Year of the Frog - European Association of Zoos and Aquaria

eaza news 61
2008
04
from the eaza office
Talking about ethics at Copenhagen
The EAZA Code of Ethics dates back to 2001 and focuses mainly
on animal welfare topics. However, the Membership and Ethics
Committee recognises that zoos have to deal with much more
diverse ethical topics, e.g. issues relating to education and
sustainable development. Therefore, the committee decided
to embark on a process of revising the current document.
As a first step towards developing a new EAZA Code of Ethics,
Copenhagen Zoo hosted an ethics workshop on 26 and 27
November 2007. A total of 12 people participated, representing
most EAZA Committees. A first outline for the new document
has been put together, and this will be further developed in
close cooperation with all relevant committees, working groups
and other EAZA bodies over the coming months.
EAZA Council will meet at Lisbon Zoo
The EAZA Spring Council Meeting will be hosted by Lisbon Zoo,
Portugal, from 18 to 20 April 2008. The actual council meeting will
be preceded by an EAZA General Meeting, which will focus on the
business and governance aspects of running a zoo or aquarium.
Aspects such as corporate and public funding, leisure industry trends,
outsourcing exhibit planning and construction, and human resources
will be dealt with. Apart from EAZA Council representatives, business
and governance staff of all EAZA member institutions can attend,
but there is a maximum of 100 participants. Be sure to book early if
you want to be a part of this unique new EAZA approach – and if you
want to enjoy springtime in sunny Portugal!
Welcome to Antwerp
The 25 th EAZA Annual Conference will
be hosted by the Royal Zoological Society of
Antwerp, Belgium, from 16 to 20 September 2008.
photo eaza executive office
Preparations are currently underway and all EAZA members have
received conference registration information. As always, information
is also available on the ‘Conference’ section of the EAZA website.
Skopje Zoo in transition
Skopje Zoo in Macedonia was built in 1926 and is located in the city
park, a green lung of over 100 ha. Nowadays, approximately 50% of all
Macedonians live in and around Skopje. Several years ago, actions were
undertaken by several local and external organisations to draw attention
to the bad conditions of the animals at Skopje Zoo, a situation which
was similar to that of other zoos in the region. Thereafter, the EAZA
Technical Assistance and Animal Welfare Committee visited Skopje Zoo
in 2004 and 2005 and plans were made to reconstruct the zoo.
The last renovations in Skopje Zoo took place 25 to 30 years ago. In
2005 the EAZA Technical Assistance and Animal Welfare Committee
conducted a regional workshop on EU zoo legislation and the basic
plans for reconstructing the zoo were discussed. Gerard Baars, current
director of the International Bear Foundation, accepted an invitation
to become the zoo’s mentor early 2006. With a new management, fully
supported by the city council of Skopje and embraced by the government,
a start was made to develop a master plan.
Staff at Skopje Zoo attended the EAZA Zoo Educator Conference in
Budapest, Hungary in spring 2007 and the zoo director was invited
by Pistoia Zoo, Italy, to be trained in the role of a zoo director. The
director’s assistant, also a veterinarian, visited the EAZA Executive Office
and followed a one-month training at Zodiac Zoos, the Netherlands to
learn more about modern zoo management. Furthermore, a zookeepers
training course was initiated, and record keeping systems have been
introduced.
Meanwhile, the new zoo outlines are becoming visible. The zoo received
funds in 2007 for complete renovation of its watering system and a
new monkey house and an enclosure for Barbary sheep have already
been completed. A new bear enclosure, a new site for lynxes and a new
tiger enclosure should be ready in early 2008, as well as a café with an
adjacent playground for children. The zoo budget is fully covered by
income through zoo visitors and donors. The main aim is to steer the
zoo towards an independent financial structure based on a new harmony
with the city of Skopje and the government of Macedonia. The zoo has
recently officially applied to become a Candidate for Membership of
EAZA.