Battersea Park Children's Zoo Wins Two Prestigious BIAZA Awards for Conservation and Education Excellence

Battersea Park Children's Zoo is proud to announce its success at the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) Annual Awards 2024. 

From 80 nominees, the zoo received the winning award in the education category and was recognised as a runner-up in the field conservation category, highlighting its unwavering commitment to animal welfare, conservation and education. 

Winner: Education Category

The zoo's innovative "Apiary Collaboration with the London Beekeepers Association" earned the top spot in the education category. This sustainable honey bee apiary project, conducted in partnership with the London Beekeepers Association and the charity School Food Matters, offers local schoolchildren an immersive experience into the world of beekeeping and highlights the crucial role native pollinators play in maintaining a healthy ecosystem for all British wildlife. 

Notably, the zoo provides these valuable experiences free of charge to London children from diverse backgrounds, many of whom would not otherwise have this opportunity.

Runner-Up: Field Conservation Category

Battersea Park Children’s Zoo’s significant contribution to the conservation of the endangered harvest mouse was recognised as a runner-up in the field conservation category. Through its "Harvest Mouse Collaboration with Ealing Wildlife Group," the zoo has successfully bred and contributed to over 2000 harvest mice since 2021, as part of the reintroduction project aimed at restoring native populations in select habitats in Ealing. 

This initiative, supported by Ealing council, the Mayor of London and a number of other organisations, not only helps conserve this threatened species (Harvest mice are at risk of extinction in the UK as a result of habitat loss and industrialised farming practises), but also engages the local community and schoolchildren in hands-on conservation efforts as the help with the harvest mice release. This fosters a deeper understanding of biodiversity and the importance of preserving local green spaces within the community.

Jamie Baker, Animal Manager at Battersea Park Children’s Zoo said, “We’re incredibly proud of our contributions towards animal welfare, conservation and education. To have our work recognised within the zoo community with these awards, is a great honour for us."

“These awards are testament to our incredible team and their dedication to making our zoo's mission a success, and we cannot congratulate them enough. While we may be a small zoo, we have a big heart, with even bigger ambitions for conservation."

More information about the conservation projects and programmes at Battersea Park Children’s Zoo visit www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk.