In the following, you can find out more about the organization and founding history of the ZGAP:

• Founding History
• Goals and statutes
• Managing committee and advisory board
• Working groups
• Campaign ”Zoo Species of the Year”
• Foundations
• Partnerships

The primary goal of the Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations  (Zoologische Gesellschaft für Arten- und Populationsschutz - ZGAP) is the conservation of unknown, but highly endangered species and their natural habitats.

While all over the globe people interested in nature are aware of the endangerment of species like the Mountain Gorilla, the Great Panda, or the Polar Bear, thousands of other species, often even unknown to experts, currently face the risk of extinction.

Even in recent decades, several sometimes large, species became extinct, unnoticed by the public - simply, because nearly nothing was known about them or because their fate did not get enough appeal and general approval in the media.

After the establishment of ZGAP in 1982, several exemplary species conservation programs with international co-operation partners have been initiated. A conservation program for the Visayan spotted deer (Rusa alfredi) and the Riverine rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis) as well as the formation of a sanctuary for illegally kept and confiscated primates were initiated and partly financed by ZGAP.

Another prominent example for a longtime project and pioneer work is the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii). In the 1980th, ZGAP was one of the first conservation societies reporting on the dramatic situation of this species.

However, this introduction is just a small insight into the large number of projects currently under the patronage of ZGAP.

ZGAP is characterized by its international focus and a scientific and holistic approach to the funding of conservation projects. Particularly important is the support of young scientists who are eager to implement/start conservation projects in their home countries. Integrating local biologists and students  and preparing them for project management on their own authority, is one of the basic principles of the society. Besides the cost-efficient realization of conservation projects, ZGAP thereby allows motivated young people to contribute to species conservation in their home countries. As a consequence, competent fellow local campaigners will be able to provide their knowledge and expertise to sustainable projects in the future.

The mentoring and control of these activities as well as the  biannual publication of our journal “ZGAP Mitteilungen” – which is also appreciated by specialists – is still mainly working in an honorary capacity.

As a result, we can guarantee very low management expenses and the maximum possible of our budget can be used directly for species and population conservation efforts in the field.

The ZGAP office is available on requests regarding your membership, project management, donations and project funding.

We also help with questions about the general assembly and our membership magazine "ZGAP-Mitteilungen".

The advisory board is made up of long-term members, former chairmen, and honorary members, who bring in their experience concerning practical aspects of species conservation and association management.       

By this means, the members of the advisory board make a decisive contribution to a professional and transparent work of the managing committee and the society.

Due to the ZGAP statute, the managing committee is empowered to appoint members to the advisory board to use their professional expertise for decision making, e.g. assessment of project applications.   

In 2016, we initiated the campaign „Zoo Species of the Year“ together with the German Society for Animal Parks (Deutsche Tierparkgesellschaft) and the Communitiy of German Zoo Patronizers (Gemeinschaft Deutscher Zooförderer). Thanks to the exceptionally positive responses, we were able to establish „Zoo Species of the Year“ as an integral part of our activities.

With this campaign, ZGAP and its partners as well as participating zoos raise funding for local conservation projects

For the „Zoo Species oft he Year“, we set up a seperate website, that informs about current and past activities. There, we also provide further information on how you can support our campaign.

The activities of ZGAP are manifold - this particularly concerns the range of species as well as the geographic location of our various projects. That is why a cooperation with like-minded partners is an important principle of our work.

Internationally, ZGAP collaborates with several organisations, e.g. IUCN - International Union for Conservation of Nature (national NGO member), WAZA - World Associaton of Zoos and Aquariums (associate member), EAZA - European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (associate member), AZE - Alliance for Zero Extinction (member).

In addition, ZGAP is a member of further societies, or has concluded formal cooperation agreements with several institutions to exploit synergies in particular fields of conservation work. 

These include the cooperation with the Association of Zoological Gardens (Verband der Zoologischen Gärten, VdZ), the Professional Associaton of Zoo Animal Keepers (Berufsverband der Zootierpfleger, BdZ), the German Society for Herpetology and Herpetoculture (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terraristik, DGHT), the Federation of German Aquarium and Terrarium Associations (Verband Deutscher Vereine für Aquarien und Terrarien, VDA) or the Foundation for Species Conservation of Karlsruhe Zoological Garden.

We also have rather loose connections with a variety of other conservation partners.