Two Oceans Aquarium helps shape global conservation goals at WAZA 2026

The Two Oceans Aquarium's Helen Lockhart and Judy Mann-Lang recently represented the Aquarium at the 81st World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) Annual Conference in Cologne, Germany. The event marked an important milestone for international conservation collaboration, including the approval of the WAZA 2030 Conservation Goal.

Held at Cologne Zoo from 25 to 29 October 2026, the conference brought together 319 participants from 58 countries and regions under the theme “Stewards of Tomorrow: Purpose. Direction. Global Responsibility”. Through keynote presentations, panel discussions, case studies, and interactive sessions, delegates explored the responsibilities of modern zoos and aquariums, from ethical leadership and animal welfare to sustainability and measurable conservation outcomes.

WAZA is a global alliance of nearly 500 zoos, aquariums, and associated organisations dedicated to advancing animal welfare, conservation, sustainability, and education. As a WAZA member, the Two Oceans Aquarium forms part of this international network, working towards shared goals of protecting wildlife, promoting best practices in animal care, and inspiring people to care for the natural world.

Making sustainability accessible across zoos and aquariums

Helen Lockhart, Conservation and Sustainability Manager at the Two Oceans Aquarium, introduced the new WAZA Sustainability Hub, a resource designed to help zoos and aquariums strengthen their environmental sustainability efforts.

Lockhart also participated in a panel discussion titled “From Commitment to Accountability: Scaling Sustainable Business Practices Across Zoos and Aquariums”. Alongside representatives from the Aquarium Conservation Partnership, The Florida Aquarium, SSA Group, and Verdis Group, she explored how institutions can translate sustainability commitments into measurable action. Drawing on initiatives addressing plastics, climate, and sustainable sourcing, the panel shared practical strategies to strengthen accountability, reduce environmental impacts, and accelerate change across the sector.

A major milestone: WAZA 2030 Conservation Goal approved

One of the most significant outcomes of this year's conference was the approval of the WAZA 2030 Conservation Goal on 29 October 2026, marking an important step towards strengthening the collective conservation impact of zoos and aquariums worldwide.

The Goal builds on commitments made at the 79th WAZA Annual Conference in 2024, when members agreed to advance processes that would support active contributions to halting extinctions, reversing population declines, restoring wildlife populations, and securing a future for threatened species.

Zoos and aquariums are uniquely positioned to contribute to these objectives through both in situ (in the wild) and ex situ (outside natural habitats) conservation efforts, while supporting international biodiversity initiatives. However, although institutions worldwide are already making significant contributions, these efforts have not always been documented or reported consistently.

The WAZA 2030 Conservation Goal aims to address this gap by establishing a shared approach to documenting conservation activities across regional associations, providing a clearer picture of the sector's collective contribution to biodiversity conservation.

The Goal requires WAZA Member Regional Associations to have two essential elements in place by 2030: A conservation framework outlining how members will contribute to its objectives, and a standardised reporting system to document these activities consistently. The framework recognises that conservation takes many forms, from protecting species in their natural habitats and generating scientific knowledge to sharing expertise, building capacity, and creating positive social impact.

As the Goal is implemented, this shared approach will help WAZA and its member associations better demonstrate conservation outcomes, identify opportunities for collaboration, and strengthen accountability across the sector.

For the Two Oceans Aquarium, this milestone was particularly meaningful. Both Lockhart and Mann-Lang were part of the initial team that helped advance work on the WAZA 2030 Conservation Goal, making its approval an especially rewarding moment.

Looking ahead: WAZA 2027 comes to Cape Town!

The 2027 conference will mark a historic first for WAZA: All institutional members within the host country have united behind a single national bid. Cango Wildlife and Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo are leading the hosting team, joined by the Two Oceans Aquarium, uShaka Sea World – SAAMBR, and the National Zoological Garden of South Africa – SANBI.

Together, these institutions will showcase South Africa's extraordinary biodiversity, conservation expertise, and commitment to protecting wildlife on the global stage.

“The Two Oceans Aquarium, together with Cango Wildlife, Johannesburg Zoo, SANBI, and SAAMBR, is deeply honoured to welcome the global WAZA community to our beautiful country. Hosting the 82nd WAZA Annual Conference is an exceptional opportunity to strengthen our shared commitment to conservation, environmental education and research. As a proud member of both WAZA and the African Association for Wildlife in Human Care, we look forward to sharing Cape Town, the historic gateway to Southern Africa, and the region's remarkable biodiversity and extraordinary wildlife,” says Michael Farquhar, CEO at the Two Oceans Aquarium.