The animal world celebrates its 125th anniversary
*Tierwelt* is turning 125. Switzerland’s most popular and best-known weekly magazine for animals and nature is celebrating this anniversary with a variety of events and activities throughout the year.
The very first issue of Tierwelt was published on June 15, 1891. The idea of a group of small animal breeders and animal lovers around the Aarau publisher J. J. Spühler was to cover topics from the entire field of zoology with this new journal - from small animal breeding to zoo animal husbandry and nature conservation. After a turbulent first few years, Tierwelt was taken over by the Swiss Ornithological Society (SOG) in 1902, which later became its current owner, the Association of Swiss Small Animal Breeders "Kleintiere Schweiz".
Over the years, Tierwelt has grown to an unprecedented extent, according to a press release. Today, with a paid circulation of over 68,000 copies, it is one of the heavyweights in the Swiss magazine market. Under the motto "More reading fun for the whole family", it encourages over 270,000 young and old animal and nature lovers to read it every week. The range of topics is broader than ever before, without "Tierwelt" having deviated from the idea of its founders: "Tierwelt" cat and dog owners, horse riders, farmers, gardeners, bird watchers and passionate hikers all get their money's worth.
For decades, Tierwelt has also offered what is probably the largest and most iconic advertising market in the Swiss print media sector. Every week, well over 1000 new listings can be found here: from Labrador puppies, cars and forklift trucks to vacation homes in Tuscany. This small ads market also dates back to the founding period almost 125 years ago: hatching eggs, bird food, ram rabbits and Berhardine dogs were advertised for sale in the very first issue of "Tierwelt".
To celebrate the anniversary, "Kleintiere Schweiz" and its publishing partner Zofinger Tagblatt are running various campaigns and activities throughout the year. For example, readers of Tierwelt will benefit from special offers at preferential prices every two weeks. There are attractive prizes to be won in a monthly quiz - the main prize in the final draw is a car. The highlight of the anniversary year will be a big party for invited guests on June 10, 2016, and a special edition of Tierwelt will be published on June 16, 2016.
