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| Loro Parque Fundación | |
|---|---|
| Name | Loro Parque Fundación |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Wolfgang Kiessling |
| Type | Non-profit foundation |
| Headquarters | Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain |
| Focus | Conservation, research, breeding, education |
Loro Parque Fundación is a non-profit conservation foundation established in 1994 associated with Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife. The foundation undertakes ex situ and in situ projects across multiple continents, collaborating with zoological, academic, governmental, and conservation organizations to protect parrot species and other threatened taxa. Its work spans captive breeding, wild population monitoring, habitat restoration, scientific research, and environmental education.
Loro Parque Fundación was created in 1994 by Wolfgang Kiessling following the development of Loro Parque on Tenerife to formalize conservation efforts. Early collaborations included partnerships with Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, World Wildlife Fund, and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria to support projects in the Amazon Rainforest, Madagascar, and the Philippines. Over time the foundation expanded programs to Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas through agreements with institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, University of California, University of Oxford, and the Natural History Museum, London. Milestones involved captive breeding successes reported with input from the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and networks including the Global Environment Facility and the BirdLife International partnership.
The foundation’s mission emphasizes species conservation, scientific research, and public awareness through cooperative initiatives with organizations like IUCN/SSC Parrot Specialist Group, the Royal Society for Protection of Birds, and the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition. Objectives include ex situ breeding protocols aligned with European Endangered Species Programme, in situ conservation aligned with Convention on Biological Diversity targets, and capacity building with universities such as Universidad de La Laguna, University of Cambridge, and University of São Paulo. Strategic aims reference frameworks used by United Nations Environment Programme, Ramsar Convention, and the Bern Convention to guide habitat protection, species recovery, and community engagement.
Programs cover field conservation in regions including the Pantanal, the Guianas, the Cerrado, and the Sundarbans, with research collaborations involving Max Planck Society, CNRS, and CSIC. Projects target threats identified by IUCN Red List assessments for taxa such as Spix's macaw conservation efforts alongside Fundação Biodiversitas and Brazilian partners, and anti-poaching initiatives in partnership with TRAFFIC and Interpol conservation units. Scientific outputs have been co-authored with researchers from Harvard University, University of Oxford, University of Barcelona, and University College London on topics including avian diseases, genetic diversity, telemetry, and endocrine studies. The foundation supports habitat restoration with stakeholders including Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, and the World Bank biodiversity programs.
Breeding initiatives focus primarily on parrots such as Ara macao, Amazona aestiva, Cyanopsitta spixii, Neophema chrysogaster, and Psittacus erithacus, as well as taxa like Phoenicopterus ruber and marine species through rehabilitation collaborations with Oceana and SeaWorld-linked centers. Captive breeding protocols adhere to genetic management standards established by European Studbook coordinators and international studbook keepers from institutions such as Chester Zoo, Zoos Victoria, and San Diego Zoo Global. Reintroduction projects coordinate with national authorities including Brazilian Ministry of the Environment, Peruvian Servicio Nacional Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre, and Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources and NGOs such as ProAves and Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots.
Education programs operate at Loro Parque facilities and in partner communities, engaging schools affiliated with Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and vocational trainers from European College of Zoological Medicine. Outreach campaigns have involved collaborations with media organizations like National Geographic Society, broadcasters including BBC Natural History Unit, and publishers such as Springer Nature to disseminate research and conservation messages. Public engagement includes interpretive exhibitions developed with museums such as the Natural History Museum, Tenerife and training workshops for rangers provided with support from Fauna & Flora International and African Wildlife Foundation.
Funding sources include private endowments from founders, ticket-derived support via Loro Parque, philanthropy coordinated with Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco, grants from entities like the European Commission LIFE programme, and partnerships with corporate sponsors such as Iberostar Group and international donors connected to GlobalGiving campaigns. Strategic partnerships span academic institutions including University of Exeter, research institutes like The Scripps Research Institute, and conservation consortia such as Alliance for Zero Extinction and regional bodies like Canary Islands Government agencies.
Facilities at the park include breeding aviaries, veterinary clinics staffed by specialists trained through exchanges with Royal Veterinary College, and interactive exhibits designed with input from curators at ZSL London Zoo and designers formerly of Disneyland. Visitor interaction integrates interpretive signage, guided tours led by educators affiliated with Asociación Española de Museología, and citizen science programs using platforms like eBird and collaborations with iNaturalist for data collection. Rehabilitation and release operations coordinate with regional wildlife rescue groups such as Servicio Canario de Salud and international rehabilitation networks.
Category:Conservation organizations Category:Wildlife rehabilitation