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Al Ain Zoo Al Ain zoo joins EAZA

Discussion in 'United Arab Emirates' started by kiang, 16 May 2013.

  1. kiang

    kiang Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Al Ain zoo in UAE has been accepted as a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).
    Al Ain Zoo is a home to a diverse collection of almost 4,000 animals and is also active in efforts to prevent the extinction of many of these same animals. Locally, in partnership with the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, the zoo has re-introduced zoo-born Arabian Oryx back into the wild, and has developed a research and conservation project for the Arabian sand cat, and breeding programs for the Addax.

    Al Ain Zoo joins European Association of Zoos and Aquaria | Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort | AMEinfo.com
     
  2. vogelcommando

    vogelcommando Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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  3. Crowthorne

    Crowthorne Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

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  4. Nisha

    Nisha Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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  5. Zookeeper Diego

    Zookeeper Diego Member 10+ year member

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    The news is a little over a year old. EAZA has removed the membership of Al Ain Zoo due to the importation of wild elephants from Namibia, thus violating numerous EAZA codes and standards. Apparently the EEP stated that it was not going to accept this import and the TAG also stated that it was neither necessary nor desirable. Apparently the import was made despite EAZA's refusal and that is why they were expelled.
    Is this the first time that a zoo has been expelled from the EAZA for these types of reasons?

    https://www.eaza.net/assets/Uploads/2022-12-09-EAZA-Statement-on-Al-Ain-TerminationFINAL.pdf
     
    Wisp O' Mist, Jana and Kalaw like this.
  6. Jana

    Jana Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    To answer your question: Dvur got kicked out of EAZA in 2010 due to animal transfers that were outside EEP recomendations. (btw, it got its membership back in 2015 after change of director).

    To Al Ain.
    On one side, I understand why TAG tries to dissuade new imports of elephants from wild. It tries to force members to fully cooperate in breeding program, to make sacrifices and transfer animals between zoos to enable better breeding, to build more space for bachelor herds after zoos realise that fully sustinable zoo population needs such spaces etc. While possibility to import wild elephants enables zoos to behave selfish and just import young cows whenever they want and just forget about bulls or better facilities. And also, it it helps EAZA to reply militant animal rights activist that EAZA members dont import wild-caught elephants anymore.

    On the other hand, EEP simply doesnt have young cows that could be sent to AL AIN even if they begged, it was probably choice between import from namibia and having no elephants at all. Also, Al Ain lies outside of EU/EEA/Schengen area and that makes import and export of most animals somewhere between prohibitively expensive to impossible. EAZA giving membership to zoos outside Europe is something I see with sceptical eye, because running EEPs that require regular oversea transport is something that will dissuade most participants to accept such recomendations. Elephant transfer within continental zoos can run way over 10.000 euro, can you imagine an overseas transport pricetag?

    And another point to consider - Namibia is least corrupt country within Africa. It has strong institutions and is able to safegueard its wildlife, national parks etc. Their wild elephant population is growing for decades and probably reachs maximum capacity of enviroment. To legally import a few elephants from Namibia wont touch the wild population in any negative way (it would be like catching a small red deer group for zoo purposes somewhere in Scotland).

    At the end of the day, EAZA membership termination usually doesnt have just one cause, it is end stage of larger overall dissagreements. But, if EAZA has no problem to have Poznan zoo (that ignores most EEP recomendations) like its full member now, it seem pretty inconsistent in its decisions.
     
    Last edited: 17 Feb 2024
  7. GPN

    GPN Member

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    I do not agree with this, many matrilines need to be split in the EEP, at least 2 or 3 at Cabarceno and a few more in other European institutions.