The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), the global alliance of regional associations, national federations and institutions, has revealed the host of its 80th WAZA Annual Conference, which will take place from 26 to 30 October 2025.
Since 1935, the Association has sought to bring together a broad and vibrant community of progressive zoos and aquariums to promote conservation and animal welfare. The inaugural WAZA Annual Conference was conducted in 1935 in Basel, Switzerland, and the Association is set to celebrate its 90th anniversary and hold its 80th annual conference in 2025.
Earlier this year, the WAZA requested bids from members to host the 80th Annual Conference. A high number of proposals from its global membership were submitted, and after careful consideration, the WAZA Council voted to select Fundación Zoológica de Cali, or Cali Zoo, in Colombia as the host to celebrate and commemorate this significant milestone for its worldwide community.
Gathering the conservation community
The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will take place in Cali, Colombia, from October to November 2024. Cali Zoo will then host the historic annual conference, as the community strives to achieve the goals established by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
The 80th WAZA Annual Conference intends to draw together conservation leaders who are dedicated to promoting collaboration and defining the future of zoos and aquariums around the world. Delegates can expect captivating talks, informative workshops, and remarkable experiences that will have a long-term impact on the conservation community.
Karen Fifield MNZM, WAZA president, says: “As we celebrate WAZA’s 80th conference, we reflect on the progress made in advancing conservation and animal welfare efforts over the years. We will also reflect on the steps we need to take as a community in order to achieve the vision of enabling WAZA to be a globally recognised and trusted leader advancing conservation and animal welfare.
“We extend our warmest invitation to all attendees to join us in Cali for the 2025 WAZA Annual Conference as the ideal opportunity to bring leaders in the zoo, aquarium and conservation communities together to discuss pertinent issues for our community and examine how WAZA members can act on global issues. This will be the first ever WAZA conference to be held in Colombia, which is aligned with our strategic efforts of global representation, engagement, participation and voice.”
María Clara Dominguez Vernaza, director of Cali Zoo, comments: “The Fundación Zoológica de Cali is delighted to be the host of the 80th annual WAZA meeting next year. Through our gathering we hope to bring zoos from all over the world closer to the pressing conservation needs of megadiverse countries like Colombia, enabling long-term conservation activities.
“In parallel, we see this as an extraordinary opportunity to bring the goals and standards of WAZA closer to the Latin American zoological community, with whom we have worked for 30 years to bring the highest levels of animal welfare. We hope to see you in Colombia in 2025.”
The conference will bring together like-minded people, organisations, and professionals from across the world, promoting networking opportunities and future collaborations.
This year’s WAZA conference will take place from 3 to 7 November at Taronga Zoo in Sydney.
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) recently held its first Mid-Year Meeting online. This landmark event took place from 24 to 25 July and brought together leaders, experts, and stakeholders from throughout the international zoo and aquarium community to address critical issues, share information, and plan for the future.
The post WAZA reveals host of 80th WAZA Annual Conference appeared first on Blooloop.