On 27 April 2023, during the annual meeting of the Directors’ Committee of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), held in Bergen, Norway, a decision was taken to admit Sofia Zoo as a member of EAZA. Sofia Zoo is one of the few zoos in the region to become an EAZA member (the closest EAZA member zoos are in Athens and Zagreb). EAZA includes more than 340 zoos and aquariums from Europe and Western Asia.

The prestigious EAZA membership is a recognition of achieving world-class standards in zoo management and provides numerous new opportunities for zoo exchange, the use of international expertise, participation in international conservation and breeding programmes for more than 400 rare and endangered animal species, state-of-the-art training and professional development for zoo specialists, as well as access to an online platform that enables members to collaborate and share knowledge. Members also receive support and assistance from the EAZA Executive Office in Amsterdam, staffed by specialists in three main areas: Conservation and Population Management, providing support on issues related to animal husbandry and conservation both in zoos and in natural habitats; Communications and Membership, supporting members with the latest news from across the network, internal and external communications, and all membership-related matters; and European Union Policy, supporting EU policy and member engagement through EAZA’s representative office in Brussels.

Sofia Zoo held candidate member status for an extended period, during which it was supported by official advisers and mentors appointed by EAZA, who helped guide the zoo along the challenging path to full membership. Wim Verberkmoes, former Director of GaiaZOO in the Netherlands, and Jean-Jacques Lesueur, Director of Athens Zoo, provided valuable advice and guidance in meeting EAZA’s extensive requirements. As a result, Sofia Zoo largely achieved the high standards required and was accepted into the European family of zoos.

The living environment of the animals was significantly improved following a series of reconstructions, new rules and working standards were introduced, numerous training programmes were conducted, and Sofia Zoo demonstrated its role as a nature conservation organisation through participation in more than 16 European Endangered Species Programmes, as well as conservation projects focused on rare species native to Bulgaria.