Brazil is home to more than 120 zoos and aquariums, housing around 50,000 animals. While the country is biologically diverse, many of its zoos face significant challenges, including inadequate quality of care. This project is focused on supporting the Brazilian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZAB) in establishing a welfare certification program for its member zoos and was initially was launched by Wild Welfare in 2014 and is now championed by Wild Welfare US.
Many animals in Brazilian zoos are rescued from illegal trafficking, confiscated, or are brought to zoos by authorities dealing with injured, non-releasable wildlife, with the net result of many facilities becoming overwhelmed with unplanned, new resident animals. These zoos often struggle with outdated enclosures and management practices, inadequately trained staff, and a lack of proper record-keeping. Moreover, Brazil lacks sufficient national legislation to address animal welfare issues in captive facilities.
Brazil’s conservation authorities, IBAMA and ICMBio (part of the Ministry of Environment), are keen to involve AZAB in their “One Plan” strategy for conserving endemic species. AZAB, with around 50 zoo and aquarium members, committed in 2014 to developing and implementing a welfare certification program to validate their involvement in the ex situ management of endemic Brazilian species. Wild Welfare played a key role in creating and implementing this program which has lead to significant welfare improvements across AZAB facilities. AZAB members must meet the Welfare Standards in order to maintain their welfare certification status.
Wild Welfare US efforts have been directed towards capacity building among AZAB welfare auditors to advance skills for better welfare evaluations against the AZAB Welfare Standard. Additionally, Wild Welfare US personnel have provided guidance during welfare audits across AZAB zoos and aquariums by working side-by-side with our Brazilian colleagues. Moving forward, Wild Welfare US will continue collaborations with AZAB to guide them towards a self-sustaining welfare program. This will include continuing to further advance welfare evaluations skills, training advanced auditors, and building resources to help individual Brazilian facilities implement welfare improvements, thereby helping them attain AZAB welfare certification.