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A sea lion in its enclosure at Cologne Zoo
Photo: Henning Kaiser/ dpa
After the death of a wealthy patron in the USA, Cologne Zoo has had a windfall for many years to come.
Elizabeth Reichert, who promised the zoo years ago a large inheritance in the event of her death, died in mid-February 2022 at the age of 96, the zoo announced on Wednesday.
Zoo receives annual dividend distribution from a foundation
In mid-December, the US estate administrators informed the zoo directors about the current situation.
Reichert leaves the zoo around 26 million US dollars (around 24.5 million euros).
The sum was brought into a foundation, from which the zoo will henceforth receive an annual dividend payment.
The first payment has already arrived: more than 700,000 US dollars.
"The organizational processes for this took several months due to the necessary due diligence and the comparison between US and German regulations," explained Christopher Landsberg, director of Cologne Zoo.
The full earning power of the foundation will unfold in the years to come.
The estate promise of the wealthy American had already caused a stir in 2017.
The childless Elizabeth Reichert came from Cologne herself.
There she met Arnulf Reichert in 1944 – who, as a Jew, had to hide from the Nazis.
After the war, the couple emigrated to the USA, where they set up a pet wholesale business.
Arnulf Reichert died in 1998.
Funds should be used entirely »for de Dierche«
The couple wanted to support the Cologne Zoo with their money "due to their gratitude to Cologne and their love for animals," the zoo said.
Nevertheless, Elizabeth Reichert's wish was that the funds should be used entirely "for de Dierche".
So for the »further development of animal husbandry«, as the zoo put it in High German – for animal facilities.
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