Formed in 1992, EAZA’s (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria) mission is to facilitate cooperation within the European zoo and aquarium community towards the goals of education, research and conservation.

They believe that zoos and aquaria have a strong role to play in protecting nature and wildlife both at their institutions and out in the field, by:

• Providing funding and manpower to in situ conservation projects aimed at protecting animal populations and their habitats
• Maintaining viable populations of animals in human care to ensure their survival over the long term
• Educating their visitors about animals and their habitats and providing them with the knowledge and opportunities they need to live sustainably as part of nature
• Researching all aspects of animal biology to improve the understanding of animals and how they live and interact

By ensuring that its member zoos and aquariums achieve and maintain the highest standards of care and breeding for the species they keep, EAZA empowers European citizens to learn about and contribute to global biodiversity conservation goals. It is estimated that more than 140 million people visit EAZA members each year, equivalent to approximately one in five European citizens.