The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) is the largest association of its kind in Europe, consisting of more than 300 institutions across 45 countries. Founded in 1992, the association works to facilitate collaboration within the industry, uniting its members around the common goal of advancing education, research and conservation within the sector.
EAZA is based on the idea of knowledge sharing and collaboration to progress all zoos and aquaria across the region. Facilitating collaborative research between institutions allows its members to learn more about their animals, and make informed decisions about their care. This research also leads to a greater understanding of animals in the wild and how their ecosystems can be protected.
Conservation and Education
The association helps zoos and aquariums to organise and conduct their conservation efforts, ensuring that initiatives have maximum impact and efficacy. Through this, each project is more effective meaning that the natural world can be preserved for future generations.
As an association, EAZA coordinates over 400 population management programmes. These are aimed at ensuring that species populations are at a sustainable level and that at-risk species are safeguarded.
At the core of what EAZA stands for is a strong commitment to education and engagement. Its members play a vital role in giving the public access to materials that help them learn more about the natural world and how they can take part in its protection.
Events
EAZA runs a number of different events throughout the year, focused on bringing its members together to collaborate, debate and knowledge share. Its Annual Meeting is its flagship event and represents the largest gathering of the Zoo and Aquarium industry in Europe. Highlights each year include networking opportunities, workshops, and conference sessions focused on areas such as sustainability, conservation, and best care practices.
