South Asia Network of International Zoo Educators SAN-IZE

SAN-IZE (pronounced “san – easy”) is an acronym for the South Asian Network of International Zoo Educators.  SANIZE represents the International Zoo Educator Association in South Asia. The International Zoo Educators Association IZE (www.izea.net) governing board & members have decided to make two regions in Asia for the purpose of better networking and serving of Asian zoos and zoo educators. Thus our SAN-IZE, which has been operating as an unofficial sub-region of IZE Asia region, is now separate region.  This was announced in the 2006 biennial conference which was held at Pretoria, South Africa 11-14 October 2006.   South Asia includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.  Sally Walker is the Regional Representative for this region and it is hosted by Zoo Outreach Organisation (www.zooreach.org) and assisted by our sponsors Columbus Zoo and Wildlife Conservation Society and ZOO’s networks.  We are members of WAZA and are guided by WAZA principles.  WAZCS enjoins all zoos and aquariums to support the protection of wildlife in the wild in any meaningful way possible for them regardless of their size or budget. For some zoos, the most immediate and meaningful way to support protection of wildlife and its habitat is through education. WZACS also makes a strong argument for zoos partnering with other organizations to enhance our effectiveness in protecting wildlife and habitat. 

Z.O.O. and W.I.L.D. host several important IUCN groups, taxonomically-themed international NGO’s, focused on the more neglected, highly speciose taxon groups, such as  Invertebrates, Amphibians, Reptiles, Bats, Rodents and Insectivores, and Primates.  We use CBSG workshops to gather and assess information which we use for education.

ZOO/SAN-IZE develops much educational material for all target groups, making use of scientific facts about species and their habitats from workshops we conduct involving indigenous scientists. Due to postage and customs costs, we supply the bulk of these materials to Indian educators, but take every opportunity to load visitors from the zoos in India with materials to take back.  We also send samples of everything to all in the region and give permission for them to use it as they require, in translation, modified more to their country, culture etc.