WetLands for Life
Sofia Zoo, as a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, is participating in the EAZA conservation campaign for 2026 – 2027 WetLands for Life.
The campaign aims to raise funds, educate and inspire action to protect, restore and create wetlands with all their biodiversity. Wetlands are the most endangered ecosystems in the world and are essential for maintaining biodiversity, climate change resilience and human livelihoods. They are also a major source of drinking water. Flamingo is the primary ambassador (flagship) species of the Wetlands for Life campaign. Due to its attractiveness and grace, it most accurately represents the beauty and fragility of wetlands.
Expect educational, informational and conservation events at Sofia Zoo, dedicated to the EAZA Wetlands for Life campaign in 2026 – 2027.
On April 26, 2026, World Flamingo Day was celebrated at Sofia Zoo. The team of the Environmental Education and Research Center, interns from the Faculty of Biology of Sofia University and volunteers held an information campaign with a special stand for all curious visitors. They had the opportunity to learn interesting facts about the life, behavior and adaptations of the 6 species of flamingos in the world, as well as to see a pink flamingo up close, which is now part of Bulgarian nature. For children, there was an art workshop for making thematic cards and masks dedicated to flamingos, as well as fun riddles.
The celebration of World Flamingo Day at Sofia Zoo this year is part of the Conservation Campaign for 2026 – 2027 “Wetlands for Life” of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Sofia Zoo, in collaboration with ALOS – Center for Informal Education and Cultural Activity, as part of their “Education through Art” program, help a workshop in which zoo visitors created a large mosaic showing 2 common kingfishers using over 4,500 plastic bottle caps. The initiative focused on the conservation of wetlands and their inhabitants, as well as on recycling plastic through art. The mosaic is part of a permanent exhibition located near the lake in the zoo.
At the end of July 2026, three unique metal sculptures of three types of flamingos – Greater flamingo, American flamingo and Lesser flamingo – were placed on the shore of the lake in the zoo. The author of the sculptural group is Dr. Luben Kuleliev with assistant Nikola Kuleliev.
The sculptures were created in ALOS – Center for Informal Education and Cultural Activities studio and are dedicated to the campaign „Wetlands for Life“.
Their implementation is with the financial support of the Sofia Municipality Culture Programme.
