Other activities

1. JAZA puts efforts into improving animal welfare.

Although zoos and aquariums are proceeding with species conservation, research/study and environmental education in order to protect the precious legacy of wild animals on the earth, it is also necessary to develop comfortable environments for the animals and to give them adequate care .
Therefore, JAZA made guidelines to help members keep animals in a spirit of wildlife conservation and animal welfare.

2. We work in partnership with international organizations.

In taking care of rare wild animals, interaction with relevant foreign organizations is essential.
JAZA became a member of the World Zoo Organization (WZO) (now renamed the “World Association of Zoos and Aquariums” WAZA) in 1993.
JAZA is supporting the Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG), an affiliate of the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN-SSC).
In 1998, the annual meeting of WZO held in Nagoya and that of CBSG (Now renamed CPSG) in Yokohama.
Species 360 is centrally managing the animal data from various world institutions and providing a variety of information to members.
JAZA has been working to improve staffs expertise in the techniques of husbandry, captive breeding, and universal education
Staff from each institution get together for meetings relating to particular species or animal groups to exchange information about the best ways to provide husbandry, exhibits and interpretation about animals.
The outcomes of these meetings are written up as manuals.
JAZA also publishes handbooks on animal care which new staff can learn about the work of zoos and aquariums.
A test is conducted by JAZA to confirm that staff have a full understanding of the contents in the handbooks, and successful candidates are qualified as husbandry professional keepers.
Because of the booms in pets in recent times, the illegal import of wild animals banned for trade (by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) can occur.
When such animals are found by Customs, the government will confiscate them and JAZA will intermediately introduce the animals to a zoo or aquarium that can shelter and take care of them.

3. JAZA has been working to improve staff expertise in the techniques of husbandry,captive breeding, and education.

Staff from each institution get together for meetings relating to particular species or animal groups to exchange information about the best ways to provide husbandry, exhibits and interpretation of animals. The outcomes of these meetings are written up as husbandry manuals. JAZA also publishes handbooks on animal care which new staff can learn about the work of zoos and aquariums. A test is conducted by JAZA to confirm that staff have a full understanding of the contents in the handbooks, and successful candidates are qualified as Zoo/Aquarium Husbandry Professional Keepers. A test is conducted by JAZA to confirm that staff have a full understanding of the contents in the handbooks, and successful candidates are qualified as husbandry technicians.

4. JAZA shelters for illegally imported animals.

Because of the boom in pets in recent times, the wild animals banned for trade (by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) are sometimes imported illegally.
When such animals are found by the customs, the government will confiscate them and JAZA will intermediately introduce the animals to a zoo or an aquarium that can shelter and take care of them.