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International Vulture Awareness Day
31st August 2023
It’s International Vulture Awareness Day!
International Vulture Awareness Day took place on September 2nd. Our zookeepers were at our mixed vulture aviary between 13.15pm – 14.30pm to talk all about these fascinating birds and the conservation efforts available to support their population.
What is International Vulture Awareness Day?
A day to highlight vulture conservation and awareness
The first Saturday in September each year is International Vulture Awareness Day. Vultures are an ecologically vital group of birds that face a range of threats in many areas that they occur. Populations of many species are under pressure and some are facing extinction.
Vultures are critical for ecosystems
Vultures are a spectacular component of biodiversity in the environments they inhabit. They provide critically important ecosystem services by cleaning up carcasses and other organic waste; they are natures garbage collectors and this translates into significant economic benefits. Their impact on environments reduces the spread of diseases in animals and pathogenic risks to humans.
Celebrating Conservation
We also celebrated all things conservation on September 3rd! Our Discovery and Learning Team were at the leopards between 14.30pm – 15.30pm to chat about our conservation efforts.
What is wildlife conservation?
Wildlife conservation is the practice of protecting plant and animal species and their habitats. Wildlife provides balance and stability to nature's processes that humans rely on to survive. At Emerald Park, our mission is to create adventure and serve our community through nature conservation. Our accredited zoo is part of BIAZA and EAZA which means we work with other zoo's towards a collective goal of conservation, education and research.
We are celebrating conservation
We are partnered with several conservation organisations. Some international partners include the Wildcats Conservation Alliance and Macaca Nigra Project. We have 18 species in our zoo that are part of breeding programmes. These programmes aim to maintain genetically healthy populations of different animals. We are also actively involved in Irish conservation, partnering with NBDC in the All-Ireland pollinator plan and the Golden Eagle Trust, dedicated to conservation and restoration of Ireland's native birds.
