Discover why modern safari parks play a vital role in ex situ conservation and in protecting animal species and biodiversity.
At a time when biodiversity is increasingly threatened by climate change, invasive alien species and habitat loss, modern zoos have become essential institutions.
Facilities such as the Bioparco di Roma, Parco Natura Viva in Bussolengo and Parco Faunistico La Torbiera in Agrate Conturbia play an active role in protecting wildlife. They take part in international breeding and reintroduction programmes for endangered species, in line with the standards set by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), an organisation accredited within the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
In Italy, these facilities also promote environmental education and raise public awareness of species conservation. They offer valuable opportunities for experiential learning, especially for younger generations, who are often used to seeing many animals only through a screen. Closing zoos would therefore mean giving up practical, accessible ways for people to connect with nature — from children and older people to people with disabilities — as well as losing important outposts in the fight against biodiversity loss.
The role of safari parks in Italy
Italian safari parks operate as ex situ zoological facilities and perform specific functions recognised by law under Directive 1999/22/EC and Italian Legislative Decree No. 73/2005. It is worth remembering that, in Italy, this legislation provides for annual inspections by two Ministries and the Carabinieri Forestali.
Beyond their better-known role as places open to the public, these facilities carry out key work in controlled wildlife management, the preservation of threatened taxa through EEPs — European Endangered Species Programmes — and the cryopreservation of genetic resources, including biobanking, as set out in the EAZA BioBank guidelines.
They also work with veterinary institutions and universities on health surveillance among animal populations, acting as sentinels for the monitoring of zoonoses and emerging diseases.
In addition, interaction between the public and wildlife in controlled settings makes it possible to study animals’ behavioural and physiological responses to environmental stimuli. These data are valuable for improving animal welfare under human care and can also be applied to rewilding plans. Finally, the presence in Italy of safari parks with high standards of housing, environmental enrichment and biomonitoring represents a resource that complements in situ conservation, especially in a context where fragmented natural habitats and the loss of ecological connectivity threaten the survival of wild populations.
Where are safari parks located in Italy?
Zoos and safari parks in Italy are spread across several regions. Below is a selection of some of the best-known and most visited facilities.
- Zoosafari Fasanolandia, located in Fasano, Apulia. Covering 140 hectares and home to more than 200 species, it is the second-largest wildlife park in Europe.
- Bioparco di Roma, formerly the Rome Zoological Garden, is the oldest such facility in Italy, having opened in 1911. It covers 16 hectares and includes an important reptile house built in 1935.
- Parco Natura Viva, in Bussolengo, in the province of Verona. Its 42 hectares of woodland are home to more than 1,500 animals and include a full African Safari area, as well as 30 research projects.
- ZOOM Torino, which hosts 11 African and Asian habitats and offers opportunities to interact with animals, particularly in summer thanks to the water park within the facility.
Safari parks and zoos are therefore well distributed across Italy, with a stronger presence in the north of the country. In addition to those already mentioned, other facilities include Parco Faunistico Valcorba, Giardino Zoologico di Pistoia, Parco Zoo di Falconara and Safari Ravenna, which together welcome several million visitors every year.
Why do some people want safari parks closed?
Calls to close safari parks, often promoted by the more radical fringes of the animal-rights movement and supported by parts of the scientific community, are based on a number of objections. One of the most common concerns is the alleged ethological inadequacy of certain environments. Even in the most modern facilities, housing conditions rarely replicate the full ecological and social complexity of natural habitats. This can limit the expression of species-specific behaviours and increase stress.
From a veterinary perspective, high animal density and close interaction with visitors may increase the risk of zoonotic pathogen transmission, particularly where rigorous biosafety protocols are not in place. Moreover, facilities that do not fully comply with EAZA or WAZA guidelines raise questions about the quality of animal welfare and the transparency of management practices.
Another concern is ethics. Some safari parks may keep and breed charismatic species that are not threatened, primarily for display rather than for genuine reintroduction or genetic conservation programmes. This raises questions about how resources are allocated and about the real effectiveness of these facilities as biodiversity protection tools.
As a result, the educational approach itself can become problematic if it is reduced to purely anthropocentric entertainment. In such cases, it risks conveying the wrong message about the relationship between people and nature, turning animals into objects of visual consumption.
Why safari parks matter
The scientific work carried out in zoological parks is essential for deepening our understanding of animal biology, which is a prerequisite for any conservation project. Breeding threatened species, such as the California condor, is far more feasible when there is already consolidated expertise in the field.
Zoos have saved several species that had become extinct in the wild and have since returned to their natural habitats, including the European bison and the bearded vulture. In zoos, particular attention is paid to ensuring the welfare of the animals housed there, while avoiding domestication processes that could make them unsuitable for a possible return to the wild. It should be remembered, however, that these operations are highly costly and should only be carried out when they genuinely benefit the conservation of the species.
How can zoos and safari parks be supported?
The most immediate action available to all of us is to visit them, ideally with expert guides, so as to understand the scientific research being carried out inside the park. In Italy, zoos are rarely public institutions, which means their survival is generally linked to ticket sales.
In addition to supporting animal collections and staff, modern zoological parks contribute to projects for the conservation of natural habitats and to numerous research initiatives.
Support, however, should not be only financial. It also has a communicative and social dimension. As mentioned above, these facilities promote environmental education and raise awareness among the general public and younger generations, helping people understand the importance of biodiversity. Everyone can contribute by sharing positive experiences with friends, relatives and neighbours, or by circulating this article to help more people understand the role played by zoological parks.
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