A spotlight on sustainability, our species plan, and two award-winning members of the team at the BIAZA annual conference 2024

Members of the Bristol Zoological Society team were delighted to attend the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) annual conference, held at Chester Zoo, from 11 to 13 June. Over 140 BIAZA members attended two days of talks, workshops, and panel discussions on topics including accreditation, sustainability, conservation, education, species master planning, global zoo updates, animal health and welfare, population management, smaller collections, and research into public attitudes.

On day one, Suzannah Newham (our Sustainability Officer) joined forces with other BIAZA sustainability working group members from Chester Zoo and Marwell Wildlife to host the first-ever sustainability workshop at a BIAZA annual conference. Their full afternoon session provided an overview of the activities undertaken by the working group, an introduction to the environmental, social, and governance dimensions of sustainability, the importance of operating sustainably across the zoo and aquarium sector, and the need for us to all live well within our planetary boundaries.

Did you know? If the entire global population lived and consumed like we do in the UK, we would need nearly three planets to satisfy our demand on natural resources and services!

The workshop concluded with a breakout session of 11 smaller groups to encourage BIAZA members to share their sustainability successes and to identify the next challenges to be addressed - thank you to Rio Whittaker (our Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Officer) for helping to facilitate one of the groups. The sustainability working group is now using the feedback from the workshop to generate resources and future events to support BIAZA members on their sustainability journeys.

Day one ended with some insightful tours of Chester Zoo. Of particular interest was the behind-the-scenes look at their new air source heat pumps which are helping to keep their Critically Endangered eastern black rhinos warm. The new Bristol Zoo Project development will be using very similar technology to reduce our carbon emissions while also maintaining the appropriate heating, cooling and ventilation that our animals need. It was good to see the technology in operation and to hear that the rhinos approve!

On day two, Nigel Simpson (our Head of Zoo Animals) participated in a lively panel discussion focused on species master planning. Alongside representatives from Wildwood Trust and Dartmoor Zoological Society, Nigel spoke about the importance of species planning supporting overarching strategies, and Bristol Zoological Society’s target for a minimum 90% of the species we care for to be both threatened, endangered or critically endangered and part of targeted conservation programmes.

The annual conference concluded with a gala dinner and awards ceremony where our very own Tamara Canalejas (Curator of Ectotherms) received a runner up award for improving the welfare and husbandry for Valencia robertae - a species of Mediterranean killifish found in Greece, and Laura Graham (Animal Registrar) received the BIAZA Rising Star award.

Brian Zimmerman, Director of Conservation and Science, said: “Laura not only navigates the daily task of managing animal records and transfers for the Society, she had to go above and beyond when it came to finding homes and coordinating the moves of so many animals after the closure of BZG.

Laura’s proactive and highly organised work style really helped get the job done. I’m so pleased that she has received the Rising Star Award, which is very well deserved.”

So, all in all, a very successful and enjoyable event to be part of – thank you BIAZA!

Here’s to another year of collaborations that support our mission of Saving Wildlife Together.