ENDCAP is a membership coalition of Non-Government Organisations and professionals that provides a forum for the exchange of information and expertise to support the projects and campaigns of individual members in their own countries.

Through collaboration and co-ordinated action, ENDCAP addresses issues at European policy level to seek the greater protection for wild animals in captivity in Europe.

Ultimately, ENDCAP and its Membership aim to phase-out the keeping of wild animals in captivity, through the adoption of advocacy, investigation, education and campaigning to increase an understanding of the issues and concurrently raise standards.

All Members actively take part in the development of the coalition, undertake agreed tasks within their country, pay an annual subscription (dependent upon income) and abide by ENDCAP policy.

All Non-Government Organisations, large and small, are able to join ENDCAP and annual subscription options are available for those with little or no income.

ENDCAP Focuses on five specific areas relevant to captive wild animals: zoos and aquaria (as defined by the EC Directive 1999/22/EC), dolphinaria, animal circuses, animal sanctuaries and wild animals kept as pets.

ENDCAP collects information and data using science-based investigations and analysis, to provide relevant competent authorities in European Member States and the European Institutions with accurate information in order to influence and encourage higher animal welfare standards.

ENDCAP supplies information and technical advice to competent authorities in order to increase their ability to effectively enforce national and international legislation and thus provide greater protection for wild animals in captivity.

Every year, the Membership is invited to attend the Annual Conference, usually in Brussels, which is vital to the development and success of ENDCAP.

ENDCAP collaborates with all relevant stakeholders to raise greater awareness about issues relating to wild animals in captivity.

ENDCAP’s development
Notable achievements:

2006
 ENDCAP was established with an initial membership of 24 organisations from 19 European countries.

2007
 Launch of ENDCAP and its campaign to achieve greater protection for Europe’s Forgotten Animals in Europe - Press Conference at the Residence Palace, Brussels and a Parliamentary Reception (October 2007)
 Meetings with DG Environment Impact Assessment team, to clarify the definition of animal welfare and to ensure this is all inclusive for all animals.
 In principal agreement by DG SANCO to include reference to wild animals in captivity in the revised EC Action Plan for the Protection and Welfare of Animals.
 Presentation to the EP Intergroup of Animal Welfare and Conservation in Strasbourg on European zoos and their apparent lack of compliance with the Directive 1999/22/EC (December 2007)
 ENDCAP receives the backing of the EP Intergroup of Animal Welfare and Conservation in its endeavours to raise greater awareness about the plight of wild animals in zoos in Europe and further, supports the proposal to seek a revision of the Directive 1999/22/EC, seen as the only way to improve the implementation and enforcement of the Directive’s requirements.

2008

 ENDCAP co-hosted a Reception at the European Parliament to introduce a new initiative between animal welfare NGOs and the European travel industry to combat poor animal welfare (May 2008)
 Acknowledgement by Commissioner Dimas, Commissioner for the Environment that the Commission will need to address the lack of transposition, implementation and enforcement by Member States of the Directive 1999/22/EC, indicating that the Commission may take an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Directive. (July 2008)
 Meetings with MEPs to highlight the plight of ‘Europe’s Forgotten Animals’
 Meeting with Commissioner Dimas and Cabinet to discuss the situation with zoos in Europe
 Consultation in the SANCO-funded feasibility study on the Centre for Animal Welfare Excellence
 ENDCAP Members produced a film (in English and German) on the largest exotic animal market in the world, taking place in Hamm, Germany.
 Public education leaflets on parrots and reptiles as ‘pets’ were produced for translation into various European languages.
 Meetings with DG Environment to discuss the inclusion of zoos in their future work plan
 ENDCAP Membership reaches 31 member NGOs (September 2008)
 ENDCAP co-hosted a Parliamentary Reception in Brussels, together with the Alliance for Liberal Democrats for Europe, to raise awareness about the plight of hundreds of thousands of wild animals in zoos in Europe. The Reception, which was well attended by European press, saw the launch of the ENDCAP zoo postcard (November 2008)
 ENDCAP provided findings from its preliminary investigations into the status and performance of EU zoos to the European Commission. This included information of the failure of Member States to effectively implement and enforce Directive and further, evidence that conditions in zoos are sub-standard (December 2008)

2009

ENDCAP Members effectively disseminate 55,000 ENDCAP zoo postcards to citizens across Europe, each addressing the Commissioner for the Environment to raise animal welfare standards in zoos in Europe (February 2009)