Conservation & Zoos
Animals in zoos act as flagship species for ecosystems and help raise awareness and generate funds for conservation.
Dublin Zoo is a member of BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums), EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria) and WAZA (World Association of Zoos and Aquariums). These organisations encourage cooperation between zoos and they also represent zoos at an international level e.g. European Union, United Nations, IUCN (International Union on Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources). These zoo organisations also set high standards for animal care in their member zoos and aquaria.
Breeding programmes
Dublin Zoo actively participates with international breeding programmes. Some of these breeding programmes operate at an international level while others work on a regional level.
As part of Dublin Zoo’s membership of EAZA, Dublin Zoo has 28 species involved in EEPs (European Zoo Breeding Programmes) and a further 11 included in ESBs (European studbooks). By running these EEPs and ESBs, EAZA can monitor the demographics and genetics of animal populations in over 270 member zoos. The success of many of these programmes has meant that most animals in zoos were born in zoos and some of these zoo-bred animals have been part of reintroduction programmes into the wild e.g. golden lion tamarind and scimitar-horned oryx. These zoo populations have also yielded a lot of valuable information on diet, reproduction and behaviour through zoo-based research.
Dublin Zoo currently coordinates two EEPs – one for the Moluccan cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis) and the other for the citron-crested cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea citroncristata).
EAZA - Conservation Campaigns
Since 2000 EAZA has developed various conservation campaigns for which EAZA zoos raised funding and public awareness. The table below demonstrates the role Dublin Zoo has played in these campaigns.
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Year
|
Campaign
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Dublin Zoo Result
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2000/2001
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Bushmeat Campaign (Signatures for petition also collected)
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Raised and donated IR£5,000 and collected 5,700 signatures
|
|
2001/2002
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Rainforest Campaign
|
Raised and donated €12,697
|
|
2002 - 2004
|
Tiger Campaign
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Raised and donated €33,463.52
|
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2005
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Shellshock (Tortoises and Turtles)
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Raised and donated €16,594.96
|
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2006 - 2007
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Rhino Campaign
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Raised and donated over €33,000
|
|
2008
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Amphibian Campaign
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Raised and donated €16,125.04
|
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2009 - 2010
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European Carnivore Campaign
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Raised and donated €14,536.50
|
2011 – APE CAMPAIGN
This year EAZA launched the APE CAMPAIGN. Apes are our closest living relatives but sadly many species of apes are in serious trouble and the main cause of this trouble is us….humans.
Apes include chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, bonobos and 16 species of gibbons. All the apes are threatened and many are either endangered or critically endangered. For some species really urgent action is needed. The Hainan gibbon, for instance, is right on the brink of extinction with fewer than 20 surviving.
Without our support these beautiful animals will become extinct. We need to ensure the apes survive and thrive not simply because they are beautiful but because we have a moral obligation to do so.
Dublin Zoo is participating in the European Association of Zoo and Aquaria (EAZA) Ape Campaign. This campaign will focus attention on the conservation of apes, the issues they face and the urgency with which we must act.
Check back soon to see what events we will be hosting to raise awareness and funds for our closest living relatives.......