The BIOPARC Foundation played a key role in acquiring the AIZA vessel, thanks to a donation from the Iberian Association of Zoos and Aquariums following the devastating DANA storm. Completely restored and electrified, the traditional Albufera boat was delivered to the Devesa-Albufera service of the Valencia City Council and has become a vital resource for protecting this valuable wetland.
In the commitment to a better future for society and our planet, solidarity and environmental protection are essential. Some events are particularly significant, and in the face of the damage caused by the catastrophic DANA storm, unity was a great source of hope.
Initiative of the Iberian Association of Zoos and Aquariums
With this conviction, the Iberian Association of Zoos and Aquariums It promoted a cooperation initiative in which the BIOPARC Foundation played a prominent role, along with the Valencian parks L'Oceanogràfic, Terra Natura Benidorm and Río Safari Elche, and other members such as Zoo Barcelona, Sendaviva, Basondo Wildlife Refuge and the Zaragoza Aquarium.
This collective action It materialized in an element of great symbolism, the donation of a boat called AIZA to the Devesa-Albufera service of the Valencia City Council. And the greatest satisfaction for entities such as the BIOPARC Foundation is knowing that it has become a an essential tool for monitoring and environmental preservation tasks in this invaluable ecosystem.
After many months of work, a traditional albuferencia (a type of clay pot) was acquired and subsequently repaired and fully restored, equipping it with an electric motor.
The objective of the AIZA vessel is to protect the Albufera lagoon.
La AIZA vessel It has an optimal size for accessing shallow areas, perfectly complementing and reinforcing the equipment used by the responsible personnel. In that sense, it is being especially useful for tasks such as patrolling the lake, taking samples for water analysis, bird census, and planning conservation work of vegetation and canals and their subsequent review, as well as to avoid delays in the actions by carrying out tasks simultaneously.
The first objective was that the boat AIZA was a useful instrument Furthermore, throughout the entire process, sustainable materials have been used and the most modern and efficient technical elements have been applied to electrify its operation, for which a grant from IVACE was received. In this way, the combustion engine was replaced with a "green" and non-polluting one that emits no noise or waste, as it is air-cooled.
These features allow a environmentally friendly navigation in this wonderful and fragile natural environment with an excellent result that combines cultural heritage and the latest technology in service of biodiversity conservation.
The BIOPARC Foundation, ex situ conservation and in situ conservation
Supporting and witnessing the results of actions that combine efforts and generate a positive and lasting impact on the region are the best incentive to continue. In that sense, the Foundation with the BIOPARC of ValenciaFuengirola and the Gijón Aquarium participate in numerous projects to protect threatened habitats, both in situ and ex situ.
The births of rhinoceroses, chimpanzees, elephants, or gorillas bring a glimmer of optimism to these critically endangered species, and the opportunity to witness them is a unique and transformative experience that awakens the desire to protect them.
This leisure model “with a cause” BIOPARCs, with their professional care to provide maximum well-being to the animals and as platforms for education and awareness in society, are fundamental to breaking with indifference and stopping the deterioration of our planet.
