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WAZA Welcomes First New Member of 2021
Posted: 17 March 2021
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is delighted to welcome its first new member of 2021, the Greater Vancouver Zoo. The Zoo joined as a new Institutional Member in March.
Established in 1970, the Greater Vancouver Zoo has grown from being a small drive-through to one of Canada’s premier zoological destinations and a dedicated contributor to species conservation over the past half a century.
The 120-acre zoo, situated in British Columbia, is dedicated to education and conservation and is home to many rescued, donated and orphaned animals.
Dr Martín Zordan, Chief Executive Officer of WAZA, said: “WAZA’s mission is to be the voice of a global community of high standard, conservation-based zoos and aquariums and a catalyst for their joint conservation action. By having the Greater Vancouver Zoo joining us, we make this mission stronger. We are honoured to have them as our first new member in 2021.”
It is with much pride that the Greater Vancouver Zoo has joined the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, this is an important organisation in the world of animal care and welfare, education and global conservation,” said Serge Lussier, General Manager of the Greater Vancouver Zoo. “The next people that will have their heart for protecting the environment, that will go into politics and have an influence — they need to come to our zoo and realise the importance of our zoo. There’s more to it than animals, but animals are the centre of it. What we’re doing is not only something that will be great for families in British Columbia, but also something that is important for the future of our society.”
Supporting conservation efforts is one of the primary missions of the zoo, and this is implemented on different scales. At the local level, its commitment is aimed at protecting some of British Columbia’s native species, such as the Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly, the Oregon spotted frog and the western painted turtle. Additionally, the Greater Vancouver Zoo supports the creation of conservation breeding programmes for the recovery of populations such as the woodland caribou, an emblematic animal of North America, which is unfortunately on the verge of extinction.
The Zoo aims to be a leader in conservation through active onsite rehabilitation programmes of endangered local species, head-start and release programmes, participation in global conservation initiatives, and public education. It was recognised for its conservation efforts and twice awarded the Peter Karsten In Situ Conservation Award for its work on the Salmon River Restoration Project and the Western Painted Turtle Recovery Programme, respectively.
The Greater Vancouver Zoo is also a member of Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA).
To learn more about the Greater Vancouver Zoo, please visit their website at: gvzoo.com
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:
