Education is now a legal requirement of British and European zoo licensing laws. BIAZA demands a commitment to education from its 70 member collections and most now employ full or part-time education staff, many of whom are qualified and experienced teachers. Education staff are increasingly involved in the planning of animal collections and shaping the future development of zoos to fulfil their local and global role, as set out in the “World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy” (WAZA, 2005). Zoo education programmes are now recognized as “one of the primary tools of conservation.”
BIAZA works hard through its Council and Education and Training Committee to support zoo educators in meeting the needs of zoo visitors, school children and teachers. Annual zoo education awards encourage the sharing of good practice between member zoos. Organising training for zoo staff and encouraging attendance at national and international zoo education conferences are other ways in which BIAZA fulfils its commitment to high quality education in support of worldwide conservation.
In the end we will conserve only what we love and respect.
We will love and respect only what we understand.
We will understand only what we are taught or allowed to experience.
attributed to Baba Dioum, an African conservationist
