Al Ain : Al Ain Zoo announced that it has joined the Eurasian Regional Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EARAZA) after obtaining a full vote for membership during the EARAZA 2023 conference hosted by Almaty Zoo in Kazakhstan held from 12th – 15th May 2023.
The membership entails partnerships with multiple zoos and aquariums in the Central Asian region with the aim of collaborating, sharing knowledge and expertise, and most importantly optimizing the Zoo’s efforts in the conservation of wildlife through research. It also strives to deliver optimal care to animal species, protect endangered wildlife and promote awareness and positive behavior towards biodiversity.
EARAZA is an association of zoos in Central Asia established in 1994 to promote and strengthen cooperation between zoological institutions. The Moscow Zoo coordinates EARAZA’s operations and helps organize annual conferences among its members.
Al Ain Zoo, after the request of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hosted a visiting delegation from the Moscow Zoo in November 2022 to discuss cooperation between the two parties in the field of wildlife protection, as well as the topmost item on the agenda which was the EARAZA membership.
Al Ain Zoo obtained full membership at the EARAZA 2023 conference, joining zoos from China, Germany, Turkey and Tajikistan, Russia, and Azerbaijan. The conference brought together more than 35 institutions, 156 delegates, and 70 members of the association to discuss issues facing zoos in the region with reference to Covid-19 recovery. Al Ain Zoo virtually attended the conference and made a presentation to the members in a closed session, followed by questions, internal discussions, and debates, after which the participants unanimously praised Al Ain Zoo’s entitlement to a full membership to the prestigious international association.