The EAZA Conservation Forum, which was held in Tiergarten Schönbrunn from 22-25 May, was the second of the biennial, international conservation forums organized by EAZA. These forums evolved from the earlier conservation conferences organized and held in France. This second international forum was attended by around 100 persons of whom about a third came from outside of the zoo community. Participants enjoyed a full programme of 45 spoken presentations around four different themes: The Asian extinction crisis, European conservation, conservation psychology and arid lands conservation, as well as a choice of seven workshops and various poster presentations. Topics varied from the problems of high levels of hunting and poaching wildlife in Asia, to discussions of how better to engage with the palm oil industry, to some very inspiring stories of the actions of individuals and single institutions. Reports covered a whole range of wildlife varying from the embattled northern river turtle or Batagur baska and saola of Asia to bald ibis and Egyptian vulture in Europe and the impressive restoration of the scimitar horned oryx in areas of the Saharan region.

The forum lived up to its title "Love and Loss": the love and commitment were apparent everywhere, the fear of loss was very real, but the actions and activities reported were truly motivational and give us all hope for the future.

In the coming days and weeks further materials from the conference will become available on the event pages of the EAZA website...