Symposia Archive

The 53rd Annual Symposium, held in 2025, took place at ZooParc de Beauval from March 11th to 14th. Highlights from these proceedings...

The 52nd Annual Symposium, held in 2024, took place at Loro Parque, Tenerife, from March 12th to 15th. Highlights from these proceedings...

The 51st Annual Symposium, held in 2023, took place at Oceanogràfic, Valencia, from March 7th to 11th. Highlights from these proceedings...

The 50th Annual Symposium, held in 2022, was conducted online from March 30th to April 3rd due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Key topics...

The 49th Annual Symposium, held in 2021 from March 11th to 13th, took place just before widespread COVID-19 restrictions. Highlights from...

Unfortunately, this edition of the annual symposium was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was scheduled to be hosted by...

The 47th Annual Symposium, held in 2019, took place at Zoomarine in Albufeira, Portugal, from March 4th to 8th. The theme of the meeting, “From Pioneers to Nature’s Guardians,” highlighted the evolution of marine mammal science and care over the decades, emphasizing the transition from early husbandry practices to today’s focus on conservation, research, and welfare.

The 46th Annual Symposium, held in 2018, took place at Zoomarine Roma, Italy, from March 13th to 16th. Scientific contributions covered a wide range of topics on aquatic mammals and their conservation, including the rehabilitation of stranded cetaceans, medical handling of dolphins, and the protection of critically endangered species such as the vaquita.

The 45th Annual Symposium, held in 2017, took place at Acquario di Genova, Italy, from March 8th to 11th. The meeting aimed to foster the exchange of knowledge, promote scientific progress, and advance the conservation of aquatic mammals. Highlights from the proceedings included studies on dolphin cognition, investigations of large cetacean strandings, health monitoring programs, and discussions on strategies for the protection and conservation of aquatic mammal species.

The 44th Annual Symposium, held in 2016, took place at Mundomar Benidorm, Spain, from March 11th to 14th. The symposium featured guest speakers Jay Sweeney, Pedro Lavia, and John Kershaw, and provided a platform for researchers, trainers, and veterinarians to share knowledge, discuss advances in aquatic mammal care, and explore conservation strategies.

The 43rd Annual Symposium, held in 2015, took place at Kolmården Wildlife Park, Sweden, from March 23rd to 26th. Oral presentations and posters covered a wide range of topics, including acoustics, veterinary medicine, education, animal behavior, and training.

The 42nd Annual Symposium, held in 2014, took place at Loro Parque in Tenerife, Spain, from March 14th to 17th. The symposium featured presentations and discussions on education, communication, bioacoustics, and advances in marine mammal science and conservation. A special highlight of the meeting was the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the journal Aquatic Mammals , recognizing its significant contribution to the field.

The 41st Annual Symposium, held in 2013, took place at Tiergarten Nürnberg, Germany, from March 15th to 18th. Highlights from the symposium included discussions on the new EAZA strategy, polar bear breeding programs at Tiergarten Nürnberg, and innovative approaches to aquatic mammal management and conservation.

The 40th Annual Symposium, held in 2012, took place at Zoo Aquarium de Madrid, Spain, from March 10th. Highlights from the symposium included discussions on the current status of assisted reproductive technology in cetaceans, an unusual mass mortality episode of striped dolphins linked to cetacean morbillivirus in the Spanish Mediterranean Sea, and the application of ultrasound technology in pinnipeds.

The 39th Annual Symposium, held in 2011, took place at Barcelona Zoo, Spain, from March 11th to 14th. The symposium placed a particular emphasis on the conservation of wild marine mammal populations, encouraging presentations and discussions related to protecting and understanding free-ranging species while integrating lessons learned from animals in human care.

The 38th Annual Symposium, held in 2010, took place at Lisbon Zoo (Jardim Zoológico de Lisboa), Portugal, from March 12th to 15th. Highlights from the symposium included studies on genital herpes virus in bottlenose dolphins, investigations into the seasonal rhythm of melatonin production in captive bottlenose dolphins, and analyses of harbour porpoise population structure using genetic and morphometric methods.

The 27th Annual Symposium, held in 1999, took place at Parc Astérix, Paris, France, from March 12th to 15th. Highlights featured in these proceedings include the need for rehabilitation and rescue efforts for marine mammals, the occurrence of neoplasia in aged captive pinnipeds, and research and training involving harbour porpoises at the Fjord&Bælt Centre.

The 26th Annual Symposium, held in 1998, was hosted by Dolphinarium Särkänniemi from March 13th to 16th. Highlights featured in these proceedings include acute traumatic injuries in porpoises, likely caused by bottlenose dolphins, as well as observations of reproduction in captive bottlenose dolphins.

The 25th Annual Symposium, held in 1997, took place at Zoo Duisburg (Germany) from March 14th to 17th. Highlights from these proceedings include ocular problems in seals, both concerns and celebrations surrounding two pregnant bottlenose dolphins at Parc Astérix, and newborn fur seals with broken jaws.

The 24th Annual Symposium, held in 1996, took place at Zoomarine Algarve from March 15th to 18th. Highlights from these proceedings include a clinical approach to Mediterranean striped dolphin strandings, the hand-raising of an orphaned walrus in Africa, and a zoo veterinary review on the care and management of Baikal seals.