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Al Ain Zoo recently participated in the annual World Association of Zoos & Aquaria (WAZA) conference in Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, USA. The event saw more than 200 delegates from zoos and aquaria around the world meeting to discuss common challenges faced in conservation programmes, education initiatives and the effects on biodiversity of climate change.
The Al Ain Zoo delegation, led by Director General H.E .Mr. Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, actively participated in information exchange as it prepares to host the WAZA conference in 2015. The delegation presented a paper on the formation of the Arabian Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZAA) that highlights the importance of cooperation and collaboration within the Middle East, which was well received by conference attendees.
In meetings with Mr. Gerald Dick, Executive Director of WAZA, Al Hajeri also confirmed Al Ain Zoo’s support for WAZA’s marketing and education campaign for the United Nations (UN) Decade of Biodiversity, further reflecting the zoo’s position as a committed supporter of WAZA.
Commenting on the event, Al Hajeri said:
“Al Ain Zoo has enjoyed strong relations with many international organisations and partners since its establishment. As a member of WAZA, the annual conference is a key platform for knowledge exchange that contributes to the shared goals of conservation, education, and promoting diversity, and our support of WAZA’s campaign for the UN Decade of Biodiversity is an integral part of the vital role our organisation plays. We look forward to hosting the WAZA Annual Conference 2015 here in Al Ain, and to making further progress with our fellow members of the AZAA in the meantime.”
The Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) also held its annual meeting in the same venue prior to the WAZA conference, with delegates hosting a series of workshops to discuss the effects of climate change on biodiversity and how zoos can play a part in educating the public. Attendees also discussed animal welfare, and green and carbon neutral initiatives that can be employed. Al Ain Zoo will also host the CBSG annual meeting in 2015 ahead of the WAZA conference.
Al Ain Zoo is a home to a diverse collection of approximately 4,000 animals, many of which are endangered, and is also active in efforts to prevent their extinction. The zoo led the establishment of the Arabian Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZAA, an initiative that joins regional zoos together to preserve native species and to work together on long-term conservation projects.
In addition to being a member of the World Association for Zoo and Aquaria (WAZA), Al Ain Zoo and is actively involved in several internationally coordinated conservation projects, working with other like-minded organizations such as Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, the Species Survival Commission, San Diego Zoo, the Northern Rangelands Trust of Kenya and the Sahara Conservation Fund, to conserve and re-introduce threatened arid land species such as Arabian Oryx and Scimitar-horned Oryx to their natural habitat.
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