Though the Yerevan Zoo started to operate only after the Second World War, the first plans for a Zoological Garden in Yerevan were developed already in 1941. Hence the year 2011 marks the 70th anniversary of the institution. The organizers of SunChild 3rd International Environmental Festival want to celebrate this occasion and invite everybody to discover the past and presence of the Yerevan Zoo.
In April 2011 Ruben Khachatryan, the founder and director of FPWC, was appointed by the Yerevan Municipality as the new director of the Yerevan Zoo. With this appointment FPWC started its project "FPWC for Yerevan Zoo". An agreement between Yerevan Zoo and FPWC determines that FPWC is responsible to implement programs supporting the transformation of Yerevan Zoo into a facility dedicated to animal welfare, education and nature protection.
FPWC brought in new partners and supporters. Artis Royal Zoo Amsterdam, with its director Haig Balian, acts as the main partner in the project. Artis Zoo, Yerevan Zoo and FPWC joined their forces to bring forward the transformation process of Yerevan Zoo and develop the institution into a Center for public education about South Caucasian biodiversity. Moreover Artis Zoo is supporting Yerevan Zoo's probation candidacy for the membership in the European Association of Zoo and Aquaria (EAZA).