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 May: Asiatic Elephants in Kaeng Krachan NP
Since 2009, Zoo Zurich in partnership with WCS Thailand and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation have been supporting an integrated conservation project for the Endangered Asiatic elephants (Elephas maximus) within Kaeng Krachan National Park (Thailand), a region crucial for the survival of both elephants and tigers within the next 50 to 100 years.
The project aims at reestablishing the traditional elephant migration corridor in the Tenaserim Moutain range.
On the one hand, they get involved in the neighboring villages. With the goal that people and elephants live peacefully side by side, they set up an elephant conservation centre, educative school programmes and train the junior staff of the Forest Deparment and National Park service.
On the other, they support the fight against poaching and illegal logging in the national park by installing alarm fences and permanent fences as well as implementing a SMART patrol.
So far Zurich Zoo has contributed CHF 1,523,000 (> € 1,446,680) to this project!
Visit the EAZA Conservation Database to find out more.
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.
