Andras Kopacz

 

Position: Shape—Southeast Europe Chair

 

Hello Everyone,

My name is Andras Kopacz, and I am a curator at Tirgu-Mures Zoo in Romania. I started here in 1988, as a keeper. After I finished the Animal Husbandry University (DATE ATFK – Hungary, then at USAB TM – Romania), I became a curator. In 1998, I participated in the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (EAZA) pilot Zoo Educator course in Barneveld, Netherlands. Since completing that course, I also oversee our zoo’s education programs. I love working in a zoo, because even though the animals are in captivity, the zoo is a wonderful place.

 

I have been interested in enrichment for long time. In 2008, I participated in the International Primate Society’s (IPS) pre-Congress Training program in Edinburg, where I learned the basics of enrichment and training. This course was very useful for me because after that I could see the field of enrichment from a different point of view.

So, I designed a project to spread the enrichment seed in my region. I wanted to share all the information I learned with colleagues in my zoo (Tirgu-Mures Zoo) and in zoos around Romania. This project started with local steps, but in the end included the formation of a new Shape Regional, Shape—Romania, which later became Shape—Southeast Europe. I presented this project at the 9th International Conference on Environmental Enrichment (ICEE) in Torquay, UK and also at EAZA’s AGM, both in 2009. I hope this project will have success and enrichment will become implanted in all Romanian, and Southeast European zoos.

I think Shape—Southeast Europe is necessary for our region, because enrichment is just beginning here and only in this way can we help each other to the benefit of our animals.

 

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