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Posted: 24 October 2025
By Loïs Lelanchon, Head of Partnerships and Advocacy, WAZA
The IUCN World Conservation Congress (WCC) 2025, held from 9 to 15 October in Abu Dhabi, was a momentous gathering for the global conservation community and WAZA and its members were there in record numbers. This year marked a milestone in the visibility, engagement, and impact of zoos and aquariums on the international conservation stage.
With over 35 WAZA member Institutions and Associations attending, the presence of our community was stronger than ever. Beyond physical attendance, an even greater number of zoos and aquariums actively participated in the IUCN Motions Process, contributing from the earliest stages of motion submission and negotiation to their final adoption by IUCN Members. Their collective engagement ensured that the voice of zoos and aquariums, as trusted conservation actors, educators, and partners, resonated across key decisions that will shape the global biodiversity agenda for years to come.
Driving Conservation Policy: Four WAZA-Sponsored Motions Adopted
The Congress saw the adoption of over 140 motions, each addressing a critical dimension of global conservation. Among them were four motions co-sponsored by WAZA, all successfully adopted.
These four adopted motions capture the depth and breadth of the contributions of zoos and aquariums, from species management and animal welfare to climate resilience and disaster response. Together, they reflect a community that not only cares for animals within their care but also advances conservation science and policy on a global scale.
In addition to the motions process, WAZA members played an active role in IUCN governance and elections, ensuring that our sector’s perspectives continue to be part of the Union’s leadership and decision-making. These combined efforts reaffirm that zoos and aquariums now hold a stronger seat than ever at the global conservation table, helping shape the policies that will guide biodiversity recovery in the years ahead.
Unprecedented Visibility and Engagement throughout the Congress
Beyond the governance and policy processes, the global zoo and aquarium community was exceptionally visible and active across the Congress programme. More than 80 events were organised by WAZA members and partners, spanning learning sessions, panel discussions, and social gatherings.
The WAZA Executive Office contributed directly to several high-profile sessions:
Throughout the week, the WAZA team actively attended sessions across the Congress, meeting with partners, building new connections, and representing the shared vision of our community.
A special highlight of the Congress was the Reverse the Red Pavilion, co-sponsored by WAZA. The Pavilion embodied the spirit of collaboration that defines today’s conservation movement. Through a dynamic series of panels, interactive exhibits, and regionally diverse presentations, it showcased how zoos, aquariums, field organisations, governments, and policymakers can unite under one shared vision: to reverse the trend of biodiversity loss.
The Pavilion served as a vibrant hub for exchange and inspiration, featuring contributions from partners across continents and emphasising that reversing extinction is not just possible, it is already happening through concerted, collective action. WAZA’s active participation in this initiative reaffirmed our role as a key convener and catalyst within the broader conservation sector.
Celebrating Partnership and Leadership within the IUCN SSC
The WCC also marked an important transition for the IUCN Species Survival Commission. WAZA took this opportunity to congratulate Jon Paul Rodríguez for his outstanding leadership as SSC Chair and for the remarkable achievements of the SSC team under his guidance. His tenure has been instrumental in expanding collaboration across conservation networks and amplifying the role of partners worldwide.
WAZA proudly recognised the significant contributions of zoos, aquariums, and their regional and national associations as longstanding partners, funders, and hosts of SSC initiatives, including Centers for Species Survival, which now operate as critical bridges between ex situ and in situ conservation.
As Jon Paul Rodríguez’s term concluded, WAZA warmly welcomed Vivek Menon as the new Chair of the IUCN SSC. We look forward to continuing and strengthening our valued partnership under his leadership, working together to mobilise expertise, data, and collaborative energy from across our global network toward shared species recovery goals.
Looking Ahead
WAZA also extends its congratulations to H.E. Razan Al Mubarak on her reelection as IUCN President, as well as to the newly elected IUCN Council, the Union’s governing body responsible for guiding its strategic direction.
As the Congress drew to a close, one message rang clear: zoos and aquariums are indispensable partners in achieving global biodiversity targets. Through our collective action, science-based management, and public engagement, we bring a unique blend of capabilities that support IUCN’s mission to create a just world that values and conserves nature.
The record participation and influence of the WAZA community at the IUCN WCC 2025 reflect more than presence, it represents progress. Together, we are shaping conservation priorities, driving collective action, and helping ensure that the world’s most threatened species have a fighting chance.
WAZA remains deeply committed to advancing our partnerships within IUCN and beyond, strengthening the bridge between ex situ and in situ conservation, and demonstrating the power of collaboration to restore the planet’s biodiversity.
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is the global alliance of regional associations, national federations, zoos and aquariums, dedicated to the care and conservation of animals and their habitats around the world.
