site.btaSofia Zoo's Membership in European Association of Zoos and Aquaria Is Historical Event - Sofia Zoo Director

Sofia Zoo being granted membership in the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) on April 27 was a historical event and a big recognition but also a huge responsibility, Sofia Zoo Director Dobromir Borislavov told BTA on Wednesday. On the eve of its 135th anniversary, Sofia Zoo became a member of the international organization uniting over 340 zoos and aquaria in Europe and West Asia.

The application process took more than 15 years, during which Sofia Zoo had to cover over 400 criteria, Borislavov explained, adding that this huge success is the result of the consistent efforts and work of Sofia Zoo's team and the support of Sofia City Hall. The criteria included not only technical requirements for the conditions for animals and visitors but also adherence to certain EAZA protocols for working with animals, training the zoo keepers, and security, among others. Sofia Zoo received help on the hard road to full membership from two official advisors and mentors determined by EAZA: Attica Zoological Park Director Jean-Jacques Lesueur and a former director of GaiaZOO in the Netherlands, who gave valuable advice and guidance for meeting the membership requirements.

EAZA was interested in the number of protected species in Sofia Zoo, the reintroduction programmes the zoo participates in, the breeding policy, the veterinary care, and the animals' feeding, Borislavov said. The educational activities, scientific work, and communication with the public were also among the membership requirements Sofia Zoo had to meet. 

Thanks to its EAZA membership, Sofia Zoo will gain new quotas for obtaining animals, new opportunities for exchanging animals with other zoos, access to foreign experience, participation in international programmes for conservation and breeding of over 400 rare and endangered species, the most modern training and professional development for zoo specialists, and access to an online platform for sharing knowledge and experience. EAZA members receive support and help from the EAZA Executive Office in Amsterdam.

As part of the efforts to join EAZA, Sofia Zoo has significantly improved the environment for its animals through a series of reconstructions, new rules and standards of work, and numerous trainings. Sofia Zoo proved that it is a nature conservation organization through its participation in over 12 European programmes for endangered species and in conservation projects for rare species in Bulgarian nature, Borislavov told BTA.