Dublin Zoo has launched a new conservation plan. The zoo is working to position itself as a global leader in conservation while protecting Ireland’s wildlife.
The new plan is part of the previously announced 10-year plan called ‘Dublin Zoo 200’, with the visitor attraction transforming itself into a zoo-based conservation organisation.
It identifies 42 goals across seven areas, as follows:
- Conservation breeding and reintroduction
- Protecting Ireland’s wildlife
- Protecting global wildlife
- Evidence-based conservation
- Conserving genetic diversity
- Behaviour change and empowerment
- Creating conservation scientists
Dublin Zoo director Christoph Schwitzer described the new plan as a “bold and ambitious statement that reflects Dublin Zoo’s long-term commitment to wildlife conservation, both in Ireland and around the world”.
He added: “Working with the global zoo and aquarium community, we have a duty to use our collective social, political and financial resources to become an integral force for the conservation of global biodiversity.
“The actions outlined in this plan will help us achieve significant conservation impact, and will position Dublin Zoo as a global conservation leader, with the help of our partners and supporters.
“We are Dublin Zoo. We save wildlife and inspire a passion for nature – one person, one family at a time.”
Dublin Zoo will create an IUCN National Centre for Species Survival at the zoo, and increase the amount of species in its care that are part of conservation breeding programmes from 54 percent to at least 75 percent.
‘Dublin Zoo 200’
It will also develop Ireland’s first wildlife biobanking hub at the zoo to collect and preserve genetic samples from the country’s zoos and aquariums.
Additionally, Dublin Zoo is partnering with local universities to launch programmes in conservation science, and increasing spending on field conservation projects in the wild.
“This plan is both bold and ambitious, however as we face a global biodiversity crisis, we need to take action for wildlife, and become a global leader in biodiversity conservation,” said Andrew Mooney, Dublin Zoo’s conservation and research officer.
Images: Dublin Zoo
