Photo: Dr Sarah Thomas, IZE President (Auckland Zoo) and David Field, WAZA President (RZSS Scotland) sign the WAZA-IZE MOU
During this week’s WAZA Council meeting, the International Zoo Educators Association (IZE) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) renewed and extended our longstanding Memorandum of Understanding, reaffirming a strong strategic partnership focused on global leadership in conservation education.
Building on years of collaboration, this renewed agreement strengthens our shared commitment to advancing Social Change for Conservation: the World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Education Strategy, a unified global framework guiding educational practices across the global zoo and aquarium community.
Through this collaboration, WAZA and IZE will continue to:
– Strengthen member capacity in communication, education, and behaviour change
– Develop and promote a shared global narrative on the societal value of zoos and aquariums
– Facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration across regions
– Extend the reach and impact of both organisations at a global level
Together, WAZA and IZE will continue to align their expertise, resources, and global networks to support their members in advancing their educational and social impact.
In 2026, IZE launched the Emerging Leaders Mentorship Program (ELMP), a new initiative designed to foster professional growth within our community. This year, we are piloting the program with an inaugural cohort of five mentors and five mentees.
ELMP represents a strategic evolution of our commitment to member success. Following an extensive review of the long-standing Sponsored Delegates Program (SDP) and its impact over the last decade, the Board recognized an opportunity to better align our resources with current member needs.
To ensure this new direction was member-led, we conducted focus groups to identify the most pressing professional development gaps. The feedback was clear: there is a significant demand for dedicated mentorship for mid-career conservation educators. ELMP was created specifically to meet that need.
Support for Our Mentees
We are proud to support our ELMP Mentees in their professional journey. Much like our previous delegates, mentees receive comprehensive support to attend the annual conference, including:
Guaranteed placement in the conference program.
Waived registration fees.
Covered accommodation costs for the duration of the event.
(Note: All other travel-related expenses remain the responsibility of the participant.)
We look forward to learning alongside this first cohort and showcasing the mentees’ impactful work at the 2026 Conference!
The Latin American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (ALPZA) commemorates, for the second consecutive year, the International Day Against Wildlife Trafficking on June 25. This date seeks to raise awareness and promote concrete actions to combat one of the most urgent threats to biodiversity. ALPZA highlights the key role of parks, zoos, and aquariums—leading conservation institutions—as spaces for education, participation, and citizen engagement.
For the first time, international organizations and partner associations from other regions are officially joining this ALPZA initiative, which was first launched in 2024 with 49 institutions from 14 Latin American countries working to combat illegal wildlife trafficking and positioning ALPZA as a key player in conservation efforts in Latin America with the message:
“Wildlife mascots promote illegal trafficking of species.” Don’t buy, get informed, protect.
Alarming figures that motivate action
Illegal wildlife trafficking represents a global environmental and security crisis of massive proportions. It is estimated that these crimes move billions of dollars annually, rivaling the trafficking of drugs, weapons, and people. Latin America, the most biodiverse region in the world, is particularly affected, underscoring the urgency of raising awareness of this issue.
Currently, more than one million species are in danger of extinction, and illegal wildlife trafficking has caused a decline of up to 71% in the populations of some of them. Added to this alarming figure is a devastating reality: 9 out of 10 animals captured for illegal trade die during transport. These statistics reflect the urgent need to act to curb this global threat to biodiversity.
The consequences of this activity are devastating: captured species suffer extreme conditions, face high mortality rates, and are removed from their ecosystems, causing serious ecological imbalances. In addition, this illegal activity poses significant health risks to people and ecosystems and violates multiple local and international environmental regulations.
Zoos and Aquariums: Pillars in the fight against illegal trafficking
Faced with this serious threat, ALPZA member institutions and their allies play a strategic and multifaceted role. Their work is crucial in the rehabilitation of wildlife victims of illegal trafficking and in leading both ex situ and in situ conservation programs. In addition, they conduct scientific research essential to the survival of species and educate millions of visitors annually on the importance of biodiversity. They also actively collaborate with environmental authorities to combat this crime.
It is important to highlight the impact of their reach: in the last seven years, ALPZA members alone have welcomed 150 million visitors. This enormous influx creates an ideal space for raising awareness and promoting learning about this critical issue.
“It is through this day that we want to call for action, especially considering that more than half of the seizures in the last decade affected protected species. It is urgent that everyone, from governments to citizens, join forces to combat this crime that threatens our biodiversity and the future of our planet,” emphasizes Alexandra Guerra, Executive Director of ALPZA.
The International Day Against Wildlife Trafficking is an expression of this collective commitment and a vital platform to inform, raise awareness, and mobilize citizens against this global environmental crime.
The campaign begins June 25, with a simultaneous activation on social media, in the media, and in institutional spaces. Starting on this date, participating institutions will carry out various actions over the course of a month to amplify the message and promote citizen action against illegal wildlife trafficking.
About ALPZA
The Latin American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (ALPZA) is a leading organization that brings together the main zoos and aquariums in Latin America. We are dedicated to promoting biodiversity conservation, environmental education, scientific research, and animal welfare in the region. Through collaboration among its members, ALPZA promotes standards of excellence and best practices, actively working on projects to conserve endangered species and raise public awareness about the importance of protecting our biodiversity.
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