Bristol Zoo Gardens scoops top awards at British Zoo “Oscars”
Bristol Zoo Gardens has received two top awards from the British zoo community at a prestigious awards ceremony.
The Zoo has won ‘best research project’ and ‘best education project’ in the annual British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) awards.
The research project award has been given for an in-depth study on the nocturnal northern giant mouse lemur in Sahamalaza National Park, north-western Madagascar.
The education project award was given for the Zoo’s project called ‘All Creatures Great and Small’, which aimed to highlight the importance of biodiversity in celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity in 2010.
Commendations were also awarded to Bristol Zoo in three categories – best field conservation project for its white-clawed crayfish project; best education project for its spider phobia courses, and best new zoo enclosure for the zoo’s amphibian breeding facility, the AmphiPod.
The awards were presented by wildlife presenter Steve Leonard at a prestigious ceremony held at Twycross Zoo, Warwickshire, attended by some 100 people last night (Wednesday, November 16).
Director of Bristol Zoo, Dr Bryan Carroll, said: “It’s wonderful to receive these awards. They highlight the extremely high standards and achievements of Bristol Zoo Gardens, from research and conservation, to education and breeding endangered species, all of which are vital elements of what we do. These awards also show that the zoo community recognises the dedication and hard work that goes on at Bristol and other British zoos every day.”
Held annually for over a decade, the BIAZA awards recognise outstanding contributions and achievements in the fields of wildlife conservation, advances in animal welfare and husbandry, marketing, PR, education, research, and enclosure design.
Dr Miranda Stevenson, Director of BIAZA said: “The BIAZA awards highlight the significant achievements within the zoo world and once again this year’s award-winning projects show the exceptional contributions our members make to conservation and education each year. Equally, they are standard bearers for excellence in animal husbandry and welfare. We congratulate all the winners.”
BIAZA is a conservation, education and scientific wildlife charity, which acts as the principal professional body representing the responsible zoo and aquarium community in the UK and Ireland.
For more information about Bristol Zoo Gardens, visit the website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk
ENDS
For more information please contact Bristol Zoo’s press office:
Lucy King, T: 0117 974 7306, or email: lking@bristolzoo.org.uk
Vanessa Hollier, T: 0117 974 7309, email: vhollier@bristolzoo.org.uk
Or Zara Gaspar, Communications Manager at BIAZA, T: 020 7449 6599, E: communications@biaza.org.uk
Bristol Zoo Gardens
· Bristol Zoo is open from 9am every day except Christmas Day.
· Bristol Zoo Gardens is a conservation and education charity and relies on income from visitors and supporters to continue its important work.
· In 2011 Bristol Zoo celebrates its 175th anniversary and wants to do more than celebrate.
· Over that past 175 years, the Zoo has brought six generations of Bristolians closer to wildlife, helped save over 175 species from extinction, established over 30 field conservation and research programmes all over the world, showed 40 million school aged children the wonder of nature and given more than 90 million visitors a wonderful day out.
· Throughout 2011 we’re bring people, businesses, charities and wildlife together to share amazing experiences that raise awareness and funds to save threatened wildlife and places. To find out more, visit www.bristolzoo.org.uk/whats-on
· Throughout 2011 we will be focusing our efforts on raising funds and awareness in support of gorilla conservation.
· Throughout 2011 Bristol Zoo will support the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria Ape Campaign.The campaign aims to make a significant and lasting contribution to the continued survival of apes and their habitats, and is being led by Dr Bryan Carroll, the Director of Bristol Zoo.
· To find out more about the EAZA Ape Campaign visit the Zoo website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/conservation-campaigns.
· Bristol Zoo is involved with more than 100 co-ordinated breeding programmes for threatened wildlife species.
· It employs over 150 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 supports – through finance and skill sharing - 15 projects in the UK and abroad that conserve and protect some of the world’s most endangered species.
· In 2010 Bristol Zoo Gardens set up a Conservation Fund to raise vital funds to help care for threatened animals and plants – both in the Zoo and through the conservation work we do in the UK and around the world.
· 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.
BIAZA, British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums
BIAZA is a conservation education and scientific wildlife charity, which acts as the principal professional zoo body representing the responsible zoo and aquarium community in the UK and Ireland. With about 100 members, its role is to develop and spread best practice within the UK and international zoo community, combining lobbying and campaigning with the development of policy in collaboration with the government and scientific organizations. Over the last 12 months, BIAZA members have supported around 700 projects by providing financial support in excess of £9 million and by supplying skills, staff and equipment for conservation programmes worldwide.
