A large-scale international conference titled “Immediate issues in the Amur tiger conservation” was held at the Moscow Zoo from June 2 through 6, 2025. The conference brought together specialists of the conservation community from Russia and other countries. It was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation, employees of zoos in Russia and Belarus that keep or plan to keep Amur tigers, as well as experts from leading research institutes, who study Amur tigers in the wild.

Participants of the conference also included Sergey Aramilev, Director of the ANO Amur Tiger Center, and Vyacheslav Rozhnov, Head of the Laboratory of Behaviour and Behavioural Ecology of Mammals of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In addition, the directors of nature reserves engaged in the in situ conservation and study of the Amur tiger – Vyacheslav Kastrikin, Director of the Khingan Nature Reserve, and Anton Fetisov, Director of the Federal State Institution “Nature Reserves of Priamurye” – joined the inclusive discussion of current problems.

The conference participants discussed the most important issues of the conservation of the Amur tiger, including the behavior of wild tigers, standards for husbandry of these animals in zoos and rehabilitation centers, assessment of the welfare of tigers in zoo environment, animal training and environmental enrichment methods, veterinary aspects, requirements for the transportation of wild carnivores, legislative control over the breeding of tigers by private holders, and many other problems.

The conference was opened by Sergey Khlupin, the Head of the Moscow Zoo’s Research Department and Coordinator of EARAZA Progam for the Conservation and Breeding of Amur Tigers.

On the first day of the conference, its participants discussed joint objectives and plans for the conservation of this wild felid, including approaches to the resolution of conflicts between wild tigers and humans, and considered the role of strictly protected areas of the Far East of Russia. Reports on the preliminary results of the reintroduction of tigers in the Amur Region were presented to the conference participants and discussion on the Amur tiger population dynamics in Southwestern Primorye was held.

On the second day, conference participants visited the Moscow Zoo’s Centre for Reproduction of Rare Animal Species where they learned about housing conditions for Amur tigers and met with Tatiana Demina, Head of the Carnivore Department, and Dmitry Egorov, Senior Veterinarian of the Moscow Zoo and member of the Species Committee of the Progam for the Conservation and Breeding of Amur Tigers.

The third day of the conference included three thematic sessions. The first session was focused on the housing and husbandry of Amur tigers in captivity, problems associated with their breeding, requirements for the construction of tiger enclosures, and assessment of the tiger welfare. One of the reports was concentrated on the experience in holding educational events dedicated to this endangered felid included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and Red Book of the Russian Federation.

During the second session, experts discussed various infectious diseases of wild felids.

At the end of the third day of the conference, an expert discussion was held on the problems of the adaptation of Amur tigers from the wild to zoo conditions, which was led by Irina Alekseicheva, one of the most experienced zoologists of the Moscow Zoo.

“The conference “Immediate issues in the Amur tiger conservation” is the first event of this format organized and held by the Moscow zoo. The conference initiated a full-fledged dialogue between all interested parties. It brought together specialists of the conservation community from Russia and other countries,” said Svetalana Akulova, General Director of the Moscow Zoo, EARAZA and RUZA President.

It is planned to publish the proceedings of the conference that will include scientific reports and presentations of all speakers, as well as papers by other experts.

We thank all the participants of the conference and are looking forward to seeing you soon!

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The Moskvarium Center for Oceanography and Marine Biology hosted the international scientific-practical conference "Ocean in the City" for the fifth time, with participation of more than 200 specialists from Russia and other countries.

From February 7 to 9, 2025, Moskvarium held its annual event for professionals in marine biology, terrarium keeping, aquarium keeping and water treatment, which facilitates cooperation between scientists and practitioners, as well as advances science and improves animal care standards.

"The first 'Ocean in the City' was held in 2019 as a small open seminar attended by only 17 people. Today, thanks to active scientific work and cooperation with international organizations, we are already holding the fifth anniversary scientific conference, which featured more than 50 speakers and gathered about 200 guests from Russia, CIS countries and Southeast Asia," said Irina Meintser, Deputy General Director of Moskvarium.

During the three days of the conference, participants discussed the organization of work in oceanariums, zoos and dolphinariums, rehabilitation and veterinary medicine of aquatic animals, as well as educational activities in aquariums.

"This event is particularly significant as we have been conducting joint scientific work with Moskvarium for a long time, and the Center's staff are members of our associations. Thanks to this event, we are able to continuously improve standards and conditions for keeping animals in artificial environments, as well as apply the accumulated experience to the rehabilitation of wildlife," said Tatiana Vershinina, Executive Director of SOZAR and Executive Secretary of EARAZA.

The conference format differed from traditional events - in addition to the lecture part, much attention was paid to practical aspects. Participants were able to attend open training sessions with dolphins and Baikal seals, which allowed them to get a closer look at the training process and interaction with the oceanarium inhabitants.

Moskvarium staff conducted detailed guided tours of the oceanarium and life support systems, allowing participants to get a closer look at how the Center operates from the inside. In addition, discussion clubs and round tables were organized at the venue. This year, the Moskvarium Center for Oceanography and Marine Biology plans to develop educational activities for younger generations. In April 2025, the event "Ocean in the City. Children" will be held here.

EARAZA General Meeting was hosted by Leningrad Zoo, St. Petersburg, on May 19-21. The Conference was attended by more than 100 participants representing various regions and cities in 14 countries including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Czech Republic, India, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Singapore, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.

Following the voting, Svetlana Akulova, Director of the Moscow Zoo, was re-elected the EARAZA President. The new Presidium membership has been increased from 8 to 13 members. The Presidium currently includes zoo and aquarium specialists from eight countries: Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Czech Republic, Germany, Israel, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Svetlana Akulova, EARAZA President, on the sidelines of the Meeting presented the project of establishing the Global Alliance of Zoological Institutions. More than 20 zoos including Moscow Zoo and other institutions from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, India, and China have already joined this new organization.

At the conclusion of the Meeting, participants agreed on the venue of the next General Meeting: it will be hosted by the Greens Zoological, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC), India. EARAZA Presidium members have handed the EARAZA symbolic flag over to Indian colleagues.

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