Taipei Zoo

This year marks the 110th anniversary of Taipei Zoo, which is proudly hosting the 32nd Southeast Asian Zoos and Aquariums Association (SEAZA) Conference in collaboration with the Taiwan Zoos and Aquariums Association. The conference has attracted over 300 participants from 30 countries, setting a record in SEAZA history. The event is expected to boost the international visibility of Taiwan’s zoos and aquariums while fostering professional exchanges in conservation research, animal welfare, and educational outreach. On October 24, the conference welcomed Mr. Yu Chen-Hua, Deputy Secretary-General of the Taipei City Government, and Ms. Luo You-Chuan, Director of the Conservation Management Division of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, along with other representatives from relevant government agencies. Their presence helped establish a broader and more proactive platform for discussions on wildlife conservation collaboration among zoos and aquariums in Southeast and East Asia. 

The Southeast Asian Zoos and Aquariums Association (SEAZA), established in 1990, comprises of over 70 member institutions from The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam), observer nations (Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste), and neighboring regions, including Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. SEAZA is currently a regional organizational member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). The SEAZA Council is structured on a national basis, with each member country nominating one representative as an executive councilor. The more active national organizational members include the zoos and aquariums associations of Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Taiwan. 

SEAZA aims to promote high standards and best practices in ex-situ wildlife management, widely recognized and accepted by its members, while making significant contributions to wildlife science, education, and conservation. Southeast Asia has long been a hotspot for biodiversity, nurturing a rich variety of life. In recent years, notable collaborations have emerged between the Mandai Wildlife Group (Singapore), Taipei Zoo, and Thailand's Zoological Park Organization. The Mandai Wildlife Group, with its Deputy CEO currently serving as SEAZA's Chair, and Taipei Zoo have been pioneers in joining the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria. Together with Thailand's Zoological Park Organization, they have played a leading role in the development of wildlife conservation, population management, and animal welfare within the Southeast Asia region. 

In 2024, the Taipei Zoo celebrated its 110th anniversary and successfully secured the hosting rights for the 32nd Southeast Asian Zoos and Aquariums Association (SEAZA) Conference. The Taiwan Zoo and Aquarium Association also co-hosted the event, with the goal of boosting the development of Taiwan’s zoo and aquarium sector in international conservation exchanges and related professional fields. International collaboration is key to the development of modern zoos. Positive advancements in conservation integration, both within and outside the region, rely on communication and cooperation between zoos and organizations for species management and genetic exchange, ensuring healthy animal populations. This year’s conference invited numerous zoo experts to deliver seven keynote speeches on topics such as international and domestic species conservation, animal nutrition and health, and animal welfare. Attendees focused on various themes including animal care, animal nutrition and health, species population management, animal welfare and behavioral enrichment, conservation and research, and education and marketing. Workshops were also held to facilitate exchanges among researchers, conservationists, and educators from zoos around the world. 

More than 300 participants from 30 countries attended the 32nd SEAZA Conference 2024, including distinguished guests such as Karen Fifield, President of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and Director of Wellington Zoo in New Zealand; Wen-Haur Cheng, Chairman of the Southeast Asian Zoos and Aquariums Association (SEAZA) and Deputy CEO of Mandai Wildlife RESERVE in Singapore; Koichi Murata, President of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) and Director of Yokohama Zoorasia in Japan; Rahmat Shah, President of the Indonesian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (IAZA) ; Kiwan Lee, Secretary-General of the Korean Association of Zoos and Aquariums (KAZA) ; Todd Jenkison, New Zealand Representative of the Australian Zoo and Aquarium Association; Holly Farmer, Chair of the Animal Welfare Committee of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria; Lisa Clifford, Chair of the Animal Welfare Committee of the British Zoo and Aquarium Association; Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck, President of the Austrian Association of Zoos and Director of the Vienna Zoo; and Radoslaw Ratajszczak, Director of the Endangered Primate Rescue Center in Vietnam and former Director of Wroclaw Zoo in Poland.