Paignton Zoo is committed to the conservation of plants and animals throughout the world. We are involved with field conservation projects in the UK and overseas, breeding programmes for native and exotic animals and research within the Zoo.
The IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) monitors which plants and animals are threatened and endangered. This includes 23% of all mammals and 11% of birds.
Why are animals and plants threatened?
- Habitat destruction and fragmentation
- Over-consumption of resources by humans
- Pollution
- Illegal wildlife trade
- Global climate change
- Competition from species introduced by humans
In May 2005 the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) published a new World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy outlining the role of zoos as members of the international conservation community. This groundbreaking and inspirational new strategy, entitled ‘Building a Future for Wildlife’, follows on ten years after the publication of the first conservation strategy. The new strategy acknowledges the positive role of its predecessor, celebrates the conservation successes of the past decade and sets out the way forward for effective and integrated conservation for zoos well into the 21st century.
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