Dario Lareu is CEO and managing director of Fundación Temaikèn. The zoo in Belén de Escobar, Argentina is the only AZA-accredited zoo in the country. The organisation works to protect endangered species and native ecosystems through education and reconnecting people with nature.
Lareu is a strategic leader with a demonstrated ability to engage teams to deliver sustainable business results. He oversees a team of more than 150 people, including veterinarians, biologists, park rangers, animal nutrition specialists, environmental educators and wildlife keepers.
In 2022, Fundación Temaikèn is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Over the past 20 years, the facility has rescued more than 15,000 animals and 1,500 plant species, and preserved 1,400 hectares of protected natural areas. In addition to the zoo, the Temaikèn Foundation owns the Osununú Nature Reserve. More than 100,000 native plants have been produced in the Osununú nursery since 2002.
“20 years ago a path began with the firm belief that knowing and connecting with nature is a key tool for conserving biodiversity and contributing to the balance and health of ecosystems and of all living beings that inhabit them, including people,” Lareu said. “Two decades later, despite the scenario facing our planet, seeing the path travelled encourages us to face the future with even more ambition and energy.”
Lareu is a council member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and a member of the Reverse the Red initiative, a global movement to bring together governments, partners and experts to undo the negative trends in species survival.