WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, March 16, 2020 — American Humane, the country’s first national humane organization, last week presented the Champion of Conservation Award to Wolfgang Kiessling, Founder and President of Loro Parque and Loro Parque Foundation. The award recognizes Kiessling’s global leadership in species conservation.
“Loro Parque is one of the most well-respected zoological institutions in the world for its beauty, the excellence of its facilities and its incredible conservation work,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane. “Loro Parque holds the largest and most diverse reserve of parrots in the world, and the zoological park has saved 10 species of parrots from extinction, directly through the efforts of Loro Parque Foundation and in collaboration with other NGOs. It is truly remarkable what an impact Wolfgang has made in global conservation efforts, especially as parrots continue to be one of the largest threatened species of all the bird families. I can think of no one more deserving of this award.”
Founded in 1972 by Kiessling, Loro Parque was initially created as a paradise for parrots and began its journey with only 150 parrots. The park, located on the island of Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands, now has more than 4,000 specimens of 350 different species and subspecies of parrots, demonstrating its outstanding success in boosting the parrot population. Loro Parque is also home to flamingos, cranes, penguins and swans, as well as many species of reptiles, mammals and marine life. As billions of human beings exhaust the world’s resources, Loro Parque plays a critical role in education, science and conservation. In 2017, Loro Parque become the first zoo in Europe to receive American Humane Certification, reinforcing its recognition as a global leader in animal welfare.
“Modern zoos are essential to counter-fight the dramatic impact of today’s environmental crisis. At Loro Parque, we aim to create sympathy, love and respect for wild animals and their ecosystems,” said Kiessling. “I am proud to be leading global conservation efforts for the Earth’s incredible animals and birds, and I am grateful to receive this award presented by American Humane.”
Additional accomplishments of Loro Parque include:
- Being named the Best Zoo in the World by Periodista Digital;
- Inspiring and educating more than 50 million visitors;
- Contributing $21 million towards some 200 conservation projects across five continents;
- Becoming one of the first zoos in Europe to replace plastic water bottles with biodegradable and compostable options, seeking to eliminate more than 90 percent of the park’s plastic waste; and
- Being the only company in the Canary Islands that has the Principe Filipe Award for Business Excellence.
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About American Humane
American Humane is the country’s first national humane organization. Founded in 1877, American Humane is committed to ensuring the safety, welfare, and well-being of animals, and our leadership programs are first to serve in promoting and nurturing the bonds between animals and people. For more information or to support our work, please visit www.americanhumane.org.
