Membership publications |
| BIAZA publishes an Annual Report and a quarterly magazine, LifeLines, for circulation. Members receive a monthly enews with updates on issues such a legislation, notices about meetings and training workshops as well as reports on the activities of the office and BIAZA committees. |
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| BIAZA produces a number of codes of best practice, policy guidelines and animal management guidelines. |
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| The BIAZA office is a central place for queries from members particularly with regards to providing contacts and advice on all issues related to zoos and aquariums. |
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| BIAZA Meetings |
| Other than regular Council and committee meetings, BIAZA has two major meetings each year; the Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting (in May) and the Awards, Communication and Education (ACE) conference (in the autumn). |
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| The Annual Conference has a different theme each year; in 2004 (held at Marwell Zoological Park) it centered around the new edition of the World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy, in 2005 (held in Curraghs Wildlife Park) it focused on how BIAZA can assist its members put the strategy into action and in 2006 (held at Chester Zoo), the focus was on zoos and aquariums in the community, for the first time considering political and economic communities as well as conservation and animal welfare. The 2007 conference will be held at Africa Alive! and the theme is yet to be determined. |
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| Awards are awarded to BIAZA members in recognition that members are constantly striving to achieve more and push the boundaries of best practice ever higher. |
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| The Award categories are: |
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significant advances in husbandry and welfare |
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significant achievements in sustained breeding |
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best field conservation project |
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best education project – schools and educational institutions |
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best education project – public and general visitor |
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best marketing project |
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best public relations project |
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best research project |
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significant advances in zoo and wildlife medicine |
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outstanding achievement for individual |
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| The Awards are presented to members at an Awards ceremony that precedes that a joint communication and education conference. The aim of this conference is for education, marketing, pr and other relevant staff to learn off each other and invited guest speakers. It is a forum for new staff to learn about zoo communication and for more established staff to find out about the latest developments. |
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The Education and Training Committee hold regional educators meetings three times a year. |
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In addition to these two meetings, there are taxon related meetings (mammals, birds, reptile and amphibian, aquarium, terrestrial invertebrates and British and Irish native species working groups) through out the year (see Events for dates and studbooks ) . |
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| Also an Annual Zoo Research Symposium, normally in July (again see events for dates and (see Events for dates and research ) . |
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| NOTE – these meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend. BIAZA members will get a subsidised rate and priority if space is of a premium. |
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| Liaising with Government |
| BIAZA works closely with government (Defra and the Zoos Forum) to ensure, through the implementation of the Zoo Licensing Act, that the highest standards of welfare are maintained and that collections fulfil their obligations under the EU Directive for conservation, education and research criteria. |
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| As the only professional body for zoos and aquariums in the UK, BIAZA is a key stakeholder and source of information for issues such as animal welfare, conservation, CITES, avian influenza, avian and rabies quarantine and transport of animals. |
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| In addition, BIAZA is an active member of a number of All Party Parliamentary Groups and hosts an annual reception at the Houses of Parliament to increase our profile and that of our members, directly to Members of Parliament. |
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| Liaising with public and media |
BIAZA regularly communicates with the public and media on topics of generic (non-site specific) zoo issues.
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| Most recently, BIAZA has handled almost all the media attention on zoos and avian influenza. |
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| Through our website and by phone, we answer a wide range of enquiries about zoos and their activities. |
