Wildlife Conservation
In recent years, our effect on the planet has been devastating, with a massive decline in animal numbers and habitats across the globe. EAZA has never believed that keeping animals in our institutions replaces action in the wild - but experience also shows us that the knowledge and finance that we and our visitors can provide to field conservation projects can make a huge difference. EAZA believes that zoos and aquariums form one pillar of the structure that is needed to safeguard the future.
Our approach to species conservation, called the One Plan approach, recognises that zoos and in situ conservationists need not only to work together to protect animals, but also to engage the public of their communities to take the lead in demanding action from authorities, governments, corporations and themselves so that together we can reduce the stress on endangered species and their habitats.
EAZA members:
- provide financial and human resources to help field conservation projects protect wild animals and their habitats
- work to ensure that many of the most endangered species populations in our zoos and aquariums are intensively managed to ensure their survival
- participate in EAZA conservation campaigns that draw our visitors' attention to the crisis in nature, raise funds and promote public involvement in conservation
- collaborate wherever possible with partners such as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to provide assistance to their conservation activities
- conduct research which provides valuable insights into the protection of wild populations
In short, EAZA believes that the future of nature depends on all of us; and that EAZA zoos and aquariums can act as a portal for their local communities into conservation across the world.
EAZA Conservation Database
The EAZA Conservation Database is an online tool to facilitate communication on conservation efforts of our members within as well as outside of the zoo and aquarium community. Each month we highlight one of the projects or activities from the database.
Conservation Database Snapshot of June: Proyecto Mono Tocón
In 2007, La Vallée des Singes (through Le Conservatoire pour la Protection des Primates) initiated a project for the Critically Endangered San Martin titi monkey (Plecturocebus oenanthe) in Peru, leading to the creation of the local NGO Proyecto Mono Tocón in 2009. The activities first focussed on research on the distribution and conservation status of the species, but expanded quickly to educational programmes and direct conservation actions involving local communities, such as the management of several protected areas and the training of local young students who are now working as conservationists for other organisations.
The NGO has brought the fate of the San Martin titi monkey under the attention of local governments and conservation associations, resulting in a wide array of conservation measures and the creation of several conservation areas, which also benefit other primate species.
The EAZA Ex situ Programme of the Red titi monkey (Plecturocebus cupreus) adopted the project and a large number of European zoos* and international conservation associations are providing support and taking responsibility for nature conservation.
Visit the EAZA Conservation Database to find out more.
*Thank you La Vallée des Singes, Blackpool Zoo, Association Française des Parcs Zoologiques, Apenheul Primate Conservation Trust, Sainte-Croix Biodiversité, Avifauna, Boissière Mervent Conservation, Mulhouse Zoo, Thoiry-Peaugres Conservation, Parc des Pyrénées, ZooParc de Beauval for their support in 2019 and to all others contributing in the previous years!
2018 Snapshot updates
Find here the latest achievements of the projects highlighted in 2018 for the Conservation Database Snapshots. For a better view, click on the image.
