In the face of insufficient public funding, conservation actions promoted by zoos are gaining in importance.

On 30 December 2013, the United Nations General Assembly declared March, 3rd as World Wildlife Day.

Dedicating one day a year to the planet’s wildlife may seem like a small symbol, but its purpose is immense – to inspire people and organisations to conserve biodiversity!

This year’s theme is based on Financing Wildlife Conservation: Investing in People and the Planet, which is very significant when we consider the current context of a world that is changing incessantly and needs the support of each and every one of us.

This year of 2025, World Wildlife Day also promises to be a launch pad for debating and analysing innovative and inspiring solutions for biodiversity conservation in the face of the contemporary challenges facing our societies and governments.

Environmental conservation has always sought to understand and act on species and ecosystems, but only recently has it begun to include other elements that are just as important, or even more so, such as the economy, ethics and society. Fortunately, conservation is increasingly being recognised as a broad concept and there is a greater awareness that conservation is not possible without the support of people.

There are many examples of resilient species that have somehow recovered thanks to conservation projects, and they are living proof that there is still hope:

• ‘Alalā or Hawaiian crow (Corvus hawaiiensis) – From less than 20 birds to around 140 birds;

• Tamaraw or Mindoro dwarf buffalo (Bubalus mindorensis) – From 154 animals to at least 427;

• Grey-breasted parakeet (Pyrrhura griseipectus) – From around 100 birds to around 1,000 birds;

• Tequila fish (Zoogoneticus tequila) – From 50 adults to more than 800 individuals;

• Yellow-eared parrot (Ognorhynchus icterotis) – From 81 birds to around 3,800;

• Lear’s macaw (Anodorhynchus leari) – From 60 birds to around 1,300.

Over time, many zoos and aquariums have also ceased to be mere entertainment centres and have become legitimate vehicles for scientific research, environmental education and conservation. In the face of insufficient public funding, these conservation actions in zoological centres are becoming even more important.

Zoomarine financially supports various in-situ conservation projects – World Parrot Trust, Marine Megafauna Foundation, Yaqu Pacha – as well as ex-situ projects that take place at Zoomarine itself – through Porto d’Abrigo, our marine animal rehabilitation centre, or through programmes coordinated by European Associations, which seek to maintain healthy populations under human care, thus contributing to the conservation of biodiversity.

The collaboration of different partners is essential to create strategies that awaken people’s empathy for nature and its diversity. In this way, it will be much easier to awaken the interest about species conservation.

“Our own survival depends on wildlife just as much as their survival depends on us” 

So celebrating World Wildlife Day is everyone’s right and duty!

Together, We Protect!