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 January: Proyecto BOTOs
Since 2002, Zoo Nuremberg-based conservation NGO YAQU PACHA is supporting Proyecto Botos, dedicated to the South Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus gephyreus) - one of the most endangered Tursiops population worldwide.
Their total number is estimated to less than 600 wild individuals, threatened by habitat destruction and by-catch in fishing nets. In collaboration with KAOSA and ECOMEGA (the oceanographic institute of the Federal University of Rio Grande), the project aims at studying the bottlenose dolphins (monitoring of the population, by-catch estimation, genetics, habitat use, bioacoustics, threat analysis) and find solutions to protect them, such as the establishment of a regional fishery restricted area.
The dolphins at Zoo Nuremberg are ambassadors for their wild counterparts to sensitize visitors about the urgent need to learn more about the species and develop strategies to protect it.
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.
