The lucky guests of honor were the Schönauer family from Feldkirchen near Graz. Fritz and Ulrike Schönauer regularly take their children—Lisa-Marie, Nadine, and Stefanie—on trips to the zoo. The three girls, who are big fans of the squirrel monkeys, cheetahs, and prairie dogs, were especially thrilled.

“Two million guests in 11 years is an impressive achievement!” says Provincial Tourism Commissioner Barbara Eibinger-Miedl. “The team has succeeded in positioning Herberstein Zoo as a destination for the whole family, making it a major tourist attraction in the region that is popular with visitors from both Austria and abroad. I look forward to the zoo’s continued development and would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Schönauer family and thank them for being among the regular visitors to our zoo,” says State Councilor for Tourism Eibinger-Miedl.

“To ensure that Tierwelt Herberstein remains an attractive destination, breeding lions is an ambitious goal for the future,” said Managing Director Doris Wolkner-Steinberger.

Visitors’ enthusiasm for this popular destination shows no signs of waning. The visitors’ catchment area spans the entire province of Styria (71% from Styria), eastern Austria, and extends as far as Hungary and Slovenia. It is also noteworthy that the annual number of visitors has nearly doubled since the province of Styria took over the park in October 2006. In 2017, Tierwelt Herberstein is once again on track for a fantastic visitor turnout.