The Styrian State Zoo is delighted to announce an extraordinary expansion: effective November 1, the Elfenberg Mautern Zoo will be incorporated into the state’s organization. Herberstein and Mautern will thus operate as a single entity! Management will be handled by Tierwelt Director Doris Wolkner-Steinberger, who previously served as managing director of Elfenberg from 2002 to 2006 and achieved positive results and excellent visitor numbers there.


Though the Tierwelt Herberstein itself faced turbulence just a few years ago, under the leadership of Doris Wolkner-Steinberger it has succeeded in recent years in building a positive image and steadily increasing visitor numbers. With 180,000 visitors per year, Herberstein is once again among the most popular destinations for day trips. Turbulence has gripped the Elfenberg in Mautern over the past two years, but now there’s a “happy ending” here as well. The State of Styria is taking over the Elfenberg and incorporating it into the “Steirische Landestiergarten GmbH”—as per the official company name of the Tierwelt Herberstein .


“We’re delighted with this decision. The merger of Tierwelt and Elfenberg makes perfect sense. I see numerous synergies here and significant potential for cost savings through shared staff, joint marketing, purchasing, and financial management,” summarizes Doris Wolkner-Steinberger. The managing director of both attractions also sees new opportunities in the area of sponsorship. “We expect a total of around 260,000 guests per year.”
The “new” Elfenberg will open its doors on May 1, 2011; a combined ticket for Herberstein and Mautern will be particularly attractive for families.