African conservation milestone: Cape Town to host world zoo and aquarium leaders in 2027

South Africa’s five WAZA-member institutions have joined forces behind a single bid, securing Cape Town as the host city for the 82nd World Association of Zoos and Aquariums Annual Conference, running October 17 to 21, 2027. For citizens and conservation communities across the continent, the event marks the first time in 28 years that this global gathering returns to African soil.

What makes this conference unusual is the structure behind it. Rather than a single institution competing for hosting rights, all five of South Africa’s WAZA-member bodies submitted a unified bid. That collaborative approach is a departure from the organization’s typical hosting model, and it reflects something broader: a shift in how regional institutions can organize around shared public purpose.

The five partners span the country’s geography and expertise. Cango Wildlife, based in Oudtshoorn, and Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo serve as primary hosts and main coordinators. Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town is the official venue partner, with proceedings held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. uShaka Sea World, operated by the South African Association for Marine Biological Research in Durban, and the National Zoological Garden of South Africa, part of the South African National Biodiversity Institute in Pretoria, complete the partnership.

Each institution brings a distinct public function. Cango Wildlife leads in terrestrial wildlife conservation and breeding programmes. Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo focuses on urban wildlife management and native African biodiversity. Two Oceans Aquarium specializes in marine biodiversity and rehabilitation. uShaka Sea World contributes decades of marine biological research and animal care expertise. The National Zoological Garden delivers nationwide biodiversity research and scientific policy development.

The stakes extend well beyond event logistics. Founded in 1935, WAZA represents nearly 400 top-tier institutions globally, each bound by rigorous ethical standards and animal welfare benchmarks. Hosting this network in Cape Town positions South Africa not merely as a wildlife tourism destination but as an active participant in shaping international conservation policy, the kind of policy that ultimately governs how natural systems are protected for public benefit.

WAZA Chief Executive Officer Martin Zordan said the unified bid demonstrates powerful shared purpose, and that the gathering reflects the organization’s commitment to inclusive, globally representative events that draw on regional leadership and expertise.

Local leaders have been direct about what the moment means. Douglas Eriksen, CEO of Cango Wildlife, framed the collaboration in ecological terms: “In nature, nothing endures alone; the strongest ecosystems are built on the resilience of their connections.” Louise Gordon, Executive Manager of Johannesburg Zoo, described the co-hosting arrangement as “testament to how we, as a small zoo community, work together and support each other in a tangible way.”

Michael Farquhar, CEO of Two Oceans Aquarium, called the conference “an exceptional opportunity to strengthen our shared commitment to conservation.” Lawrence Oellermann, CEO of uShaka Sea World, saw it as a chance to “show off our beautiful, biodiverse country to our friends and colleagues around the world.” Leslie Mudimeli, General Manager of the National Zoological Garden, expressed readiness to welcome delegates and deepen global partnerships for biodiversity conservation.

By October 2027, Cape Town will host nearly 400 conservation leaders drawing on the collective knowledge of five institutions working in concert. The open question is whether the unified bid model, tested here for the first time, becomes a template other regional conservation communities choose to follow.