EVENTS

Cooperation is at the heart of EAZA’s work, and nowhere is that more obvious than at face to face meetings.

Sharing knowledge and skills across all levels of zoo and aquarium management leads to better results in conservation, research and education – and lively debate helps us to understand where and how we need to direct our collective efforts. In addition to the annual conferences EAZA also organises, together with the hosting member institutions, bi-annual conferences and symposia that focus on a more specific topic within the field of zoo management and business. 

Event Calendar

For an overview of all EAZA conferences and meetings, as well as other events of interest to EAZA members please follow this link to the event calendar. 

Annual Conference

The EAZA Annual Conference is the biggest annual gathering of the European zoo and aquarium community, bringing more than 600 delegates together for four days of meetings, presentations, discussions and networking opportunities. The event is primarily aimed at EAZA members, with most of EAZA's TAGs and committees holding meetings alongside a variety of special workshops. Plenary sessions bring all conference delegates together to focus on topics of broad interest to the community.

From 12 to 16 September 2023 the EAZA Annual Conference 2023 was hosted by Zoo Helsinki, Finland. Conference proceedings and session recordings are available on the EAZA Member Area. Recordings of the plenaries can be found on the EAZA YouTube Channel soon.

The next EAZA Annual Conference 2024 will be hosted by Zoo Leipzig (Germany) from 8 to 12 October, 2024. 

 

 
 
 

EAZA Animal Welfare Forum

EAZA is proud to announce the second edition of the Animal Welfare Forum. The Animal Welfare Forum will bring together up to 200 representatives of zoos and aquariums, welfare organisations and academic institutions for three days of workshops, presentations and other activities, discussing and highlighting an evidence-based approach to animal welfare and bridging the gap between welfare research and application.

The next EAZA Animal Welfare Forum 2024 will be hosted by Parco Natura Viva (Italy), 19 - 22 March 2024.

Apenheul Primate Park in the Netherlands hosted the first Animal Welfare Forum in May 2022

 

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EAZA Directors' Days

EAZA Directors' Days 2024 (23-26 April, 2024) will be hosted by Fota Wildlife Park, Ireland.

EAZA Directors' Days and AGM meetings are by invitation only and open to Director level employees of EAZA Member institutions of all institutional and organisational categories (inclusive of Full, Temporary and Candidate for Membership institutions (a support letter of the respective mentor is required) and National Associations). 

Past EAZA Directors' Days:

EAZA Directors' Days 2023 (25-28 April), hosted by Bergen Aquarium, Norway.
EAZA Directors' Days 2022 (5-8 April), hosted by Zooparc de Beauval, France. 

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Joint TAG Chairs meeting

The Joint TAG chairs meeting highlights developments and trends in population management across the zoo and aquarium community and its partners, as well as recent inter-regional successful initiatives and collaborations. Previous Joint TAG Chairs meetings have been attended by delegates from around the world and provided an opportunity to network, share ideas, connect with other stakeholders, and report on the successes and lessons learned from our collaborations.

The 5th Joint TAG Chairs Meeting will be hosted by RZSS Edinburgh Zoo in Edinburgh, Scotland, from 6-9 May 2024, with parallel TAG meetings scheduled for 6 and 7 May.

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EAZA Conservation Forum

The furtherance of species conservation has become the predominant objective of EAZA and its Members. It's now clear that the zoo and aquarium community's role in conservation extends far beyond helping to save endangered species through ex situ population management programmes. Through their links with in situ projects many Members of EAZA are active in the conservation of species within their different habitats and entire ecosystems. The EAZA Conservation Forum is a biennial event bringing together over 100 representatives of zoos and aquariums, conservation organisations and in situ conservation projects for three days of workshops, presentations and other activities. The programme will be have specific focus on how to deliver (field) conservation activities of high quality and impact, no matter the scale.

The next EAZA Conservation Forum 2024 will be hosted by Zoo Ostrava (Czech Republic), from 4-7 June 2024. 

The EAZA Conservation Forum 2022 took place in Zagreb, Croatia from 17-20 May 2022 and was hosted by Zagreb Zoo.

Other past Conservation Forum events took place at:

  • Tallinn Zoo, Estonia (21-25 May, 2018)
  • Bioparc Fuengirola, Spain (11-13 May, 2016)
  • Zoo Leipzig, Germany (6-9 May, 2014)
  • Vienna Zoo, Austria (22-25 May, 2012)
  • Kerzers, Switzerland (2010)
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European Zoo Nutrition Conference

This biennial conference is regularly attended by 100-200 delegates from about 20 countries, representing zoo nutritionists, veterinarians, curators, animal keepers, staff and students from higher education institutes and private individuals. The conference is a major event for information exchange between individuals involved in zoo animal nutrition in Europe. The event is usually preceded by an optional one-day EAZA Academy workshop. 

The next European Zoo Nutrition Conference 2025 will be hosted by Primate Park Apenheul (The Netherlands), from 23-26 January 2025. More information about this event will follow later.

Past European Zoo Nutrition Conferences took place in:

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EAZA Education Conference

The EAZA Education Conference is a biennial event hosted by a different institution each time. It brings together educators from across Europe and beyond for three days of presentations, workshops, and activities focused on sharing good practice and highlighting future trends in zoo and aquarium education. Regularly attracting 150-180 delegates, the EAZA Education Conference provides invaluable opportunities for educators to connect with each other and share their experiences. 

The next EAZA Education Conference 2025 is from 17-21 March, 2025 and will be hosted by Chester Zoo, united Kingdom. Early-bird registration will open in October 2024

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