A world without wildlife is one without purpose. The natural world is integral for humanities’ survival, and each species, and habitat, is intrinsically linked to another. In the long term, the destruction of one will only lead to the loss of all. As of today this world is at the tipping point, and the planet’s wildlife is in the hands of a species yet to fully understand how to work with it. Creating a balanced and educated relationship between humans and nature, will lead to a more connected, sustainable and wondrous world. For this to succeed, zoological collections have a vital role to play in elevating conservation to new heights.

As a theme park and zoo, Flamingo Land sits in a relatively unique place in terms of conservation and education. As an award winning, accredited zoo and a member of BIAZA, EAZA and WAZA, we are constantly striving to improve our methods of conservation. Yet we recognise that many of our guests do not primarily come for the zoo, instead choosing Flamingo Land for a fun filled family day out on the rides, or as a relaxing holiday destination. In this respect Flamingo Land has the potential to deliver conservation education to, and change behaviours of, a group of people who are not zoo focused, and may benefit from an increased knowledge in regards to the threats to our planet.

Our mission is to integrate conservation into all aspects of our business, all while constantly informing the public on the key threats to the natural world, and also what is being done to combat them by Flamingo Land and our conservation partners. We will achieve this by our SAVE strategy. SAVE is a four tiered approach to conservation that encompasses our in-situ and ex-situ work, both in the UK and abroad. In-situ methods focus on conservation in an animal’s natural ecosystem, the wild, while ex-situ conservation is related to animals in a captive or man-made setting, such as those found in the zoo at Flamingo Land. Both are vitally important and combined have the potential to maintain and increase animal populations. The SAVE strategy encompasses all aspects of conservation, including; funding, surveying, volunteering, research and animal care, and it involves the following four categories:

We are surveying and monitoring the wildlife that resides on our site, whilst attempting to improve biodiversity, through specific projects and a universal mindset of integrated development.

The state of wildlife is not just an international issue. Flamingo Land is committed to conserving the many different UK ecosystems, and the species within. We
are achieving this by creating new partnerships with conservation organisations, and assisting in programmes focused on UK conservation and research.

Flamingo Land is proud to support Reforest Africa, a growing charity that is developing and implementing novel, community-centred activities for conserving and restoring native African forests for the benefit of wildlife and people.

It is well documented that zoos are committed to conserve biodiversity, and play an important role in the global effort for species survival. Without the involvement of zoological collections, the 80 Extinct in the Wild species, in the IUCN Red List of Threatened species, and hundreds of other endangered species, whose populations continue to decline, do not have a future in the wild, or on this planet. Flamingo Land is dedicated to continuing this commitment and is aiming to increase the amount of at risk species that we care for.

By using Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-specific (SMART) objectives we can determine realistic goals for each of the different aforementioned conservation sections.

Through our improved habitat management and restoration, combined with new survey techniques or releases, or via encouraging species to naturally repopulate, Flamingo Land, over the next 4 years, aims to identify 15 native species of flora or fauna not previously recorded on site.

During the next decade Flamingo Land will lead, or assist in, 10 projects focused on the study, or conservation, of specific native species, either through captive breeding, volunteering, education or funding.

Flamingo Land will continue to contribute to the Udzungwa Forest Project, through Reforest Africa, aiming to donate a minimum of a further £300,000 by 2033.
4. By 2026 Flamingo Land will create a Conservation Foundation, so that we are able to donate to more international, in-situ conservation projects, linked to the species housed on site.

Flamingo Land will continue to adhere to high levels of animal husbandry and welfare, and aims to house 3 new species by 2025 that are part of the European endangered species programme, EEP, or are listed in the IUCN red list as Endangered, Critically Endangered or Extinct in the Wild.
By 2027, We will have improved the enclosures of at least 2 of our at risk species that we care for onsite.
Over the next 3 years the public will receive a more in depth education on 3 of the species found in the zoo, through the introduction of new conservation talks.
Flamingo Land will continue to be a centre of academic research and will undertake, assist or facilitate in 50 new projects by 2026.

This strategy is aligned with the regulations, views and guidelines of both BIAZA and EAZA and will be updated in accordance with any changes to the above.