We participated with presentations on elephant training and the evolution in the management of macaws.

Terra Natura Benidorm joined the Annual Congress of the Iberian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AIZA), which was held from 20th to 22nd February in the Science Park of Andalusia, in Granada. The meeting brought together zoo and aquarium professionals from all over the country with the aim of promoting communication, collaboration and improvement in the field of animal welfare, conservation and education.

A delegation from Terra Natura Benidorm, headed by the director, Luis Perea, has been present in the different working groups of the board of directors, veterinary, animals, education and marketing, contributing their experience in the management and care of the fauna. Within the framework of this conference, the park has contributed with two outstanding presentations, given by its specialists in animal welfare and behavioural management.

On the one hand, the expert elephant keeper, Jorge Paniagua, gave a talk on ‘Preparation and development of a training routine to carry out veterinary tests on Asian elephants’, where he detailed the protocol applied at Terra Natura Benidorm to facilitate the veterinary monitoring of these large mammals. During the talk he explained a specific training routine for washing the trunk, a fundamental procedure in the veterinary care of this species. Through positive reinforcement and the animal’s cooperation, this training allows veterinarians to carry out explorations without the need for immobilisation, thus guaranteeing the elephant’s well-being and safety.

For his part, the specialist in psittacidae, Álvaro Bru, addressed in his talk ‘Evolution in the management of the macaw group’ the improvements implemented in the park’s aviary. His intervention highlighted the advances in the management of these birds, focusing on positive reinforcement and safety protocols for the interaction between keepers and animals. This approach contributes to the welfare of the macaws, ensuring their physical and emotional development in a controlled environment.

The AIZA Congress has established itself as a key platform for the exchange of knowledge among professionals in the sector. Among its priorities are the adaptation of zoos to new European standards and legislation, the improvement of animal welfare, the continuity of species through breeding and the promotion of conservation and research programmes. These actions are aligned with the World Zoo and Aquarium Strategy for the Conservation of WAZA, whose objective is to maximise the impact of these institutions in the protection of biodiversity.

With our participation in this congress, we reaffirm our commitment to innovation in animal care, the improvement of the visitor experience and the implementation of strategies that reinforce its role as a centre for conservation and dissemination.