The Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum is a cultural and scientific institution in the state capital of Düsseldorf, representing an inextricable integration of zoo, aquarium, and natural history museum. A unique synergy of live animals, vivid exhibits, and interactive media allows visitors to experience and understand the origin, evolution, and diversity of animals and plants. We, the institute's staff, guide our work according to internationally recognized standards and follow the guidelines of our umbrella organizations:
- German Museums Association (DMB)
- International Council of Museums (ICOM)
- Association of Zoological Gardens eV (VdZ)
- European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA)
- World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)
- European Union of Aquarium Curators (EUAC)
- Association of German-speaking Zoo Educators (VZP)
We are committed to the following tasks and goals:
EXHIBITING – PRESENTING –ENTERTAINING
In one of the most densely populated regions in Germany, we bring directly tangible nature experiences into urban areas and bring people into contact with natural history, animals and their habitats. As a natural history museum and zoo, our exhibition combines museum objects, media and interactive stations with "living exhibits" - around 5.000 animals from over 500 species - in natural aquariums and terrariums. We offer our visitors a leisure facility with multi-sensory experiences. The central theme is the evolution from the origin of life in the sea, through the settlement of freshwater, to landing on land and the conquest of dry areas. Special exhibitions on selected natural history topics, which also incorporate art and other cultural fields, complement this offer. Our exhibitions are aimed at all population groups and are intended to enable a shared experience without inequalities. The focus is particularly on children, adolescents and young adults, as future decision-makers about the fate of our living environment.
INFORM AND EDUCATE
As a natural history museum and zoo, we offer a special learning and experience environment in which the development and importance of biodiversity can be literally grasped. All of our holistic educational offerings serve to protect biological diversity, are aimed at various target groups and are intended to enable participants to shape a sustainable future. That is why we place particular emphasis on promoting the necessary design skills in the sense of education for sustainable development (ESD).
The focus of nature education is the living animal, which can be observed in a natural environment. Taxidermy makes anatomical details that remain hidden in living animals visible and tangible for our guests. This interplay of taxidermy art, animal husbandry and personal care is the basis for the success of our educational programs. We implement our educational mission through exhibitions and guided tours, through competency-oriented lessons, lectures, commented feedings, courses and seminars. We offer our visitors a look behind the scenes to make the work of our employees transparent and understandable. Through direct contact with living animals as part of educational events, we aim to raise awareness of the need to respect all living beings.
COLLECTING AND PRESERVING
We house a collection of around 900.000 natural objects from the fields of biology, geology and paleontology. The most important parts of the collection include a malacological collection with around 360.000 objects and an entomological collection with around 500.000 objects. Other parts of the collection contain rocks and fossils, a herbarium, and other specimens and models of various animal groups. Our collection also includes historical diving equipment, an archive with contemporary documents from almost 200 years of museum history and a library. Our aim is to preserve, develop and expand this inventory of cultural and natural assets for future generations and to make it available for research purposes. In order to make the collection more visible and accessible to the public, we are constantly working on digital recording it.
PROTECTING SPECIES AND PRESERVING NATURAL HABITATS
We pursue the goal of preserving natural habitats as an essential prerequisite for long-term species protection. To this end, we support international campaigns and nature and species protection projects that draw attention to the problem of environmental destruction and species loss. We also work to preserve species-rich habitats through projects and campaigns in the Düsseldorf area. We see the keeping and breeding of endangered animal species in human care as a special task. These animals are important ambassadors for the interests of nature and species protection: only what you know and admire will you consider worthy of protection! The responsible treatment of the animals entrusted to us, the constant improvement of their keeping and breeding conditions and the necessary further development of good veterinary practice are therefore ongoing goals for us.
RESEARCH
We support scientific research in the areas of biological and geological taxonomy, systematics and evolutionary biology, zoo biology, animal husbandry and medicine, and related fields. In addition to our own research, we document and digitize the collection holdings and animal husbandry data and make collection objects and animals available for scientific purposes. We organize scientific and amateur scientific conferences, act as editors of (popular) scientific writings, and regularly publish ourselves. We also support external authors and promote young scientists through cooperation projects with students.
COOPERATE
Our partners include museums, zoos, scientific associations and universities in Düsseldorf and worldwide, as well as schools in the region. In particular, these include:
- Association of Rhenish-Westphalian Lepidopterologists eV
- Entomological Society Düsseldorf founded in 1866
- Friends of the Löbbecke Museum + Aquazoo – Society of Zoo Friends eV
- Rolandstraße Community Elementary School
- Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf
- University of Applied Sciences Fresenius
- International Species Information System species360
- Marie Curie High School Düsseldorf
- Max Planck High School Düsseldorf
- Project "Musenkuss - Cultural Education in Düsseldorf"
- Golzheim Secondary School Düsseldorf
- Species Conservation Foundation
- Benrath Palace and Park Foundation
- Environmental Office of the State Capital of Düsseldorf
We always strive to maintain these contacts and to develop them further in line with our mission statement.
CULTIVATE AND TRANSMIT VALUES
At the heart of our efforts is the respectful treatment of people and animals. We take feedback from our visitors seriously and conduct regular surveys to meet their needs. This ensures that our institute's fundamental tasks are carried out. Tolerance and a friendly demeanor towards all people, regardless of culture, gender and religion, are a matter of course for us. In addition, elements of inclusion characterize our exhibition. We aim to further expand this in the future. We ensure constant information and transparency for the public through a website, social media presence and regular press releases.
This mission statement was developed by employees of the Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum. We are committed to regularly reviewing the mission statement to ensure it is still up to date and, if necessary, adapting it to reflect a new direction for the institute.
State capital Düsseldorf
Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum
Kaiserswerther Str. 380
D-40474 Düsseldorf / Germany
E-mail aquazoo@duesseldorf.de
Website www.aquazoo-duesseldorf.de
Facebook www.facebook.com/aquazooduesseldorf
Instagram www.instagram.com/aquazooduesseldorf/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@AquazooLobbeckeMuseum/about