Austrian Zoo Organization
The Austrian Zoo Organization, OZO, is the amalgamation of the Austrian, scientifically managed zoos , which are managed according to the international guidelines of the EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria) .
In addition to the founding members Alpenzoo Innsbruck , Salzburg Zoo , Schonbrunn Zoo and the Animal and Nature Park Herberstein also be found today Schmiding Zoo , the House of the Sea in Vienna and the Zoo Linz in this union.
goals and tasks
The organization has set itself the following goals
- Raising awareness and promoting issues of animal, species and nature conservation
- Participation in conservation and nature conservation projects
- Participation in research activities for the conservation of biodiversity.
- Training of specialists in the zoo sector.
- Support to the authorities
The aim of this organization is the implementation of the EU Zoo Directive in Austria in order to guarantee the protection of wild animals and the conservation of biological diversity through regulations for the operating license and monitoring of zoos, and in this way to ensure the role of zoos in the preservation of biological species Strengthen diversity. The board has dealt intensively with the EU zoo directive and drafted standards for its meaningful implementation.
Member zoos of the OZO meet the following criteria in particular:
- High quality in animal husbandry
- Participation in conservation and nature conservation projects
- Participation in research activities for the conservation of biodiversity
- Informing zoo visitors about the importance of maintaining biological diversity
Projects
The OZO is currently involved in the following projects:
The bearded vulture ( Gypaetus barbatus ) was exterminated in the entire Alpine region during the 19th century . Since 1986, a total of 120 bearded vultures have been released from zoo populations at 5 locations. Up to 2003, 13 animals had been bred outdoors. The growing bearded vulture population is closely monitored in order to protect them from disturbances and to be able to research their behavior. In addition, young animals continue to be released regularly.
In the mid-1960s, the Przewalski horse ( Equus przewalski ) was exterminated in the wild. The ancestral form of our domestic horse was only able to survive through breeding in the zoos . Since 1997, 5 herds of wild horses bred in zoos have been released back into the wild in the Gobi B National Park. The long-term goal is a population of wild horses in the Gobi B National Park that is independent of human support.
Of the eight tiger subspecies, three are already extinct, the other five subspecies are endangered due to habitat destruction and poaching. The organization 21st Century Tiger draws attention to the situation of the tiger with the support of European zoos and collects money for the implementation of several tiger protection projects. So z. B. units for the early detection and control of forest fires or protective patrols to combat poaching are funded.