Dublin Zoo launches Animal Welfare Master Plan, which identifies strategic goals and actions the Zoo aims to achieve by the organisation’s bicentennial in 2031.
In a bold step for global wildlife conservation, Toronto Zoo (Canada), Chester Zoo (United Kingdom) and Dublin Zoo (Ireland) announced a strategic partnership to expand efforts in wildlife cryobanking. This collaborative initiative aims to safeguard the living genetic material of both native and globally threatened species, strengthening future conservation and restoration efforts worldwide. Live cell […]
Become a Wildlife Detective at Dublin Zoo! Ever noticed a buzzy bee on a flower near the African plains or a tiny ladybird crawling on a leaf by the wolf den? Dublin Zoo is home to our amazing animals, but it’s also a sanctuary for hundreds of wild Irish species – and we need your […]
Successful first fundraising run through Dublin Zoo announced as an annual event in support of threatened species worldwide Dublin Zoo held its first-ever Run for Wildlife in aid of the Critically Endangered Sulawesi crested macaque Dublin Zoo is now the primary donor and lead advocate for Selamatkan Yaki, supporting conservation of the Critically Endangered Sulawesi […]
Female calf of third-time mother Lumara born on Good Friday. Dublin Zoo is delighted to announce the birth of a rare and endangered female okapi calf, born on the morning of Good Friday, April 18th, 2025. Proud mother Lumara, aged 10, is caring for her calf beautifully, and both are thriving. Over the past three […]
8th July 2025 – Dublin Zoo is celebrating a standout performance at this year’s prestigious BIAZA Awards, hosted by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), where it was recognised once again for excellence in conservation leadership and public engagement. Dr. Andrew Mooney, Senior Conservation and Science Officer at Dublin Zoo, received […]
Dr Christoph Schwitzer recognised as a global leader in zoology and conservation with election as Chair of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). Dr Schwitzer is the first Dublin Zoo Director to occupy this prestigious role. Dublin Zoo is proud to announce that its Director, Dr Christoph Schwitzer, has been elected Chair of […]
Latest arrival to Dublin Zoo healthy and thriving Birth is an important conservation event with less than 100 eastern bongos left in the wild Dublin Zoo is celebrating the birth of a healthy eastern bongo calf, a species classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Born on the 20th […]
Dublin Zoo and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formally collaborate on advancing native species conservation efforts in Ireland. Dr Christoph Schwitzer, Director of Dublin Zoo; Ciara Carberry, Director of Nature Conservation at NPWS; Christopher O’Sullivan TD, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity; and […]
Dublin Zoo is proud to announce that it has been officially recognised as a Global Humane Certified Zoo, a prestigious certification awarded by Global Humane Society, the international organisation dedicated to helping ensure high standards of animal welfare in zoos, aquariums, and conservation parks worldwide. Dr. Christoph Schwitzer, Director of Dublin Zoo commented on this […]
Dublin Zoo is one of Ireland’s leading visitor attractions, but it is also a hub for conservation and education. Our mission is to save wildlife and inspire a passion for nature and we work with a global network of conservation partners to protect endangered species, restore habitats and inspire future generations to safeguard the environment. […]
Dublin Zoo is excited to share that a new conservation action plan has just been published in an effort to save some of Africa’s most threatened primates. Made possible in part by funding by Dublin Zoo, the “Cercocebus and Mandrillus conservation action plan 2024–2028” aims to conserve nine species of African monkeys, including species such […]
Dublin Zoo is proud to announce a new conservation partnership with the Asian Turtle Program of Indo-Myanmar Conservation, helping to conserve the critically endangered Vietnamese Pond Turtle (Mauremys annamensis) in Cuc Phuong National Park, Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam. This incredibly rare species is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is not […]
Dublin Zoo is working in partnership with Save the Rhino International, other international conservation organisations and dedicated Indonesian NGOs to support the work of the Government of Indonesia to increase the population of Critically Endangered Sumatran rhinos. These wonderful and precious animals once roamed across much of East and Southeast Asia, but are now confined […]
The scimitar-horned oryx, a species of antelope once declared ‘Extinct in the Wild’, has had its status on the IUCN Red List downlisted to ‘Endangered’. The is the first species from the ‘Extinct in the Wild’ category to achieve this and it is a direct results of incredible global conservation efforts. The scimitar-horned oryx became […]
Dublin Zoo is proud to announce our new conservation partnership with Seal Rescue Ireland. Seal Rescue Ireland are a registered charity dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick, injured and orphaned seals from across Ireland. Each year they rescue over 100 seals, with a mission to rehabilitate and release them back into the […]
Dublin Zoo held a ceremony to celebrate the launch of the new National Centre for Species Survival, an official partnership between Dublin Zoo and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC). The Centre, the latest in a growing global network all working to drive action to protect wildlife, will act […]
This week marks a significant milestone for zoos, botanic gardens, and aquariums across the globe as the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) officially published a new position statement which recognises the significant contributions these organisations ‘can, and do, bring’ to the conservation of wild animals, fungi, and plants. The IUCN SSC, with over 8,500 volunteer […]
West African Primate Conservation Action (WAPCA), who Dublin Zoo have been supporting since 2001, works to safeguard the future of endangered primates and their habitat in West Africa, with particular focus on Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. The white-naped mangabey is one of the organisations focal primates. Andrea Dempsey, Programme Manager for WAPCA, talks Dublin Zoo […]
Dublin Zoo is delighted to announce a new conservation partnership with Kildare Wildlife Rescue. Kildare Wildlife Rescue was founded in 2022 by a small group of wildlife rehabilitators and rescue volunteers who work to rescue, rehabilitate and release sick and injured Irish wildlife from around the country. Since their launch on July 22nd 2022, […]
They’re one of the most recognisable animals in the animal kingdom, with their record height and unmissable spots.…but did you know the beloved giraffe is in trouble? We sat down with Stephanie Fennessy, Executive Director of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF), who Dublin Zoo have been supporting since 2012, to find out more about these […]
Dublin Zoo is proud to partner with Proyecto Eremita to help return Waldrapp ibis to Europe’s skies. The Waldrapp ibis is currently classified as ‘Endangered’ under the IUCN Red List, with the last remaining wild population of about 700 birds found mostly in southwestern Morocco. Image credit: Proyecto Eremita Proyecto Eremita works to establish a […]
Dublin Zoo is proud to now be partnering with Bat Rehabilitation Ireland to help conserve and protect Ireland’s bats. Bat Rehabilitation Ireland, a registered charity, is Ireland’s largest bat rescue facility, caring for almost 1,500 bats from across the country since opening in 2019. Their mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and release all species of […]
Protecting Ireland’s Wildlife at the heart of new conservation plan from Dublin Zoo New plan will position Dublin Zoo as a global conservation leader Today, Dublin Zoo is pleased to announce the launch of its Conservation Master Plan which, once complete, will position the organisation as a global conservation leader. The Plan, which sits under […]
Wildlife Trust of India Right of Passage: Wildlife Corridors Project Summary: In 2022, Dublin Zoo began partnering with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) to help conserve and protect Asian elephants in the wild. WTI is a registered charity and works to conserve wildlife and its habitat in partnership with the Government of India, state […]
Dublin Zoo is buzzing with excitement to announce we are taking part in The All Ireland Pollinator Plan (AIPP) to help save Irish bee species, other pollinating insects and plants across the country. This five year plan aims to encourage a better way of looking after our whole landscape to support our struggling biodiversity in […]
To mark the unveiling of Dublin Zoo’s newest habitat, the Himalayan Hills, we have launched a limited-edition activity series. The activities will be released in six parts ranging from colouring-in, word searches, crosswords and much more to allow you and your children to learn more about the snow leopard and red panda species in a […]
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar TD opens New Red Panda and Snow Leopard Habitats at Dublin Zoo Dublin Zoo is delighted to unveil its newest habitat – the Himalayan Hills. Inspired by the natural habitat of red pandas and snow leopards in the wild, the Himalayan mountain range, the new area will reflect the look and feel […]
New Species Arrives at Dublin Zoo Dublin Zoo is excited to announce the arrival of a new species to the Zoo – dholes! This is the first time in the Zoo’s history that it has had resident dholes, and a first for Ireland. The five male dholes came to Dublin Zoo from Tierpark Berlin a […]
Almost exactly 190 years after it first opened its gates, Dublin Zoo has today launched an ambitious 10-year strategic plan. “Dublin Zoo 200” aims to propel Ireland’s most popular family visitor attraction to a role as a zoo-based conservation organisation with global significance in time for the Zoo’s bicentennial celebrations in 2031. The Dublin Zoo […]
“That’s Animal!” is a brand new, family series from RTÉjr Radio. Join the animal care team as they bring kids behind the scenes at Dublin Zoo to meet the animals and their keepers. Each episode visits a different creature including the western lowland gorillas, Asian elephants, red pandas and tonnes more to learn all […]
Dublin Zoo is an official supporter of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030 We are delighted to announce that Dublin Zoo is an official supporter of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Dublin Zoo joins […]
Dublin Zoo is proud to be the first Irish organisation to officially join the European Commission’s Global Coalition, ‘#UnitedforBiodiversity’. The Coalition, launched on World Wildlife Day 2020 by EU Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, calls on all zoos, aquariums, botanic gardens, national parks, research centres, science and natural history museums to […]
It’s been a jam-packed year for the zookeepers in Dublin Zoo, tune in to see their adventures from the Phoenix Park to Tunisia! Animal lovers rejoice as ‘The Zoo’ TV series returns to screens this Sunday, 4th October on RTÉ One for its tenth season giving viewers an exclusive behind the scenes look at Dublin […]
New arrival the first child of Cahaya and Luca Dublin Zoo is celebrating the arrival of a baby siamang gibbon. The baby was born overnight on Sunday the 2nd August to parents Cahaya (10) and Luca (19). The baby is healthy and has been observed suckling. Before this arrival over the bank holiday weekend, Cahaya […]
International Golden Lion Tamarin Day Art Competition Dublin Zoo launched an art competition to celebrate the endangered golden lion tamarin and to encourage people to learn more about the little primate. There were two age categories (Age 6-9 and Age 10-13), and with the help of their parent or guardian, entrants had to send in […]
The snow leopard is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List, with an estimated 2,700-3,380 individuals thought to be living in the wild. Since 2009, Dublin Zoo has been providing financial support for the Snow Leopard Trust which works in the countries the species still exists, supporting measures to protect this threatened species. The […]
World Parrot Day was originally founded 2004 by the World Parrot Trust and is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate these beautiful, charismatic and intelligent birds. The motto for 2021 is “Be kind and selfless – be more parrot!” highlighting the recent research into parrot behaviour where grey parrots demonstrated selfless behaviour in helping other parrots […]
New arrivals are the first penguin chicks born at Dublin Zoo since 2013. Dublin Zoo is celebrating the hatching of two Humboldt penguin chicks. The first chick was born on 29th March to parents Monica (7) and Joey (8). The second chick was born on the 3rd April to parents Magdalena (18) and Patrick […]
Dublin Zoo is Delighted to Announce the Birth of a Southern White Rhinoceros Calf. Experienced mum, Ashanti gave birth to the healthy male calf at 4.30am on February 10th after a 16-month gestation period. The calf is estimated to weigh approx. 50kg. The youngster is Ashanti’s seventh calf and becomes the newest member of the […]
Identifying long-distance methods to test mate preference in zoo-housed orangutans. There are currently over 170 Bornean orangutans in almost 40 zoos in the European breeding population (EEP). It is vital that this population is self-sustaining, i.e., that enough babies are born each year to replace orangutans that die. However, placing a male with a female […]
Palm oil is a type of edible vegetable oil that is derived from the palm fruit, grown on the African oil palm tree. Oil palms are originally from Western Africa, but can flourish wherever there is enough heat and rainfall. Today, palm oil is grown throughout Africa, Asia, North America, and South America, with up […]
Dublin Zoo keepers Aisling Kenneally (left) and Susan O’Brien (right) with boxes of Zoo uniforms to be donated to WAPCA. Dublin Zoo has answered a call to aid an organisation in Ghana that protects endangered primates. Uniforms no longer used at the Zoo will be donated to rangers and keepers at West African Primate Conservation […]
‘Selamatkan Yaki’ means ‘Save the Sulawesi crested macaque’ in Indonesian. It is the name of a conservation group established to save the critically endangered Sulawesi-crested macaque, or yaki, which is only found in northern Sulawesi, Indonesia. Dublin Zoo is home to a group of Sulawesi-crested macaques and is part of a European breeding programme for […]
Supporting research on the island of Sumba in Indonesia Since 2011, Dublin Zoo has been providing funding for research on Sumba, which is carried out by ZGAP (Zoologische Gesellschaft für Arten- und Populationsschutz), a German conservation organisation, and Burung Indonesia (Bird Indonesia). Although fewer birds are being caught for the pet trade, the population has […]
Tragically, the scimitar-horned oryx, a species of antelope that live at Dublin Zoo, became extinct in the wild. This oryx was once widespread across northern Africa but due to over-hunting, habitat loss and competition with domestic livestock, the scimitar-horned oryx gradually disappeared from the wild. The last wild scimitar-horned oryx was sighted in 1988 in […]
SSE Airtricity announced as official Sustainability Partner to Dublin Zoo Dublin Zoo is delighted to announce that it is teaming up with SSE Airtricity, Ireland’s largest provider of green energy, to help families learn more about the importance of sustainability in a fun and interactive way. To do so, they have created a bespoke Eco […]
There is absolutely no room in this world for zoos with substandard practices and poor consideration for animal wellness. Poorly managed zoos do not contribute to the genuine conservation effort and tarnish the reputation of all zoos. Nobody criticises or condemns them more strongly than those of us that are part of the zoo community. […]
Western lowland gorillas are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) Redlist. Their population is expected to fall by 80% between 2005 and 2071. The main threats are illegal hunting, diseases (especially the highly contagious Ebolavirus), habitat loss and climate change. The slow reproductive rate of gorillas not […]
African painted dogs (previously known as African hunting dogs) have disappeared from much of their range and are classified as ‘endangered’. It is estimated that only 6,000 remain, making them one of Africa’s most endangered species. Since 2009, Dublin Zoo has been financially supportive of the Painted Dog Conservation (PDC), which is located in Zimbabwe, […]
Chimpanzees are one of our closest relatives. However, while the human population continues to grow at a fast rate, chimpanzee numbers are falling. The human population now exceeds seven billion while the total number of chimpanzees remaining in the world is estimated to be less than 300,000. Since 2009, Dublin Zoo has worked with the […]
Opinion Piece by Leo Oosterweghel, Director, Dublin Zoo Cold, calculated, cynical and callous. These are the words I would use to describe the events that occurred earlier this week in Copenhagen Zoo. The Marius case pushes the debate around animal welfare to the fore and the lens is now firmly focused on Zoo ethics. The […]
