Germany: Jörg Junhold, Director of Leipzig Zoo, Receives “Heini Hediger Award“

Within the framework programm of this year’s “WAZA Annual Conference“, which was held on a virtual basis due to the ongoing worldwide corona pandemic (cf. EAP news of 9 Oct 2020), Prof. Dr. Jörg Junhold (photo), Director of Leipzig Zoo, received the “Heini Hediger Award“, which is considered one of the highest awards in the international zoo community. WAZA President and Chairman of the Board of Cologne Zoo, Theo Pagel, said in his laudatory speech: “I am pleased that the Heini Hediger Award 2020 is presented this year to our highly respected colleague and friend Prof. Dr. Jörg Junhold. He receives it for his outstanding achievements in zoology at Leipzig Zoo and his exemplary commitment to zoos and aquariums both on a national and a global level. I heartily congratulate him.“

Junhold, who was WAZA President from 2011 to 2013, felt honored and commented: “My entire team deserves huge thanks for having followed the not always easy, but ambitious and groundbreaking path and for the fact that we have come so far – they also made me receiving this award today. In the spirit of the award’s namesake, I would like to encourage you all to believe in your ideas and ideals and to continue to fulfil them even against resistance and special challenges. [...]. We are also the ones who, through zoos and aquariums, can reach millions of people every year and spread knowledge about and love for animals. [...]“ (eap)