Discussing zoo animal welfare in the Philippines
Wild Welfare was recently invited to attend the Philippine Zoos and Aquariums Association (PHILZOOS)’ director’s meeting, to present on animal welfare certification and zoo accreditation processes and modern trends in zoo animal welfare.
The invite follows our ongoing work with the Southeast Asian Zoos and Aquariums Association (SEAZA), on their own welfare certification programme. PHILZOOS is The National Zoo Association of the Philippines and has 11 member facilities across the country.
During a two-day meeting, Wild Welfare’s field director, Dave Morgan, presented to 12 zoo directors and four representatives from the Philippines’ Biodiversity Management Bureau and Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the government bodies charged with legislating zoos in the country.
Dave Morgan, said: “This was Wild Welfare’s first project visit to the Philippines and it gave us the chance to interact with local zoo directors and government representatives and discuss zoo welfare across the country’s facilities.
“Everyone I met was highly receptive to the need to improve zoo animal welfare within the region, so there is hopefully a real opportunity for us to make changes here for zoo animals.”
The president of PHILZOOS and managing director of Avilon Zoo and Avilon Wildlife Conservation Foundation, Yok Lin Gaw, spoke after the meeting, saying: “Wild Welfare engaged and reconnected PHILZOOS with animals under our care in a humanizing way, that can only lead to positive action.”
This trip did not include any visits to zoos, but was focussed on discussing current animal welfare legislation in the Philippines and zoo welfare assessment and certification processes and how they can work. Dave Morgan detailed the new SEAZA welfare programme, which will itself be relevant to some zoos in the Philippines as there are currently two SEAZA members in the country.
Wild Welfare is looking forward to returning to the Philippines when auditor training for SEAZA’s welfare certification programme takes place.
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Notes to Editors
For more information or interview requests please contact Wild Welfare on communications@wildwelfare.org
Wild Welfare is a global organisation committed to improving animal welfare for captive wild animals. By uniting the world’s leading zoos, zoo associations and animal welfare organisations, we build trusting partnerships that help provide long-term solutions to critical wild animal welfare issues.
Our vision is to end the suffering of captive wild animals around the world and ensure full and sustainable protection is given to all animals in human care. Find out more at www.wildwelfare.org. Registered charity in England (no.1165941).
