Loro Parque and Poema del Mar help drive record-breaking number of visitors in 2025
Zoos and aquariums across Spain enjoyed a historic year in 2025, welcoming more than 15 million visitors, with Tenerife’s Loro Parque and Gran Canaria’s Poema del Mar playing a key role in this success.
The figures come from the Asociación Ibérica de Zoos y Acuarios (AIZA), which represents 50 accredited zoos and aquariums in Spain and Portugal. According to the association, the continued rise in visitor numbers reflects growing public interest in wildlife education, environmental awareness and conservation.
One of the standout achievements of 2025 was the strong educational impact. More than two million schoolchildren took part in organised educational visits, using zoos and aquariums as living classrooms. Through age-appropriate programmes, pupils learned about animal and marine biology, behaviour and the threats facing many species, helping to turn first-hand experience into a powerful learning tool.
Within this wider growth, Loro Parque and Poema del Mar contributed significantly to the record figures. Both centres are considered examples of the modern zoo model promoted by AIZA, which focuses on scientific education, high standards of animal welfare and a clear commitment to conservation.
Wolfgang Kiessling, President of the Loro Parque Group, said the results show a clear shift in public attitudes: “These figures reflect that a very important part of society increasingly values the role of modern zoos and aquariums as places for education, conservation and scientific outreach. Being part of AIZA and contributing to this shared growth is both a responsibility and a motivation to continue developing a model that prioritises animal welfare and the protection of biodiversity.”
With most people now living in urban environments, AIZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are becoming increasingly important as gateways to nature. Beyond leisure, they play a growing social role by bringing wildlife closer to the public, promoting scientific understanding and encouraging a more informed and responsible relationship with biodiversity.
Main aquarium at Poema del Mar (Source: Grupo Loro Parque)
All AIZA members operate under strict animal welfare and professional quality standards. This work directly supports biodiversity conservation through a combination of environmental education, scientific research and active participation in conservation programmes at both national and international level.
Kiessling also highlighted the link between rising visitor numbers and public awareness: “Every visit is an opportunity to educate, raise awareness and share knowledge. The sector’s growth shows it is possible to combine scientific rigour, conservation and a high-quality visitor experience.”
Currently, AIZA member centres are involved in 267 Endangered Species Programmes (EEPs), covering more than 3,500 species. These programmes include breeding, rescue, population reinforcement, scientific monitoring and public awareness initiatives. Thanks to this ongoing work, several species have seen improvements in their conservation status.
Research is another cornerstone of AIZA’s work. Member centres collaborate closely with universities and research institutions, contributing valuable scientific knowledge to animal management, welfare and species conservation, both in the wild and under human care.
AIZA’s Executive Director, Beatriz Sainz, said the year’s results were a cause for pride: “The work carried out in 2025 by AIZA members is deeply satisfying. Our zoos and aquariums work together to promote animal welfare, education, research and conservation, and in 2026 we will further strengthen these strategic priorities.”
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