The protection of the oceans was the focus of the third ever Zolli Bâle gala event, held at Zoo Basel on Saturday. The event was attended by S.A.S. Prince Albert II of Monaco, who has a great interest in the ocean park which is planned for the Heuwaage area.
More than 200 guests were invited to the gala and charity event which was organised by the zoo along with the Swiss branch of the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco and held in the zoo’s restaurant. The foundation, which celebrated its tenth anniversary in June, is actively engaged in environment protection and has supported 370 sustainable development projects globally.
Zoo Basel and the foundation began their partnership in May this year. The zoo will financially support the “Fonds Fiduciaire pour les Aires Marines Protégées de Méditerranée” which is administered by the foundation. The financial resources for this donation will be generated in part from the entry tickets to the zoo and ocean park.
Focus on sensitive ecological systems
„I am happy about the collaboration with the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco and also about the fact that we could organize this gala event together,” Olivier Pagan, director of Zoo Basel, said.
With its engagement in the “Fonds Fiduciaire pour les Aires Marines Protégées de Méditerranée” the foundation supports the protection of the Mediterranean. The protection of the seas is also an important goal of Zoo Basel.
In the future, this engagement should be even strengthened by the planned ocean park in the Heuwaage area. The financing of the project is developing well. Out of expected costs of 100 million Swiss francs, a total of 52 million francs have already been donated exclusively by individuals and organisations.
“Landlocked countries have to also be engaged in sea protection,” Mr Pagan said.
“The basis for all activities at the zoo is environmental education – and therefore all people should be conscious about their influence on the oceans. The goal of the new ocean park is to ignite enthusiasm for the beauty of the sea but also to point out the sensitivity of the ecological system, and thus convince them of the necessity of its protection.
“In the future, Zoo Basel and the ocean park should become a centre for recreation, education, research, and environmental protection in Switzerland.”
Supporting the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco
The guests at the gala included numerous donors as well as a delegation from Monaco and the foundation, led by S.A.S. Prince Albert II of Monaco. He was accompanied by his Excellency Bernard Fautrier, the vice-president of the foundation, and François Rumpf, president of the Swiss branch of the foundation.
“I hope that this partnership with Zoo Basel will last for a long time,” Prince Albert said in his speech.
“By launching this wonderful ocean park project and introducing the Swiss franc for environment-protection, this excellent institution opens the path for an unerring and creative action which convinces by its innovation and its mobilization of the public.”
His Excellency Bernard Fautrier, delegate of the administration of the Fondation Albert II de Monaco, said he was certain that this collaboration would be “solid and successful”.
“Until the end of the year we will have financed the first projects connected to sea protection areas in Morocco, Albania, and Tunisia,” he said.