RZSS wins top accolade in 2016 BIAZA awards

14/06/2016 in RZSS

Conservation charity, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), has received one of the top awards from the zoological world, following a prestigious ceremony held at Marwell Zoo in Hampshire last week.

RZSS – owners of RZSS Edinburgh Zoo and RZSS Highland Wildlife Park – received a silver award in the education category at the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) awards. The accolade was given for its Wild about Scotland educational programme, which is supported by Clydesdale Bank. 

The BIAZA awards recognise outstanding contributions and achievements in the fields of wildlife conservation, education, advances in animal welfare and husbandry, marketing, PR, research and enclosure design. This award particularly highlights RZSS’s efforts in bringing native species education to children across Scotland, inspiring the next generation of conservationists.

Wild about Scotland launched in August 2014 and aims to educate young people about the importance of Scottish wildlife. It teaches them about native species, their habitats and environments and what they can do to protect them. This is done with the help of a bespoke double-decker bus and a team of experts on board who deliver fun, free interactive lessons to children across the country. The Wild about Scotland bus has been converted into a fully functioning teaching space, engaging children and communities with Scotland’s native wildlife.

Barbara Smith, acting Chief Executive of RZSS, said: “We are delighted to have won a prestigious BIAZA award, recognising and commending our ground-breaking Wild about Scotland programme, supported by Clydesdale Bank, which is helping to bring outreach education and native biodiversity to children across the country. Through the Wild about Scotland project we hope to connect Scotland’s children to native species, with a view to creating a lifelong appreciation and respect for wildlife and the environment.”

Helen Page, Propositions and Marketing Director at Clydesdale Bank, said: “RZSS makes a vital contribution to the protection of Scotland’s wildlife, both through direct preservation and its commitment to educating the public on endangered species, habitats and ecosystems. This silver award reflects the fantastic work the education team carries out in inspiring the country’s future conservationists and we’re proud to play a role in helping them deliver the programme.”

Dr Kirsten Pullen, CEO of BIAZA said:

“The BIAZA awards highlight the vital work carried out in zoos and aquariums. All of this year’s award-winning projects show the exceptional contributions our members are making to wildlife conservation, animal husbandry and welfare, and public understanding for species both in the UK and overseas. We congratulate all the winners.”

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