Partnerships
One of EAZA’s greatest strengths is our work with partners to enhance our collective impact. Our commitment to working together across diverse topics, countries and at all levels of governance is best visible through our Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
Partnerships
IUCN: our primary conservation partner
EAZA is a member of IUCN,
- has strong links with the IUCN SSC through Members and staff from the EAZA Executive Office, and has signed a MoU with them aiming to establish mutually beneficial partnerships to improve the collective impact and effectiveness of species conservation efforts worldwide,
- works closely with many Specialist Groups such as ASAP and holds a seat on the CPSG Governing Council.
Partnering with other zoo associations
EAZA is a member of WAZA,
- holds a seat on WAZA Council,
- works with WAZA on interactions with the International Air Transport Association (IATA),
- plays an important part in many Global Species Management Plans (GSMPs) under the auspices of WAZA.
In particular, EAZA is part of a MoU with PKBSI, AZA, IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group, and IUCN SSC Wild Pig Specialist Group concerning GSMPs for anoa, banteng, babirusa and Sumatran tiger.
EAZA also partners with other zoo and aquarium associations, through MoUs with ALPZA and the AZA Reproductive Management Centre. These agreements help in sharing information and best practice to make sure our increasingly international work occurs in a comparative and collaborative environment.
Sector-specific partnerships
EAZA currently has renewable 5-year MoUs with EAZWV, EUAC and EAAM highlighting areas of mutual interest and where cooperative working can enhance our common goals, for example by allocating seats on respective committees and working groups, collaborating on population management or joint communications and advocacy.
EAZA holds a seat on the boards of Species360.
Species-specific partnerships
EAZA has the following MoU agreements related to cooperation with EAZA Ex situ Programmes (EEPs) to support species recovery:
- With the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Akagera Management Company (AMC) running from 2018 related to the release and monitoring of Eastern black rhinoceroses from the EEP to the Akagera National Park (Rwanda).
- With the Tanzania Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism running from 2025-2029 related to conservation translocation processes, post release management and research of the Eastern black rhinoceros to and within the Tanzania’s protected areas.
- With AAP regarding cooperation for the Barbary macaque EEP that has been in place since 2020.
- With ReShark regarding cooperation in the field of the reinforcement of the population, post-release management and conservation research of Zebra Shark (2024-2027)
- With Rewilding Spain regarding conservation of Przewalski´s horse and restoration of its population via individuals from the Przewalski’s horse EEP transferring to natural grazing restoration projects in Spain (2025-2035)
- With Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), and Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy (MKWC) regarding repatriation of male Mountain bongos from the EEP to the MKWC in Kenya (2025-2035)
Partnerships for the EAZA Biobank
The EAZA Biobank became fully established in 2019 and MoUs were agreed with the four hubs based at Antwerp Zoo, Copenhagen Zoo, IZW, RZSS.
EAZA also has various MoUs and agreements relating to biobanking and cryopreservation partners. These include ones with Nature’s Safe (2021-2027), Autonomous University of Barcelona (2023-2026), Deutsches Primatenzentrum (DPZ; 2025-2035), and Singapore Zoological Gardens (2025-2026).
