The Grisons Ibexes are St.Gallen
This year Graubünden is the guest canton at OLMA, which takes place from October 13 to 23. In Hall 9.1.2, Switzerland's largest canton is presenting itself with its special show "Erlebniswelt Graubünden" under the motto "aifach gspunna!". Graubünden and St.Gallen have a lot in common - the ibexes, for example. Here they live in the Peter and Paul Game Park, in Graubünden in the wilderness. But did you know that it is thanks to the courageous people of St.Gallen that ibex are living in Switzerland again?
Gian and Giachen - the cult ibexes of Grisons
Two very famous Graubünden people must not be missing at the OLMA: the two cult ibexes Gian and Giachen.
Did you know that Gian and Giachen have St.Gallen ancestors? About 170 years ago, the ibexes were extinct in Switzerland. In order to bring ibexes back to Switzerland, courageous St.Gallen citizens even stole from the Italian king.
"There were only a few hundred ibex still living in the Alpine region."
The smuggling plan
The Peter and Paul Game Park in St.Gallen was founded in 1892. In the beginning, it was mainly deer and roe deer that were housed. But this was not enough for the founders of the game park, doctor Albert Girtanner and hotel director Robert Mader. They wanted to breed the rare ibex in the park and later release them into the wild. Since there were hardly any ibex left in the Alpine region, they had to come up with something. The adventure began.
In the personal hunting ground of the Italian king, there were still several hundred ibex living. And it was these ibexes that the people of St.Gallen were after. They hired a poacher to steal two animals from the strictly guarded royal hunting ground. Fortunately, this was successful and the first two fawns arrived in St.Gallen in 1906. By 1933, another 57 animals had been smuggled across the border for the game park. In the following years more and more ibex were released into the wild and thus the ibex could be reestablished in Switzerland.
Appearance as guest canton at the OLMA
How does Graubünden present itself at the OLMA? Quite simply: as an experience. Discover at the OLMA how people live, speak, work, research and enjoy life in Switzerland's largest canton. Tourist highlights are waiting for you at the special show in hall 9.1.2 as well as traditional handicrafts, high-tech is present as well as hay bales. Of course, culinary delicacies are also part of the Graubünden experience - so be sure to discover the Graubünden special show at OLMA!