European Association of Zoos and Aquaria

The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) is the principal professional association for the European zoo and aquarium community. It connects zoological parks, aquariums, conservation organizations, and related institutions that meet its membership requirements and participate in regional cooperation on animal care, collection management, public education, and biodiversity conservation. The association is administered from Natura Artis Magistra in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. EAZA's membership network extends across Europe and includes institutions in countries beyond the European Union. The organization has described a network of more than 340 member organizations in 41 countries, while a later membership listing recorded 308 full members, 20 temporary members, 20 candidates for membership, 55 corporate members, and 38 associate members across 47 countries. The different figures reflect differing membership categories and reporting dates rather than a single permanent count. A central part of EAZA's work is the EAZA Ex-situ Programme, commonly known as the EEP. This is a coordinated population-management system for animals held in participating zoos and aquariums. Each participating species or taxon is managed through a coordinator supported by a species committee. The coordinator gathers information about animals held across the network, maintains or contributes to a studbook, assesses demographic and genetic conditions, develops a management plan, and issues recommendations to member institutions. The programme is intended to maintain healthy, genetically managed populations while supporting wider conservation objectives; it is not simply a system for moving animals between collections. EAZA also provides a platform for professional cooperation and policy engagement. Its activities include regional collection planning, the exchange of expertise, conservation coordination, and educational work aimed at visitors and the wider public. The association engages with European policy processes and advises lawmakers through relevant standing committees of the European Parliament and the European Council, particularly on issues connected with biodiversity, wildlife protection, and the role of zoological institutions. Another visible element of the organization is its recurring thematic conservation-campaign programme. Approximately every two years, EAZA focuses public and institutional attention on a threatened species or ecosystem. Campaigns are designed to increase awareness of biodiversity loss, encourage fundraising for conservation projects, support education in member institutions, and contribute to advocacy with governments and international organizations. Members adapt campaign materials and activities for their visitors and local communities. EAZA's humanitarian and conservation role became especially visible after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The association established a funding appeal to support Ukrainian zoos and the animals under their care. By June 2022, the appeal had collected €1,324,884 from more than 130 institutional donors and approximately 11,000 private donors. Funds were distributed according to assessed need and requests from Ukrainian institutions, reaching nearly 20 organizations at that stage. Because wartime conditions affected transport, communications, banking, and access routes, the channels used to distribute assistance could change over time. EAZA is therefore best understood not as a consumer-facing zoo brand, but as a membership and coordination body. Its influence comes from professional standards, shared data, population planning, conservation campaigns, institutional accreditation or membership processes, and the ability to coordinate collective action among zoological institutions.

The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria developed as a coordinating body for the professional zoo and aquarium sector in Europe. Its role is to connect institutions that comply with EAZA membership standards and to provide mechanisms through which they can cooperate on animal management, conservation, education, and public policy. The association is headquartered and administered at Natura Artis Magistra in Amsterdam. Rather than operating zoological parks itself, EAZA functions as a membership organization and sector-wide coordinator. Its network includes full, temporary, candidate, corporate, and associate members, with institutions represented across a broad European geography. Membership creates a framework for professional exchange and collective participation in programmes that would be difficult for individual zoos or aquariums to manage independently. The EAZA Ex-situ Programme became a major expression of this coordinating function. Under the programme, participating institutions collaborate on the management of animal populations maintained outside their natural habitats. Species coordinators assemble records from participating institutions, maintain population information and studbooks, evaluate demographic and genetic conditions, and recommend future management actions. Species committees assist coordinators in developing plans intended to preserve viable populations and improve the scientific basis for collection decisions. By 2022, more than 400 animal species were represented in the programme. EAZA's work extends beyond collection management. The organization promotes conservation education and helps its members communicate biodiversity issues to visitors. It also engages with European policymakers through standing committees associated with the European Parliament and the European Council. This advocacy role allows the association to present the collective experience of zoological institutions in discussions involving wildlife protection, conservation policy, and biodiversity. The association established a recurring thematic campaign model in which a threatened species or environment becomes the focus of coordinated public communication and fundraising. These campaigns generally seek to increase awareness, support conservation projects, encourage member participation, and influence national or international decision-makers. The campaigns give member institutions a common theme while allowing individual zoos and aquariums to develop local exhibitions, educational activities, and visitor appeals. In 2022, EAZA applied its network to an emergency situation when Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine placed Ukrainian zoos, aquariums, staff, and animals under severe pressure. EAZA launched a funding campaign, collected donations from institutions and individuals, and directed support to Ukrainian organizations according to need and requests received. By June 2022, reported contributions had reached €1,324,884, and nearly 20 institutions had received assistance. Distribution arrangements had to remain adaptable because wartime conditions could disrupt normal financial and logistical channels. By the 2020s, EAZA represented hundreds of institutions across dozens of countries and combined several functions: membership administration, professional standards, ex-situ conservation, education, policy engagement, thematic campaigning, and emergency coordination. Its historical significance lies in creating a regional infrastructure through which zoos and aquariums can act collectively on animal populations and conservation priorities rather than operating as isolated institutions.

• 2023

  Membership listing records institutions in 47 countries

  [1]European Association of Zoos and Aquariaen.wikipedia.org

  A membership listing published as of October 2023 recorded full, temporary, candidate, corporate, and associate members represented in 47 countries.

• 2022

  EEP covers more than 400 animal species

  [1]European Association of Zoos and Aquariaen.wikipedia.org

  The EAZA Ex-situ Programme was reported to include more than 400 animal species, supported by coordinators, species committees, population records, and management planning.

• 2022

  Emergency support campaign for Ukrainian zoos

  [1]European Association of Zoos and Aquariaen.wikipedia.org

  EAZA launched an appeal for Ukrainian zoos affected by the war. By June, reported donations had reached €1,324,884 and assistance had been provided to nearly 20 institutions.

• Formation and development of a European zoo and aquarium association

  [1]European Association of Zoos and Aquariaen.wikipedia.org

  EAZA developed as a professional association linking European zoos, aquariums, and related institutions. The available reference material does not specify the founding year.

• Expansion of the EAZA membership network

  [1]European Association of Zoos and Aquariaen.wikipedia.org

  The association grew into a multi-category membership network covering institutions in more than 40 countries. Reported totals vary by date and membership category.

A regional professional and conservation association for zoos, aquariums, and related institutions, positioned around scientific population management, animal-welfare standards, public education, biodiversity conservation, and collective advocacy.

• Conservation and population management

  EAZA Ex-situ Programme

  The EEP coordinates the management of animal populations held by participating EAZA institutions. For each managed species or taxon, a coordinator works with a species committee to collect institutional records, maintain a studbook, evaluate demographic and genetic conditions, prepare a long-term management plan, and recommend transfers or other actions. The programme is intended to support scientifically managed populations and connect zoo-based work with broader conservation objectives.

• Public education and conservation fundraising

  Thematic conservation campaigns

  EAZA's recurring campaigns focus attention on a threatened species, habitat, or environmental issue. Member institutions use shared themes and materials to educate visitors, raise funds for conservation projects, promote biodiversity awareness, and support advocacy directed at governments and international organizations. The campaigns are generally organized on an approximately two-year cycle.

• Institutional membership services

  Membership and professional standards

  EAZA provides a membership framework for zoos, aquariums, corporate participants, and associated organizations. Eligible institutions participate in professional cooperation, collection planning, conservation programmes, education initiatives, and sector discussions. Membership is available to institutions across Europe that comply with the association's standards and requirements.

• Advocacy and knowledge exchange

  Conservation policy and education support

  Through committees, educational activities, and policy engagement, EAZA helps represent the collective expertise of zoological institutions. Its work includes biodiversity communication and advice to European lawmakers, including engagement with relevant bodies connected to the European Parliament and European Council.

• 2022Campaign for the Ukrainian zoos

  Europe · Ukraine

  EAZA organized an emergency fundraising campaign to help Ukrainian zoos care for animals and sustain essential operations during the Russo-Ukrainian War. The appeal mobilized institutional and private donors across the association's network.

  Outcome. By June 2022, the campaign had reportedly raised €1,324,884 from more than 130 institutional donors and about 11,000 private donors. Funds were allocated according to need and requests, with support reaching nearly 20 Ukrainian institutions.

  Source
• EAZA thematic conservation campaigns

  Europe · EAZA member institutions

  EAZA conducts recurring campaigns focused on threatened species or environments. The campaigns combine visitor education, biodiversity awareness, fundraising, member participation, and advocacy.

  Source

• 2022

  Coordinate emergency assistance for Ukrainian zoological institutionsStrategy

  Background

  The Russo-Ukrainian War created urgent risks for Ukrainian zoos, their staff, infrastructure, and animals.

  Action taken

  EAZA launched a fundraising appeal and established a process for directing assistance to Ukrainian institutions according to need and requests received.

  Aftermath

  The appeal raised €1,324,884 by June 2022 and provided funds to nearly 20 institutions. Distribution methods remained adaptable because wartime disruptions could affect available channels.

  Funds raised. €1,324,884 (By June 2022)

  Source

1. 1European Association of Zoos and Aquariaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2European Association of Zoos and Aquaria official websiteeaza.net