THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIA Annual Report 2017 Annual Report 2017 CONTENTS 1 Vision and Mission 2 Report from the EAZA Chair 3 Report from the EAZA Executive Director 8 Communications Committee 10 Conservation Committee 14 Education Committee 16 EEP Committee 18 Membership and Ethics Committee 20 National Associations Committee 21 Research Committee 23 Technical Assistance Committee 24 Veterinary Committee 26 EAZA Academy 28 Partnerships and Funding 29 Treasurer’s Report 30 Financial Report 32 Governance and Organisational Structure 33 EAZA Council 34 EAZA Executive Office 2017 36 Conservation Projects 46 EAZA Members 49 Corporate Members Cover image: Persian leopard © Alexander Sliwa. In 2017, the Memorandum of Understanding between EAZA, IUCN SSC and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation on the restoration (reintroduction) of the Persian leopard in the Western Caucasus was also renewed for another five years.’ 2 Annual Report 2017 VISION AND MISSION Our Vision “To be the most dynamic, innovative and effective zoo and aquarium Membership organisation in Europe and the Middle East.” Our Mission “EAZA’s mission is to facilitate co-operation within the European zoo and aquarium community with the aim of furthering its professional quality in keeping animals and presenting them for the education of the public, and of contributing to scientific research and to the conservation of global biodiversity. It will achieve these aims through stimulation, facilitation and co-ordination of the community’s efforts in education, conservation and scientific research, through the enhancement of co-operation with all relevant organisations and through influencing relevant legislation within the European Union.” 1 Annual Report 2017 REPORT FROM THE EAZA CHAIR THOMAS KAUFFELS, OPEL-ZOO, KRONBERG, GERMANY, CHAIR DINNER AT THE EAZA DIRECTORS’ DAYS, CHESTER ZOO, UK © STEVE RAWLINS Sitting down to write this report the first thought I had was: 2017 went by very fast! And second, as human memory usually functions, you remember the positive events above the not so nice ones. So, EAZA was fortunate to have an excellent diversity of great locations for our 2017 conferences. Getting together, learning from each other and discussing the best solutions is only possible, when EAZA Members are willing to take the workload of hosting conferences. Liberec Zoo, Czech Republic, for the Nutrition conference, Paris Zoo and French associations, for the European Zoo Educators conference, Chester Zoo, UK, for the EAZA Directors’ Days, and aquariums both internally and a long way to go so that policy makers and Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen, externally. and administrations will consider zoos The Netherlands for the EAZA Annual In 2017 there was action on all these as the experts in animal management, Conference were all excellent hosts in areas. The implementation of the new welfare and husbandry. and with their warm hospitality made us structure of our population management 2017 was also a year where the first feel very welcome, which is the platform programmes, which required new staffing time in history an EU Member State for a successful conference. in the EEO, is well on its way. You can brought in legislation to ban certain The main work throughout all levels of read more about this groundbreaking species from zoological gardens and EAZA was related to the implementation development in the EEP Committee aquariums. This banning of whales and and realization of the EAZA Strategy 2017 report. A feasibility study for the best dolphins in France was closely watched – 2020, in which the Membership decided representation of EAZA to different by EAZA and the French colleagues. on what issues the single Committees and legislative stakeholders was carried Fortunately, legal opposition by a few the EAZA Executive Office (EEO) should out with the result that EAZA´s office Members to the banning decision was work on in that specific period. To bring should stay in Amsterdam but, the followed by the relevant court and in early it back into your minds, there are four EU policy work in Brussels should be 2018 the ban was revoked. Nevertheless, focal areas which the Membership valued strengthened. A workshop to develop it is a worrying concern that if such a ban equally important: an agreed EAZA Position Statement on were to be successful in future, it could be • Maximizing the conservation impact of the EU Zoos Directive Regulatory Fitness repeated across different countries and EAZA and our Members and Performance Programmes (REFIT) species. • Leading in zoo and aquarium animal evaluation process took place in Berlin, As you will read in the rest of this management and care by maintaining and an EU lobby event in Brussels, where Annual Report, much has been achieved healthy populations and individuals Members of the European Commission in 2017, and this is only the start! I am with positive animal welfare took part in a panel discussion, are looking forward to progress on the • Representing the EAZA community examples of steps in the right direction. activities for 2018, not least the updates at the European Union (EU) and with The new EAZA leaflet “Progressive Zoos to our Constitution due for approval at appropriate stakeholders to influence and Aquariums working together for the Annual General Meeting in April, and relevant policy and good practice nature” is one of the actions which should to seeing as many of you as possible • Communicating the values and make the positive work of our Member at our conferences in 2018 to further scientific work of progressive zoos institutions more visible. But, there is still discuss our continued achievements. 2 Annual Report 2017 REPORT FROM THE EAZA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MYFANWY GRIFFITH, EAZA EXECUTIVE OFFICE, AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR This year saw the start of the new EAZA Netherlands) and will be reported on 40 countries and speaking over 35 Strategy 2017-2020. This Member-led, further in future reports. different languages, the benefits of face ambitious Strategy promises to bring One of the key tools in helping us to face meetings to aid these exchanges about big changes to our Association and fulfil our conservation goals is the of information cannot be overstated. keep EAZA at the forefront of progressive EAZA Conservation Database (www. zoo and aquarium activities. Much has eazaconservation.org). Since the official LEADING IN ZOO AND AQUARIUM been achieved in 2017 and I continue re-launch in September 2014, EAZA ANIMAL MANAGEMENT AND CARE to be immensely proud of all the great Members have been adding their One of the most effective ways we lead work carried out by EAZA and our projects to help create an overview in zoo and aquarium management Members. From our conservation work of all our Members’ conservation and care is to highlight the distinction to our extensive engagement with the EU activities. This enables EAZA to give a between EAZA Members and non- Zoos Directive REFIT evaluation process, more complete picture of the extensive Members, referencing our extensive our work continues to be as diverse as scope of the conservation work our Standards, Guidelines, and accreditation our Membership, a summary of which Members are involved in. Total projects procedures. Since the introduction of is outlined in the following paragraphs in the database add up to over €63 the EAZA Accreditation Programme under each of our strategic focal areas: million in registered EAZA contributions (EAP) for existing Members in 2011, to conservation across 1590 projects. many Members have been keen to put MAXIMIZING CONSERVATION IMPACT This information is invaluable in our themselves forward to be screened. The 2017 saw the end of our two-year “Let communication efforts to raise the profile schedule is progressing according to plan it Grow” Conservation Campaign. This of EAZA and the work of our Members, we would like to take this opportunity to joint campaign with two of Europe’s so if you have not entered your data thank all the institutions that so openly other large science engagement yet please do so. For more results from allowed us access and to the screeners associations, the European network of the Conservation Database, as well as who generously provided their time and science centres and museums Ecsite activities of the Conservation Committee expertise. and Botanic Gardens Conservation please see their section in this Annual 2017 also saw EAZA Council approve International (BGCI), helped raise Report. ‘EAZA Guidelines for ethical and awareness of the importance of local The activities of the EAZA Education environmental policies for suppliers and biodiversity and encouraged local Committee also now fall under this contractors’. These guidelines, available communities to become havens for strategic focal area. You will find more from the documents pages on the main native species of animals, plants and detail about their work later however, EAZA website, encourage EAZA Members all other forms of life. By the end of the I did want to take this opportunity to to seek suppliers who reflect the values Campaign 239 institutions located in highlight the very successful European and mission of the Association and to 43 different countries worldwide had Zoo Educators (EZE) conference. As encourage ethical and environmentally joined. These were spread amongst always, this event showcased the conscious behaviour in their partners. 138 EAZA Members, 41 BGCI Members,