Chester Zoo scoops top awards
19 November 2008
Chester Zoo received two of the top awards from the zoo world today following a prestigious awards ceremony held at Folly Farm, Pembrokeshire, attended by over 100 people.
Awards were presented to Mark Pilgrim, Director of Conservation and Education, by Simon Tonge Chairman of BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums).
This award particularly highlights the Zoo’s efforts in conservation research and marketing. Chester received awards for best research project for the study of reconciliation, consolation and relationship quality amongst the zoo’s chimpanzee group and the best marketing project award for promoting the gardens and plant conservation work.
Held annually for over a decade, the BIAZA awards recognise outstanding contributions and achievements in the fields of wildlife conservation, advances in animal welfare and husbandry, sustained breeding programmes, marketing, PR, education, research, enclosure design and individual outstanding achievement.
Dr Miranda Stevenson, Director of BIAZA, said: “The award-winning programmes under the spotlight today demonstrate the huge investment of energy and resources made by our leading zoos to support habitat and species conservation. Conservation within zoos and aquariums is a vital part of the work to protect threatened species and to help change public behaviour and ensure the future of Planet Earth. These awards recognise and celebrate the vital contributions that our members are making to conservation, environmental education and raising public awareness. Equally, they are standard bearers for excellence in animal husbandry and welfare.”
Chester Zoo was also commended for other awards including best new zoo enclosure for Realm of the Red Ape and best education project.