International Collaboration Sets Animal Welfare as Key Objective for Zoos and Aquariums in Japan
Toyohashi Zoo and Botanical Park recently hosted the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) Annual Conference, welcoming hundreds of delegates and becoming a vibrant hub of activity and collaboration. The high-profile event featured an impressive lineup of guest speakers from internationally renowned organisations, Wild Welfare, Species360, and the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA).
Seminar panel including WAZA, Species360, Toyohashi Zoo and Wild Welfare. (Credit: JAZA)
This occasion marked Wild Welfare’s inaugural attendance at the JAZA Conference, however the two organisations have a long established collaborative relationship. Wild Welfare have recently been actively supporting JAZA with its ambitious and successful realisation of the WAZA 2023 animal welfare goal, an initiative to establish robust animal welfare evaluation processes across national and regional member associations. This process entailed building and establishing a robust animal welfare accreditation system for its zoo and aquarium members. This close collaboration demonstrated a shared vision for establishing strong animal welfare standards across the Japanese zoological community.
The highly respected event welcomed over 200 delegates, consisting of directors and senior management of zoos and aquariums from JAZA’s 140 member institutions. His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Akishino, President of JAZA, was among the attendees. The Crown Prince, who is known to be a very keen naturalist with a personal interest in biology, has been a longtime advocate of JAZA members, supporting their welfare and conservation projects. The Crown Prince’s presence lent immense gravitas and a powerful endorsement to the event proceedings.
Wild Welfare Director, Simon Marsh on stage at WAZA Conference 2025. (Credit: JAZA)
Wild Welfare Director, Simon Marsh, addressed the conference about the inherent risks of neglecting animal welfare, and how public attitudes towards good welfare are quickly developing, both globally and domestically within Japan. “With more people around the globe understanding why animal welfare is important, and making ethical decisions based on animal welfare and the environment principles, it is vital that JAZA members address the challenges of providing good care and meeting favorable welfare outcomes for the animals” explained Simon. These key factors directly contributed to the introduction of JAZA’s ambitious new pledge to place animal welfare at the heart of its guiding principle of future operations and strategic planning.Â
“JAZA has developed animal welfare standards in close partnership with Wild Welfare and requires its member institutions to meet these standards. By adhering to these standards, member institutions can provide high-quality animal care and ensure the health and well-being of animals.” said Kumiko Hara, Executive Director of JAZA. To achieve this standard, member zoos and aquariums must continue investing in training and education for their animal caregiver teams. “Our free helpful resources offer animal care staff the opportunity to learn about key aspects of animal care and welfare. ‘Wild About Welfare’ is our free online learning programme designed for care staff in zoos, aquariums, and wildlife sanctuaries, and aims to upskill them in essential animal welfare concepts and husbandry practices” Simon shared. Throughout the conference, delegates were able to visit the Wild Welfare stand to find out more about these online resources and access more information about the charity’s in-person training offering.
Following the main conference, Simon attended a seminar for around 100 JAZA community animal keepers, vets, curators, directors, and academics. This allowed for more detailed discussions about the key components that zoos and aquariums must consider when managing animals in human care, the potential barriers to achieving good animal welfare outcomes and the challenges of achieving association accreditation.
Simon Marsh of Wild Welfare and Dr Takami from Toyohashi Zoo on stage. (Credit: JAZA)
The workshop concluded with an engaging panel discussion and Q&A featuring WAZA CEO Dr. Martin Zordan and Rob Calcagni, Director of Global Member Development, at Species360. The discussion covered a range of key topics including meticulous record-keeping, the WAZA Animal Welfare Goal, and JAZA’s latest standard and accreditation process. “This was a great opportunity to consider approaches for promoting animal welfare amid diverse cultures, histories, traditions, and values.” said Kazutoshi Takami, Chair of the JAZA Future Planning Task Force and Director of Toyohashi Zoo and Botanical Park.
“It was great to share the stage with Wild Welfare at the recent JAZA annual conference” expressed Rob Calcagni, Director of Global Member Development, Species360. “Wild Welfare’s dedication to advancing animal welfare aligns with our mission to advance international collaboration in the collection and sharing of data to serve global animal care and conservation goals. The discussions at this conference were vital for fostering collaboration and sharing best practices within the zoological community in Japan. We believe that robust, accurate data is the cornerstone of informed decision-making in animal welfare” Rob affirmed.
JAZA seminar guest speakers and attendees. (Credit: JAZA)
Reflecting on the event, WAZA CEO Dr Zordan said: “I would like to sincerely thank JAZA for the kind invitation and for hosting such a meaningful annual conference. I was particularly impressed by the conservation efforts of JAZA members to protect local species such as the Konotori (Ciconia boyciana), the Toki (Nipponia nippon), and the Raichō (Lagopus muta japonica).”
Throughout the event Wild Welfare reported great interest from many JAZA members in seeking out more information about their free Japanese-language resources, as well as potential in-zoo training opportunities. This positive outlook shone as a metaphorical beacon, illuminating the way towards a positively brighter future for animal welfare in Japan’s zoos and aquariums. Wild Welfare will remain at the helm of this positive movement, assisting organisations with their journey to providing animals in their care with the best possible lives.
JAZA’s Future Vision 2025 including four Key goals.
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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 wildwelfare.org. Registered charity in England (no.1165941).
