Dublin Zoo Recognised with Four BIAZA Honours for Excellence in Conservation, Research, Education and Inclusion

Dublin Zoo received awards in the following categories:

Diversity and Inclusion Award – Winner

Dublin Zoo’s Supported Volunteer Programme was created to provide meaningful conservation and education volunteering opportunities for adults with disabilities. Developed in partnership with the Central Remedial Clinic, the 12-week programme enabled participants to build confidence, communication skills and independence while contributing to visitor engagement and animal enrichment activities. The initiative has strengthened inclusive practices across Dublin Zoo and demonstrated how accessibility can be successfully embedded into conservation education and volunteering.

Research Award – Winner

Dublin Zoo won the Research Award for the study “Understanding aye-aye behaviour in human care: A case study from Dublin Zoo exploring the impact of social housing.” This collaborative two-year study addressed a significant knowledge gap for the endangered aye-aye, the world’s largest nocturnal primate. By examining how different social housing arrangements influence their behaviour and welfare, the research is helping to inform evidence-based husbandry practices and has the potential to shape management guidelines for aye-ayes across zoos in Europe, the UK and North America.

Professional Capacity Building Award – Winner

Launched in 2023, Dublin Zoo’s Conservation and Science Internship Programme provides fully paid, hands-on training opportunities for aspiring conservation professionals, helping to remove barriers to entry into the sector. With a 100% progression rate into conservation careers or funded PhD programmes, the initiative is helping to build the next generation of conservationists while strengthening research and conservation capacity across the wider zoo community.

Education Award – Runner Up

Dublin Zoo was awarded Runner Up in the Education Category for the Dublin Zoo and Frontline Make Change Outreach Project. This project addressed the inclusivity barriers to conservation education faced by families affected by addiction and broadened access to wildlife education beyond the Zoo setting. By removing obstacles to participation and fostering meaningful connections with nature, the programme demonstrated how inclusive, action-based education can inspire conservation awareness and create meaningful impact beyond the Zoo’s gates.

CEO of BIAZA Dr Jo Judge said:

“This is an incredible achievement reflecting the very best in the zoo and aquarium community. We are at the very forefront of the fightback for nature, which needs all our help. As leaders we are absolutely committed to the very highest levels of animal welfare, conservation, education and research – all while offering brilliant days out for the family.”

These latest honours follow previous BIAZA wins for Dublin Zoo across key areas including Animal Husbandry, Care and Breeding, Behaviour and Welfare, Sustainability, and PR, Marketing & Digital Events. In 2025, Dr. Andrew Mooney, Conservation and Science Manager at Dublin Zoo, received the coveted ‘Rising Star’ Award.

Dublin Zoo extends its congratulations to all fellow nominees and award recipients recognised at this year’s BIAZA Annual Conference.