Conservation & Research

WildCats Conservation Alliance

Emerald Park has continued to support the Wildcats Conservation Alliance, funding is needed to protect the critically endangered Amur leopard and endangered Amur tiger. To date, more than €50,000 has been donated to the conservation organisation, to aid in ‘Securing a Future for Amur leopards and Tigers in Russia’.

100% of funds, from Emerald Park, go directly to field work, supporting the project in several ways, including:

Reducing the poaching of Amur tigers, Amur leopards and their prey species and improve the protection of their habitat.

Improvement of law enforcement efforts within protected areas.

Raising awareness and involving the local people in nature conservation.

Macaca Nigra Project

The Macaca Nigra Project is one of Emerald Parks newest conservation partners. The funding donated by Emerald Park covers the Tangkoko Conservation Education (TCE) activities for local school children such as environmental interventions in classes, and trips to the Tangkoko forest.

The population of Sulawesi Black Crested Macaques has decreased by 75% in the last 30 years and they’re amongst the 25 most endangered primates on earth.

Through Macaca Nigra collaborating with local authorities, and the local community; raises conservation awareness and heightening on the important conservation management decisions in place to protect this species.

Golden Eagle Trust

For many years Emerald Park has donated to the Golden Eagle Trust, a charity that is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of Irelands native birds and wildlife. To date over €30,000 has been donated to this conservation initiative and have been used to fund the reintroduction and monitoring of red kites in North Co. Dublin.

EAZA Ex-situ Programme (EEP)

In the collection we have 18 species that are part of breeding programmes. These animals’ populations are managed by EAZA (European association of zoos and aquariums); aiming to maintain genetically healthy populations of individuals.

As well as pairing animals, breeding programmes also require zoos to record important genetic, dietary, and behavioural information which help us understand more about these species and in turn, aid their future survival both in zoos and in the wild.

Research

Research is one of the cornerstones of the modern zoo and Emerald Park has been involved in numerous research projects and will continue to carry them out into the future.

Zoos allow researchers to access a wide range of animals that may be inaccessible in the wild.

If you are currently enrolled at a university and are interested in pursuing a research project at a zoological collection in Ireland, we welcome you to get in contact with us.

We would also recommend that you read the Zoo Research Guidelines series produced by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), which can be downloaded for free from the BIAZA website.