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A recap of the 80th WAZA Annual Conference in Cali, Colombia and online
Posted: 14 November 2025
In 2025, WAZA reached a milestone very few organisations in global conservation can claim: its 90th anniversary. To mark this extraordinary occasion, the 80th WAZA Annual Conference unfolded as a true anniversary celebration – an international gathering hosted by Cali Zoo, Colombia, where the zoo and aquarium community from across the world came together in person and online to reflect on nine decades of shared purpose and to look ahead to the next chapter.
Under the theme ‘90 Years and Beyond: Uniting for a Thriving Planet’, the conference invited our global community to celebrate our collective heritage while preparing for the future. And just like any memorable anniversary celebration, the week offered a welcoming host, an inspiring guest list, a thoughtfully curated menu of ideas, moments of recognition, a marvellous programme and a symbolic passing of the torch to next year’s host.
Hosted by the Cali Zoo, the conference set the stage for a milestone gathering. Colombia’s vibrant cultural and ecological landscape offered a fitting ‘venue’, welcoming attendees with warmth, diversity, and a deep commitment to conservation.
For the first time in WAZA’s history, this annual gathering was presented in a hybrid format, opening the celebration to online participants around the world. Delegates onsite immersed themselves in the city’s rich heritage, while online participants joined the sessions in real time – uniting voices across continents.
Throughout the five days, participants revisited the lessons of the last nine decades, explored challenges and opportunities for the future, and reflected on what 90 years of collaboration truly means for modern zoos and aquariums.
Every memorable celebration offers a remarkable menu. In Cali, the programme served a series of thought-provoking ‘courses’ designed to nourish, challenge, and inspire.
The opening keynote was delivered by renowned anthropologist, author, and explorer Wade Davis, who took participants on a journey through the world’s cultural landscapes. Drawing on decades of fieldwork, Davis highlighted the irreplaceable ecological wisdom preserved within humanity’s cultural diversity.
Reflecting the essence of his work, he often reminds the world that:
“Every culture has something to say, just as each deserves to be heard.”
His keynote set a powerful tone for the celebration – inviting attendees to rediscover cultural knowledge as a source of resilience for our shared future.
The second keynote featured Rosamira Guillén of Proyecto Tití and Andrés Link of Proyecto Primates, two of Colombia’s most respected conservation leaders.
They presented decades of work protecting critically endangered primates – the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) and the brown spider monkey (Ateles hybridus) – and highlighted how long-term, community-centred, scientifically grounded approaches can transform landscapes and livelihoods.
The third keynote, delivered by Susana Cárdenas, Director of the Punta San Juan Programme in Peru, focused on 25 years of marine conservation driven by research, alliances, and community engagement. Her keynote demonstrated how sustained international partnerships between universities, governments, zoos, and aquariums can shape a model for resilience in the face of growing marine challenges.
A milestone celebration calls for symbolic toasts – and this year’s came in the form of two major releases.
On 27 October, WAZA officially launched the new WAZA Animal Welfare Strategy: Advancing Animal Welfare – The World Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare Strategy, a comprehensive, science-based framework guiding zoos and aquariums worldwide to advance the care, protection, and welfare of animals. An update of the landmark 2015 edition, the new Strategy has been shaped by more than 40 experts across the WAZA membership and reflects a decade of scientific progress and evolving best practice.
It provides members with an evidence-based, holistic framework to continue advancing the highest standards of animal welfare globally.
That same day, WAZA unveiled its Annual Report 2024, a comprehensive overview of the association’s achievements, including strengthened engagement in The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) processes, and progress on the Animal Welfare Evaluation Process. A highlight of the report is ‘90 Years of WAZA in 90 Images’, a visual tribute to WAZA’s history – the ideal anniversary photo album.
No celebration is complete without recognising the individuals and institutions that make our community extraordinary. At the Gala Dinner on 30 October, four prestigious awards honoured leadership in animal welfare, conservation, and sustainability:
During the Annual General Assembly on 30 October, WAZA welcomed its new Council for the 2025–2027 term, representing all global regions.
The Council includes institutional representatives from Houston Zoo, South Carolina Aquarium, Toronto Zoo, Alpenzoo Innsbruck, Chester Zoo, Helsinki Zoo, Mandai Wildlife Group, Melbourne Zoo, and Taipei Zoo, as well as representatives from Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), Latin American Zoo and Aquarium Association (ALPZA), and Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia (ZAA) and two observers seats for IUCN Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC) and International Zoo Educators Association (IZE).
“Reaching ninety years is not simply a marker of time — it is a testament to what we can achieve when we act together.”, said Dr Martín Zordan, WAZA CEO. “Our community’s strength lies in collaboration, and this conference showed that the next ninety years can be even more ambitious, inclusive, and impactful.”
Watch the WAZA 90th Legacy Video premiered at the conference, with footage submitted by WAZA members to showcase the conservation impact of our global community.
As the celebration drew to a close, the final moment followed tradition: passing the torch to the next host. Cologne Zoo (Germany) will welcome the global community to the 81st WAZA Annual Conference from 25–29 October 2026.
One of Europe’s oldest zoological institutions, Cologne Zoo blends heritage with innovation – a fitting stage for the next chapter in WAZA’s story.
Like any great anniversary celebration, the success of this event came down to the people who made it unforgettable. WAZA extends its warmest thanks to:
for contributing to this landmark moment in WAZA’s 90-year journey. Also, our sincere thanks go to our Gold Sponsor, Hanart Culture; Silver Sponsor, AfH Design; Lunch Sponsor, fahlo; and Online Sponsor, TRISON.
As we look ahead, WAZA remains committed to uniting voices, expertise, and purpose – for a thriving planet, now and for generations to come.
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.
