5 Irish Conservation Projects Supported by Dublin Zoo

Dublin Zoo is one of Ireland’s leading visitor attractions, but it is also a hub for conservation and education. Our mission is to save wildlife and inspire a passion for nature and we work with a global network of conservation partners to protect endangered species, restore habitats and inspire future generations to safeguard the environment.

Conservation partnerships are a key part of Dublin Zoo’s conservation work and our Conservation Master Plan. This network of dedicated organisations and initiatives span local, national and international conservation efforts and share Dublin Zoo’s mission to save wildlife and habitats. With more than one million species now considered to be threatened with extinction, it’s important that Dublin Zoo, as a zoo-based conservation organisation, connects with key conservation partners and projects to help save the last remaining wild places and populations, both in Ireland and around the world.

Here are five conservation organisations in Ireland that Dublin Zoo proudly supports:

1. Bat Rehabilitation Ireland

Bat Rehabilitation Ireland is Ireland’s largest bat rescue organisation and has cared for almost 1,500 native Irish bats from across the country since opening in 2019.

Our support helps Bat Rehabilitation Ireland to continue their work to rehabilitate and study bats from across Ireland. Dublin Zoo also collaborates with the organisation on certain projects, for example, a recent study on the distribution of Nathusius’ pipistrelle across Ireland, a small and rarely studied species of bat.

2. Kildare Wildlife Rescue

Kildare Wildlife Rescue opened in 2022 as a result of a need for a wildlife rehabilitation centre to care for sick, injured and orphaned animals in the Leinster area. Each year, the organisation rescues, rehabilitates and releases over 2,000 animals, from birds such as barn owls to mammals including foxes and hedgehogs.

Through our partnership, we’re helping Kildare Wildlife Rescue to further develop their wildlife rescue centre in Kildare Town, allowing them to increase the capacity they have to rescue and treat animals.

3. Seal Rescue Ireland

Seal Rescue Ireland works to rescue sick, injured and orphaned seals and release them back into the wild. The organisation operates a 24-Hour Rescue Line and this is supported by over 600 Network Volunteers who help to assess and transport injured or sick seals to the rehabilitation centre in Courtown Harbour, Co. Wexford.

Our support helps Seal Rescue Ireland increase the number of seals in their care, ensuring each patient gets a second chance at life. We have also hosted volunteer training events for the organisation, giving them a platform to raise awareness of their mission and to recruit volunteers to their Rescue Network Volunteers programme.

4. Louth Nature Trust

The Louth Nature Trust is dedicated to the conservation of little terns and black guillemots, and the habitats these species rely on.

Through our partnership, we provide funding to support Louth Nature Trust’s efforts to protect the little tern colony at Baltray, Co. Louth. This colony almost became extinct but Louth Nature Trust’s work has resulted in the hiring of seasonal nest protection officers to ensure nests are not disturbed.

5. Irish Peatland Conservation Council

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council works to take action for bogs, with a focus on protecting and enhancing peatland habitat and biodiversity.

We support the Irish Peatland Conservation Council as part of their Marsh Fritillary butterfly conservation efforts. Based in Lullymore West Bog in Co. Kildare, we help the organisation undertake weekly butterfly monitoring in the reserve from April to September each year, as well as habitat assessments and larval nest counts each spring and autumn.

The conservation work outlined above is not possible without the ongoing support of our Zoo visitors. By visiting Dublin Zoo and discovering the diverse range of incredible animals in our care, you are helping to make a difference for wildlife around the world.