Founded 1992 Area served Europe | Location Amsterdam, Netherlands Website www.eaza.net | |
Focus To facilitate cooperation within the European zoo and aquarium community towards the goals of education, research and conservation. | ||
The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) is an organisation for the European zoo and aquarium community that links over 340 member organizations in 41 countries. It operates the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP). The organisation is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
EAZA membership is open to all zoos and aquaria across Europe that comply with EAZA's standards. Member zoos and aquariums and other associate members can be found in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, the United States and the United Kingdom.
The mission of the association is to promote cooperation for furthering regional collection planning and wildlife conservation, mainly through coordinated breeding programs of wild animals such as the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP). The organisation promotes educational activities and advises the European Union, or other representative committees such as the European Parliament and the European Council.
Up until 2014, the EAZA receives no European subsidies.
In 2004 EAZA founded the organisation Shellshock to protect tortoises and turtles. Its mascot is Oscar the Turtle, a character from the British TV series Creature comforts. It collected over €250,000 in its first year.