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 October: Saving Stone Crayfish
Since 2017, Besançon Museum has been involved in the conservation of the French Endangered endemic crayfish named "Stone crayfish" (Austropotamobius torrentium) which can only be found in two streams in France.
Because of their great experience in the breeding of autochthonous crayfish, the Besançon team was contacted by the Natural Park of the Vosges du Nord – supported by the French Office of Biodiversity - to establish a breeding population and help safeguard the species.
In addition to getting many juveniles to reintroduce, they monitor the breeding of crayfish to better understand its requirements. They have obtained the complete cycle of reproduction, have sucessfully bred young and reintroduced a few hundreds of crayfish! They next step is now to manage a production in larger quantities.
Visit the EAZA Conservation Database to find out more.
2019 Snapshot updates
Find here the latest achievements of the projects highlighted in 2019 for the Conservation Database Snapshots. For a better view, click on the image.
