New data shows >£150 million spent on conservation by zoos, safari parks and aquariums

• New data from BIAZA reveals staggering role of zoos, safari parks and aquariums to save the planet.  
• Data shows £153 million has been spent on conservation by BIAZA members in the last five years.  
• In 2024 BIAZA zoos, aquariums and safari parks undertook 1236 different conservation projects and 1280 research projects. 
• In 2024 BIAZA zoos welcomed 30 million visits and delivered 1.13 million education visits.  

New data released by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) shows the astonishing contribution of British and Irish zoos and aquariums to nature conservation. Data from BIAZA’s annual questionnaire of its members shows that they have contributed £153 million to nature conservation in the last five years supporting species from tiny British harvest mice to the incredible chimpanzees of Uganda. 

Dr Jo Judge, the CEO of BIAZA, commented: “In a world in which the news feels increasingly bleak, the incredible dedication of our zoos and aquariums to our natural world should be a source of hope.” 

The data has been released ahead of the organisation’s Love Your Zoo Week and Love Your Aquarium Week (26-30 May) where members of the public are asked to celebrate the contribution of the zoo sector.  

Conservation is at the heart of modern zoos and aquariums, noteworthy conservation projects from the sector include:  

• Colchester Zoological Society supporting the UmPhafa Reserve in South Africa – a haven for wild giraffes, wild dogs and others. 
• Research into Gambia’s crocodiles by Crocodiles Of The World.  
• Shaldon Zoo’s support for the Little Fireface project to which aims to save the rare slow loris via research, education and empowerment in Java. 
• Blackpool Zoo’s funding for the Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation – working in veterinary care, education and health monitoring for endangered Asian Elephants.  
• Nearly 100,000 native species logged and reported by zoos and aquariums as part of the Spotted on Site campaign in partnership with iNaturalist.  
• Project Oceanic Whitetip – a project to protect critically endangered sharks from over-exploitation, supported by The Deep aquarium in Hull.  

“I don’t think people realise the extent of work our modern zoos and aquariums carry out. The conservationists who work to dedicate their lives to protecting species from tiny pine hoverflies to Sumatran tigers are modern day heroes.” Continued Judge.  

But the charity, which works to improve zoos and aquariums, says the sector must go even further. Despite the colossal work taking place we continue to face an extinction crisis, with habitat declines and climate change being the major drivers. 

Support for BIAZA zoos and aquariums means their phenomenal benefits to conservation can go even further.