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Research in BIAZA Zoos and Aquariums |
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The BIAZA Research Group (BRG) plays an increasingly important role in zoo and aquarium conservation, research and education by supporting and stimulating research activities in our member collections. The main aims of the BRG are to communicate the importance and benefits of zoo and aquarium related research, to act as a stimulus and technical assistant for Taxon Working Groups (TWG) and educators on research issues and to raise the profile of zoo-related research within and outside the zoo community. |
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| The BRG holds an Annual Zoo Research Symposium, which attracts an increasing number of academic and zoo professionals as well as students. Themed sessions and workshops are aimed at increasing the understanding of the influences on zoo animal welfare, and topics have included measuring stress, improving diet and nutrition and studying visitor effects. |
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| The BRG publishes a quarterly Research Newsletter, which is broadly distributed to animal collections, academic institutions and collaborating individuals. The newsletter is a tool for communication regarding the type of research studies being carried out in zoos. |
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| The BRG also works to support students and zoo personnel by producing Research Guidelines such as the Research Sampling Guidelines for Zoos, which covers setting up projects in zoos and aquariums and their planning. The BRG has produced a bibliography of Animal Husbandry Guidelines. A compilation of Plant Browse for Zoo Mammals (available on CD) was also produced in collaboration with the Plant Working Group. Contact the BIAZA office for copies. |
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| Throughout the BRG’s work runs the theme of enhancing animal welfare and best practice in animal management through applied research in animal biology. The BRG is working to extend this theme by supporting zoo and aquarium management when evaluating education tools . |
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| Doing Research in BIAZA Zoo's and Aquariums |
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| Before carrying out research in a BIAZA collection, it is only courteous and of benefit to the project if some background research has been done in advance and the zoo is NOT the first port of call for information. To aid researchers in finding information, BRG has information on sources available here. |
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| Researchers must also be aware that all collections will often put research proposals to their ethics committee. Some zoos will ask researchers to fill in a Research Pro forma to aid assessment of the project. |
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