Toward a Unified Conservation Education in Zoos Using An Integrated Ecosystem Management Approach (original) (raw)
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Conservation education in zoos -a literature review
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The literary review was conducted in order to reveal how the alleged conservation education in zoos has been studied in empirical zoo visitor studies. A qualitative meta-analysis of the empirical articles on zoo visitors and environmental education, with a focus on methodology and the nature of “nature conservation was examined. The main finding was that the zoo visitor literature doesn’t take a critical enough stance on the zoos’ own conservation views. Research based on surveys and quantitative methods give little room for a diversity of meanings concerning zoo visits and more-than-human practices in zoos. We
THE ZOOS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE FORMAL AND INFORMAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Due to their unique settings, zoos have indubitable role in teaching vast amount of people each year about the secrets and miracles of life. According to the World’s Zoo Strategy, zoos have four main purposes and goals: 1). Recreation, providing a “green touch”; 2). Education about the diversity of life; 3). Research on wildlife using the captive facilities for studies not possible in nature and 4). Conservation of endangered species for which only captivity can provide shelter. Sofia zoo has an Environmental Education and Research Centre established 10 years ago which is responsible for fulfilling three of the four aims of zoos in a blend of activities. We had developed education packages for formal and informal education for general public with special focus on children, provide bases for research conducted by university students and their preliminary education and also take part in several conservation projects, the results of which are used as teaching aproach. Examples of all these activities are discussed further in this paper.
Conservation Biology, 2004
and thus have a special connection with nature. Many of these institutions emphasize a mission of conservation, and, undeniably, they do contribute directly to conservation education and conservation science. They present an exceptional opportunity for many urban residents to see the wonders of life, and they can contribute to education and habitat preservation. Because many collection-based institutions now hold a stated mission of conservation, we suggest eight potential questions to evaluate actions toward that mission: (1) Does conservation thought define policy decisions? (2) Is there sufficient organizational funding for conservation activities?
Adding Humanity to the Curriculum: Once and Future Zoos
As the World Zoo Conservation Strategy urges zoos to become "conservation centers," they must broaden educational themes to include the human management side of conservation, considering the social realities of conservation, community needs, and the utility of focusing on the local human ecosystem. Illustrating this transformation, the Costa Rican National Zoo and Botanical Garden launches a solid waste campaign to integrate the citywide garbage crisis into its traditional natural history-based curriculum.
Conservation or Exploitation? Assessing the Education Impact of Accredited Zoological Institutions
Zoological institutions, and the animals that inhabit them, have fascinated people since their inception. Over time, the mandates of zoos and aquariums have evolved and diversified beyond their sole anthropocentric focus on human entertainment. Today, zoological institutions have mandates to safeguard the populations of endangered species, protect wild spaces, and promote environmental and conservation education. This study seeks to answer the following questions: How are zoological institutions attempting to contribute to conservation through environmental education? Are they successful? Zoos and aquariums are in a unique position to play a role in fostering conservation and delivering experiential education opportunities to its visitors. Environmental education opportunities in zoological institutions raise awareness amongst the visiting public the ecological value of biodiversity, and the reintroduction of endangered species populations into the wild. Zoos achieve this through captive breeding programs and by collaborating on conservation programs with multiple stakeholders, including those who participate in citizen science projects. This thesis explores the effectiveness of the educational programs of zoological institutions and in communicating a conservation message. In addition, the concept of learning through experiential and deep learning is investigated to evaluate the potential for positive behavioural changes towards environmental stewardship. This study takes a qualitative multiple case study approach of three accredited zoological institutions – the Calgary Zoo, the Toronto Zoo, and the Vancouver Aquarium – to determine the effectiveness of their current conservation education messages. A social media analysis of the zoos’ Facebook pages and semi-structured interviews have been conducted with zoo volunteers to see if there is evidence of learning that might lead to stewardship and conservation behaviours in the zoos visitors. Additional insights into the impact that these educational efforts might have on conservation are provided through expert interview, personal observation, secondary literature, and grey literature. Findings suggest that experiential education programs are generating some conservation behaviours by members of the visiting public, particularly those who ultimately became volunteers at the zoos. The research also indicates that zoos could quite easily make more effective use of those volunteers and social media to more meaningfully communicate their environmental education programs, thereby enhancing and reinforcing the impact of their conservation work.
The future of zoos and aquariums: conservation and caring
International Zoo Yearbook, 2005
The success of zoos and aquariums as conservation centres depends on the holistic embrace of conservation, including acting as model citizen, wildlife conservationist, agent for conservation and mentor/trainer. Success also depends on truly reaching our audiences, from policy-maker to land manager to citizen, to help them care about and care for nature. In pursuing our conservation goal, we must acknowledge our general lack of experience in effectively changing the behaviour of these different audiences, which function at both the global and local level. To start with those closest to us, the visitors to our institutions, we should appreciate that we do not have deep understanding of the effect our business has on them by providing close-up experiences with a variety of animals. Nevertheless, by the caring ways in which we express biophilia and carry out particular conservation activities, our institutions can become transformative models, inspiring and motivating urban people around the globe to have a more harmonious and sustainable relationship with the natural world.
Zoos in Transition: Enriching Conservation Education for a New Generation
Curator: The Museum Journal, 2000
As zoos undertake transformations to address issues of conservation education, questions arise as to the most effective means to engage all zoo visitors. This article suggests that zoos are missing opportunities to capture the attention and involvement of the full range of zoo visitors, particularly the youngest children and teenagers, who make up approximately 17 percent of zoo visitors. This article considers the needs of these two groups and provides design guidance and examples of programs to meet those needs. The Children's Zoo Design Project (CZDP) was initiated in 1992 by Zoo Atlanta and Georgia Institute of Technology and funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. The purpose of the project was to provide a central resource to which zoos contemplating design change might turn. The article is based on the research of the CZDP and also includes surveys of zoos, site visits, and the thinking and conclusions of a workshop/seminar participated in by students, zoo professionals, and others involved in zoo design and education.
Critical Review of Conservation Education and Engagement Practices in European Zoos and Aquaria
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This report critically examines existing evidence of conservation education impacts from zoos/aquaria, then goes on to use existing knowledge from across the social sciences to identify better or worse interpretation practices in zoos and aquaria. The report brings some unpublished evaluation reports into the public domain for the first time through a critical review of their findings and methodology. It also has a lot of pictures of current interpretation practices collected from across Europe and to a much lesser extent the United States.
The global reach of zoos and aquariums in visitor numbers and conservation expenditures
Zoo Biology, 2010
A survey conducted by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, in collaboration with national and regional zoo and aquarium associations, showed that annually more than 700 million people visit zoos and aquariums worldwide and are thus potentially exposed to environmental education. Furthermore, the world zoo and aquarium community reportedly spends about US$350 million on wildlife conservation each year. Therefore, the world zoo and aquarium community has the potential to play an important role in both environmental education and wildlife conservation. Systematic reviews are encouraged to provide further evidence for the effectiveness of zoos and aquariums as centers of education and conservation. Zoo Biol 30:566-569, 2011.