Visitor interest in zoo animals and the implications for collection planning and zoo education programmes
Abstract As zoos have sought to further their conservation missions, they have become powerful providers of environmental education. Outside of “formal” education initiatives, such as those designed for school and other organized groups, or structured public talks programmes, much of the learning potential that the zoo has to offer is around the viewing of animals […]
The elements of a consumer-based initiative in contributing to positive environmental change: Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20193.abs Monterey Bay Aquarium launched the Seafood Watch® program in 2000. The program’s Seafood Watch pocket guide is a simple tool that visitors can use to identify seafood from environmentally responsible sources. Since its inception, more than 2 million pocket guides have been distributed to Monterey Bay Aquarium visitors and 20 million have been […]
The power and promise of humane education
Measuring the success of environmental education programs
Today more than ever, society needs high-quality environmental education programs that succeed in moving values and changing behaviours in the direction of sustainability and environmental conservation. Effective, relevant evaluation offers a very powerful way to improve these education programs and enables them to succeed in accomplishing more of their objectives and goals. Funders and programmers […]
Quantifying the impact of Wellington Zoo’s persuasive communication campaign on post-visit behavior
Zoos potential to facilitate visitor conservation behavior is commonly articulated. Few studies, however, have quantified whether zoos’ conservation messages result in visitors implementing the behavior. To test if zoo conservation messages are adopted at home, I implemented a persuasive communication campaign which advocated keeping cats indoor at night, a behavior that is a potential solution […]