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A Milestone Celebrated: Advancing the WAZA 2027 Population Management Goal
Posted: 29 April 2026
WAZA has recently marked the formal recognition of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), and the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia (ZAA), celebrating their achievement in meeting the WAZA 2027 Population Management Goal (27PMG). This moment was marked through the presentation of commemorative plaques, recognising their leadership and commitment to advancing professional, science-based population management.
This moment of recognition and celebration highlights what strong, effective and professional population management looks like in practice—and the direction we are collectively working towards when setting and implementing WAZA Goals.
Why It Matters
The WAZA 2027 Population Management Goal represents a shared commitment across our global community to strengthen how we manage animal populations, ensuring they are professionally managed, scientifically grounded, and aligned with conservation guidelines and frameworks.
At a time when biodiversity loss continues to accelerate, this Goal directly supports Target 4 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: halting species extinction, enabling species recovery, and safeguarding genetic diversity.
The Objective
By 31 December 2027, all WAZA Regional Associations – and where relevant, National Associations – are expected to:
- Establish a science-based population management framework aligned with WAZA-approved elements of population management
- Require participation of its institutional members in their population management framework, ensuring shared responsibility for effective and impactful population management
This is not only a technical framework. It is a collective commitment to credibility, collaboration, and conservation leadership.
The Six Elements of Effective Population Management
The Goal is built around six essential elements that define professional and effective population management:
- Goal-driven species selection: strategic approaches based on conservation needs
- Sourcing, transfer and destination policy: ensuring legal, sustainable and ethical practices
- Data, tools and science: grounding decisions in robust data and scientific methods
- Animal welfare: integrating welfare as a core factor in all decisions
- Engagement and participation by members: fostering collaboration across institutions
- Capacity building and staff: ensuring the right expertise, training and resources
Together, these elements form the foundation for impactful, coordinated action across regions.
How the Process Works
The pathway to meeting the Goal is designed to be both rigorous and supportive, ensuring consistency while enabling continuous improvement:
In summary:
- Associations undertake a self-assessment using the WAZA tool
- The WAZA Executive Office reviews submissions for completeness
- A Confirmation Panel evaluates the framework and provides feedback
- A decision is issued, with the possibility of further review and refinement
- Final outcomes are confirmed by the WAZA Executive Committee
This process ensures both accountability and shared learning across the network.
Moving Forward
The recognition and celebration of AZA, EAZA and ZAA is more than a milestone – it is a signal of what is possible through collaboration, commitment and shared global standards.
As more associations progress through the process, the Goal will continue to strengthen alignment across regions, enhance professional practice, and reinforce the global role of zoos and aquariums in conservation.
More information about the WAZA 2027 Population Management Goal can be found here.
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.
WAZA is a member of the following organisations:
