You will also find the price overview here. You can adopt an animal or a plant for an annual contribution of 50 euros or more. - Set the duration and enter your details:
You decide when it starts. It ends after twelve months or at the end of a longer agreed period. An adoption is not automatically renewed, but can be taken out for several years at once. We also need your contact details to clarify any questions that may arise and to send you your documents. If it is to be a gift, enter the name and address of the person you wish to give it to in the application form. The certificate will be issued to them, but you will receive all documents by post. - Submit your application and transfer your contribution:
Once you have completed and submitted the form, you will receive a confirmation email. Please transfer the amount to the specified bank account. As soon as we have received the amount, your documents will be sent to you by post.
Please note that processing takes approximately 14 days from receipt of payment. So remember to submit your application in good time.
We look forward to welcome you as an adopter soon.
Bench sponsorship
If you are interested in sponsoring a bench, please contact patenschaften@wilhlema.de directly.
Frequently asked questions
The amount of your adoption is tax deductible. The transfer receipt from your bank is sufficient to claim the donation at the tax office for amounts up to € 300. This keeps the administrative burden low for everyone involved. For amounts of € 301 or more, we will automatically send you a donation receipt together with the certificate.
As a rule, a lead time of 14 days should be expected. Please note that processing can only take place once the donation amount has been credited to our account. Only after receipt of your application and the donation can the certificate and, if applicable, a donation receipt be issued.
We are delighted that you wish to extend your support. To do so, simply fill out the online application form for your adopted animal or plant again. Please feel free to note the keyword ‘adoption renewal’ in the comments section.
Yes. Just contact us and we will prepare a customised offer for you.
Not all animals at Wilhelma are given names. Therefore, adoptions for individual animals are only possible for species of which there are few in the zoo and which can be easily distinguished from one another. For this reason, there are name adoptions for elephants, giraffes and camels, for example, but not for meerkats, penguins or snowy owls. We ask for your understanding in this matter.
Those who choose a specific animal (by name) to adopt usually know it from a visit to Wilhelma or from the media. However, given the large number of animals, a personal appointment to meet the adopted animal is only possible for adoption of € 2.500 or more. The Annual Adoption Day, however, offers all adopters the opportunity to visit their adopted animal or plant.
Some of the animals for which individual adoptions are available can only be distinguished from one another by the animal care staff. You can find out which animal is ‘yours’ during public feeding times, at Wilhelma Talks or on the Annual Adoption Day. We cannot guarantee that all animals or plants will be visible at all times of the year or day. Some plants are only on display at certain times of the year, some animals hibernate or are housed in warm indoor areas during the winter. Throughout the year, most animals can decide for themselves when to show themselves to visitors and when to retreat to their burrows or indoor areas.
The animals at Wilhelma are not pets, they are wild animals and should remain so. This means that most of them are not used to direct contact with (strangers) and therefore react either fearfully, shyly or aggressively. Their behaviour is often unpredictable. Many animals are considered dangerous to humans simply because of their size, sharp teeth and claws, or their nature (predators). For this reason, close contact is limited to a few suitable animal species. In order not to stress them unduly, touching is only possible in certain cases, such as paid animal encounters.
Adoptions, on the other hand, are primarily voluntary, tax-deductible donations, which unfortunately do not entitle you to any special rights with regard to the adopted animal beyond the services mentioned above. Your contribution benefits not only your adopted animal, but all Wilhelma animals.
Unfortunately, visiting your animal behind the scenes is not included in the services for sponsors. Only staff have access to most areas.
On our Annual Adption Day, adopters have free admission to Wilhelma. It usually takes place on a Friday and Saturday in October. On this day, you can visit your adopted animal or plant on your own. You will also receive a free piece of cake and a drink in the restaurants.
Some animals die or are transferred to other zoos – this is part of life at the zoo. Your adopted animal may also be affected by this at some point. We endeavour to inform adopters promptly and offer them alternative animals to adopt. However, due to the number of adopters we have, this often takes some time.
Contact
Do you have any further questions or are you interested in a special form of adoption?
- Would you like to become an adopter for a specific plant or animal, i.e. an animal with its own name? In that case, the basic amount increases by 50 per cent.
- For plants/animals with a basic amount of € 1.000 or more, you can take on a ‘partial adoption’ for 10 per cent of the total amount.
Please feel free to contact us for more information.