Overview

• Environmental activist Robert Marc Lehmann's sustainability talk at Wuppertal's Stadthalle was canceled due to concerns about his planned zoo criticism.
• Lehmann organized a demonstration against zoos on May 25, 2025, which drew approximately 2,000 participants to Wuppertal's Hauptbahnhof.
• The demonstration proceeded peacefully, with protesters advocating for the ethical treatment of animals and opposing captivity in zoos.
• While the city of Wuppertal and the Stadthalle expressed willingness to continue dialogue on the issue, Lehmann stated he had not been contacted directly.
• Lehmann denied plans for a zoo-focused speech, emphasizing that zoo criticism would have been a minor part of his broader sustainability presentation.