WWF Position on Zoos and Animals in Captivity

WWF Position on Zoos and Animals in Captivity

WWF primarily focuses its work on in situ conservation of species, i.e. in their natural habitat. However, we view zoos (often considered ex situ) as important facilities to promote conservation and biodiversity awareness among the public. This is the very reason why WWF-Pakistan regularly supports local zoos for their capacity building, coordinated management and has also lobbied for the formation of zoo management committees.

WWF-Pakistan supported the first zoo education programme at the Lahore Zoo in 1998 and arranged meetings of zoo directors with international zoo resource persons such as council members of the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA). WWF-Pakistan was also responsible for organizing the first zoo director’s meeting in August 2003, which was held at the organization’s head office in Lahore and aimed to bring stakeholders together to discuss ways to improve general zoo standards. Ms Sally Walker, Director Zoo Outreach Organization (ZOO) was the resource person for this meeting.

In July 2013, WWF-Pakistan organized a workshop to support the formulation of a National Zoo Association in Pakistan. The workshop was attended by representatives of national zoos including Lahore Zoo, Lahore Zoo Safari, Karachi Zoo and Lalazar Wildlife Park (KP). The establishment of a zoo association is critical in order to improve animal welfare standards, improve animal gene pool, and enhance technical expertise and conservation education programmes. Ms Sally Walker was the resource person again for this workshop but was present as the chair of the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA).

WWF-Pakistan also regularly provides technical support to local zoos to improve the standards of animal keeping such as sharing the elephant management guidelines of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria (BIAZA) with the Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi zoos and recommending actions for improvement.

While WWF is not an animal welfare organization, we expect that any animals held in zoos are cared for according to the highest husbandry standards. WWF strongly believe that animals should have good welfare standards and promote a positive image among the visiting public. WWF regards compliance with national, regional and local legislation and regulations and adherence to the provisions of the Code of Ethics and Animal Welfare of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), as a minimum standard of conduct.Further,the establishment of a zoo association is critical in order to improve animal welfare standards, improve animal gene pool, and enhance technical expertise and conservation education programmes.