Conservation
EAAM parks are licensed under the EU Zoos Directive (1999/22/EC), which requires zoos to contribute to conservation, education, and high standards of animal care. This includes research, training, information exchange, public education, species-specific enrichment, and veterinary excellence. EAAM parks not only meet these legal requirements but also continue to advance professional standards beyond them.
Institutional Member Projects
EAAM members invest significant resources in funding or conducting important scientific research. They cooperate with outside researchers, providing access to their facilities as well as access to the species in their care.
Much of the research underway today is possible only in the controlled environment of zoological parks. Knowledge gained from scientific study of marine mammals in human care directly contributes to the knowledge and conservation of marine mammals in the wild. For example, baseline data obtained from testing at EAAM parks helps with the diagnosis and rehabilitation of stranded animals, saving lives. Studies on auditory capabilities and vocalisation patterns and learning can help to better understand how cetaceans communicate in the wild. EAAM members also fund and/or participate in projects aimed at species and/or habitat conservation.
Rescue & Rehabilitation
EAAM members respond to hundreds of calls each year to rescue and rehabilitate injured or sick marine mammals throughout Europe. Rescue and rehabilitation of stranded marine mammals is important both for individual animal well-being and species conservation. The overall goal for rescued animals is for them to be released into the wild wherever possible.
Sometimes, governing bodies declare certain animals non-releasable and in these cases zoological parks provide homes for animals that cannot be released. Rescue and rehabilitation work generates important knowledge about the species we care for and wish to preserve, including insights on disease, treatment, or changes in the natural environment impacting the health or survival of the wild populations.
News
The EAAM remains dedicated to its conservation efforts, continually striving to protect and preserve aquatic mammal species. Through collaborative initiatives and research projects, EAAM aims to address critical conservation issues and raise awareness about the challenges faced by these magnificent creatures in both captivity and the wild.