André Stadler is the director of Alpenzoo Innsbruck, a zoo located in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It is home to more than 2,000 animals found in the Alps and is the only zoo in the world dedicated to Alpine animals. Alpenzoo Innsbruck welcomes around 300,000 visitors every year.
A nominator commended Stadler for his passionate approach to his work and dedication to raising awareness about the importance of animals and nature.
Dr Stadler holds a degree in Biology from Ruhr-Universität Bochum and a doctorate from Universität Duisburg-Essen. His professional career in zoological institutions started as a curator at Zoo Wuppertal from 2007 to 2017. He is also a lecturer for Zoo Biology at the University of Innsbruck.
He is heavily involved in global zoological and conservation organisations. His leadership roles include various advisory and executive positions; since April 2018, he has been a member of the Advisory Board for Zoo Biology, Zoology and Ecology of the Schönbrunner Tiergarten-Gesellschaft, and Treasurer of OZO. He also joined the WKO Examination Commission for Animal Keepers in June 2018 and mentored for Zoo Kaliningrad from 2012 to 2019.
Dr. Stadler assumed the chairmanship of the EAZA Technical Assistance Committee in April 2019, securing seats on the EAZA Ex Com, M&E, and Council. That same year, he was appointed to the Vdz Board. His global influence grew further when he joined the WAZA Council in October 2021, representing Europe and Western Asia, and became Secretary of WAZA in October 2023.
Furthermore, he joined the EAZA Conservation Translocation Working Group in February 2023 and was appointed to the Animal Welfare Council of the Republic of Austria in June 2023. Dr Stadler is also a member of the IUCN SIS, Deer, and Small Mammals Specialist Groups, and presents the Alpenzoo Late Morning Show podcast. The protection of the endangered Bavarian short-eared mouse is cited as a “heart project”.