Elizabeth Reichert, 93, has revealed that she will leave $22 million in her will to Cologne Zoological Garden, a zoo in Germany.
The German-born widow told the Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger newspaper that she wants to donate the money to the zoo as that was what her late husband, Arnulf Reichert a Holocaust survivor, wanted.
The newspaper reported Friday that Reichert has already started transferring $6,000 per month to the zoo.
Elizabeth Reichert, 93, (pictured here with her late husband Arnulf Reichert), has revealed that she will leave $22 million in her will to Cologne Zoological Garden, a zoo in Germany
The entire sum will be donated upon her death.
The zoo, which features over 7,000 animals of more than 700 species, confirmed the report Friday but wouldn’t provide any further details.
The zoo, which was founded in 1860, pays particular attention to the preservation of animals that are in danger of becoming extinct.
It has a free-flight rainforest hall with free-ranging birds and reptiles as well as a large elephant park.
It also features an aquarium and an invertebrate exhibit.
The German-born widow told the Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger newspaper that she wants to donate the money to the zoo as that was what her late husband wanted
The zoo features a free-flight rainforest hall with free-ranging birds and reptiles as well as a large elephant park, an aquarium and an invertebrate exhibit
The zoo was forced to close after it was practically destroyed during the Second World War.
Reichert and Arnulf, who had no children, were both natives of Cologne and met during the war.
She said they met in 1944 when Arnulf lived in hiding to avoid being discovered by the Nazis.
They moved to Israel after the war and then later to the U.S. in New Jersey before finally settling in Philadelphia.
The zoo features over 7,000 animals of more than 700 species
Reichert said she worked as a hairdresser while her husband, after working as a wholesaler, set up his own business and made millions.
‘We never forgot Cologne,’ Reichert said to the German newspaper. ‘When you start thinking about who you want to leave your money to, memories play a big role. With the zoo, the money is well spent.’
The zoo’s director, Christopher Landsberg, said he was taken aback when he was told about the generous donation.
‘I nearly fell off my chair,’ he told the DPA news agency.
The zoo, which was founded in 1860, pays particular attention to the preservation of animals that are in danger of becoming extinct