More than 400 guests gathered on Thursday (5th June), at Poema del Mar aquarium in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for a spectacular gala dinner hosted by Loro Parque Fundación in celebration of World Oceans Day.
The event has quickly established itself as one of the most significant occasions on the institutional, scientific, and social calendar in the Canary Islands.
The evening was marked by a strong spirit of support for marine conservation and the long-standing work of Loro Parque Fundación, which has been active for over two decades. The presence of the Kiessling family, founders of the Loro Parque Group, was warmly received, with many attendees recognising and applauding their commitment to biodiversity.
Among the prominent guests were Astrid Pérez, President of the Canary Islands Parliament, and Julieta Schallenberg, Deputy Minister for Ecological Transition in the regional government, who both expressed their firm support for the foundation’s conservation efforts.
Wolfgang Kiessling, President of Loro Parque Group, addressed the audience, emphasising the crucial role that facilities like Poema del Mar play in raising awareness about marine biodiversity. He highlighted their importance in education, research, and ocean protection.
He also proudly shared that Loro Parque Fundación has helped rescue 12 critically endangered parrot species from extinction, an achievement that ranks the foundation among the most effective conservation organisations worldwide.
Christoph Kiessling, President of Loro Parque Fundación, spotlighted several pioneering scientific projects being led from the Canary Islands. These include coral reef restoration using 3D printing technology, the HippoDEC study focused on seahorses and pipefish, and the CanBio programme, developed with the Canary Islands Government to monitor the effects of climate change across the archipelago.
Proceeds from the evening will support the continuation of the seahorse conservation project through the creation of “Seahorse Hotels”, specially designed 3D-printed structures that mimic natural habitats to encourage breeding and safeguard these emblematic coastal species.
The success of the event was made possible by the generous support of numerous Canary Islands-based companies, including Vintia, Audiovisuales Canarias, Activa Canarias, Comesa, Emicela, Danafresh, Egatesa, Orthidal, Europastry, Jaime Llorca, Ahembo, CCC, Firgas and Perelada.
Since its inception, Loro Parque Fundación has invested more than $26 million in over 240 conservation projects across the globe, with a strong focus on protecting the planet’s most endangered species.
This annual gala, held in honour of World Oceans Day, not only highlights the global relevance of the Canary Islands in marine conservation but also reinforces the power of collective action in building a more sustainable future.
