Bristol Zoo director to co-host climate change conference
Bristol Zoo Gardens’ director is due to co-host a conference on zoos’ responsibilities towards climate change next week.
The conference, being held at Chester Zoo, will look into how zoos across the world can do their bit to combat climate change.
Bristol Zoo’s director, Dr Jo Gipps, and Chester Zoo Director General, Prof Gordon McGregor Reid, will host the free event, on Thursday, March 18.
Dr Gipps said the issues of climate change can not be ignored, and Zoos have an important role to play. He said: “With 600 million people visiting zoos around the world each year, the potential to influence, educate and help make a difference should not be ignored.
“There are already many species which have become extinct in the wild and can now only be seen in zoos – such as the socorro doves at Bristol Zoo. If we do not act now to help protect animals and their ecosystems, zoos and aquariums will become the last places on Earth to see some of the world’s beautiful yet critically endangered species.”
The conference will include a panel of experts from across the north west region, and decision makers from local and regional authorities have also been invited to the ‘Question Time’ style event, which Dr Gipps will chair.
Chester Zoo’s Head of Discovery and Learning, Stephen McKeown, said: “There is an urgency around climate change and we need to raise awareness of that fact at local, regional and national levels.
“We have all heard the doom and gloom stories but what we need to do is to look at positive ways of making a difference and to see what each and every one of us can do to help.
“The meeting will have a ‘call to action’ for attendees but zoos also have to take responsibility; globally they have an annual audience of 600 million people and are in an ideal position to explain that extinction is forever.”
The meeting will be held in Chester Zoo’s Lecture Hall on March 18 from 6pm and is free. To book a place contact Kate Brankin on 01244 389444.
For more information about Bristol Zoo Gardens, visit the website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk
Ends
For press enquiries please contact Bristol Zoo’s press office:
Lucy Parkinson, T: 0117 974 7306, E: lparkinson [at] bristolzoo [dot] org [dot] uk
Vanessa Hollier, T: 0117 974 7309, E: vhollier [at] bristolzoo [dot] org [dot] uk
Notes to editors
Bristol Zoo Gardens
- Bristol Zoo Gardens is an education and conservation charity and relies on the income from visitors to support its work.
- Throughout 2010 Bristol Zoo will be running a series of events to highlight the importance of conserving the world’s biodiversity, as part of the international Year of Biodiversity. For more information visit the Zoo website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/about/conservation/campaigns/iyob
- To find out more about the UN’s International Year of Biodiversity visit the website at www.biodiversityislife.net
- Bristol Zoo is open from 9am every day except Christmas Day.
- The Zoo is involved with more than 100 co-ordinated breeding programmes for threatened wildlife species.
- It employs 140 full and part-time staff to care for the animals and run a successful visitor attraction to support its conservation and education work.
- Bristol Zoo Gardens supports – through finance and skill sharing - over 12 projects in the UK and abroad that conserve and protect some of the world’s most endangered species.
- Bristol Zoo Gardens is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. BIAZA represents more than 90 member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums.
