We took home the Best Research Project for our study of how to improve the captive care and welfare of Asian elephants, the Best PR Project for The Royal Visit, the Best Use of Plants in a Landscape Feature/Display for our conservation garden and the Best Sustainable Zoo and Aquarium for our green travel plan.
We also received commendations for Best Marketing Project for the zoo’s rebrand, Best Field Conservation Project for our Juniper programme, Best New Zoo Enclosure for our African Painted Dogs exhibit, Best Education Project: Schools and Educational Institutions for using education to ground-truth conservation efforts and in the category of Significant Advances in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine for implementing a risk management and communication process for zoonotic infections in zoos.
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, marketing, PR, education, research and enclosure design.
Dr Miranda Stevenson, Director of BIAZA said: “The BIAZA awards highlight the crucial work carried out in zoos and aquariums. All of this year’s award-winning projects show the exceptional contributions our members are making to wildlife conservation, animal husbandry and welfare, and public understanding for species both in the UK and overseas.”
The winning projects were selected against very strict criteria and the assessors included external experts, as well as professionals from within the zoo community.
Elsewhere Chester Zoo also scooped an award for the Best Tourism Event of the Year for Dinosaurs Bite Back! – its exhibition of 19 animatronic dinosaurs – at the Marketing Cheshire Awards (below).
Terri Dwyer and Professor Phil Harris award Managing Director Barbara Smith and the Chester Zoo Team with Event of the Year for Dinosaurs Bite Back!