WAZA Welcomes New Member – Dartmoor Zoological Society

Posted: 10 August 2021

The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is pleased to welcome the Dartmoor Zoological Society to the global zoo and aquarium community as a new Institutional Member.

The Dartmoor Zoological Society is the charity responsible for running Dartmoor Zoo which opened in July 2007. The 30-acre Zoo is located near Plymouth in the United Kingdom. The Zoo’s voluntary CEO, Benjamin Mee, and his family rescued the formerly privately owned and dilapidated Zoo by buying and transforming it. The story of which was documented in Mee’s book “We Bought a Zoo”, which was also adapted into a Hollywood movie.

Otters at Dartmoor Zoo

The charity’s vision is for a future where no animal species face extinction, and its mission is to educate, inform, inspire and empower people to be more connected with the natural world and take greater responsibility for their impact.

Research is one of the Zoo’s key objectives, and it has launched the Dartmoor Institute of Animal Science, a research, conservation and education centre, in partnership with Plymouth University. Dartmoor Zoo’s research includes both animal-based and visitor studies. The Zoo is also committed to sustainability and environmental protection and works closely with the Green Tourism Award to inspire the highest standards of sustainability, efficiency and working practices.

Dartmoor Zoo's research pod, the Dartmoor Institute of Animal Science

“We are delighted to expand our global community by welcoming the Dartmoor Zoological Society as a new WAZA Institutional member,” said Dr Martín Zordan, Chief Executive Officer of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). “As a global community committed to high standards of animal welfare and conserving biodiversity, we are able to further increase our impact by having more like-minded organisations like the Dartmoor Zoological Society joining us.”

“We are delighted to be part of WAZA. We have worked hard to build an incredible home for our animals, where we have the privilege of continuing our mission to protect them whilst also providing a platform to educate our guests and continue to learn about how to conserve them today and in the future,” said Coral Jones, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Dartmoor Zoological Society.

For more information and to learn more, please visit: www.dartmoorzoo.org.uk

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.

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