Are any of these new zoo Madagascar exhibits conserving real Madagascar?

[DavidBrown]

In wandering around the gallery I have seen some spectacular new Madagascar exhibits in some of the world's leading zoos (Bronx, Omaha, Masoala in Zurich).

Are any of these exhibits generating meaningful conservation action for the wild cousins of the animals and plants in the exhibits? Is anybody measuring the conservation action if it is happening?

This seems like it might be a very clean system to measure these kinds of questions.

 

[Toddy]

In this respect I think that Masoala is possibly the most successful zoo exhibit I have ever seen. Not only is it without a doubt the closest thing to actually being in a rainforest in Europe and also provides vast sums of money for conservation, as described in these two quotes by Jurek7 from other threads:

(...) Masoala exhibit at Zurich. Although it shows only one habitat, it contributes about 1/3 yearly budget of real-world Masoala national park in Madagascar. This is what zoo exhibits are meant for.

(...) Zurich zoo opened Masoala exhibit, and tourism to real Masoala park in Madagascar increased by 50%, with most tourists being Swiss!

 

[Dagobert]

Wow that's fantastic news! I hope this isn't just one exception...

 

[Zoovolunteer]

Bristol Zoo is partnered with 30 other European zoos in a body called the AEECL, which is focussed on the Sahamalaza peninsula in the north west of Madagascar. They have full details on their website, along with their other projects listed under their conservation and science page. For me though, the big problem for conservation in Madagascar is the disastrous state of their politics, which handicaps any meaningful work, and seriously needs rather better understanding in the outside world. If they are to get anywhere, I think zoos could help a lot by promoting more public understanding of the reasons Madagascars wildlife is in such trouble - maybe a noticeboard with newspaper cuttings from the islands newspapers would be a start?

 

[FBBird]

....conserving real Madagascar?

Durrell [Jersey] contributes massively to in situ conservation in Madagascar; the Kirindy forest exhibit at their Channel Islands centre attracts both publicity and funds for the work.

 

[DavidBrown]

If they are to get anywhere, I think zoos could help a lot by promoting more public understanding of the reasons Madagascars wildlife is in such trouble - maybe a noticeboard with newspaper cuttings from the islands newspapers would be a start?

I think that you raise a truly excellent point Zoovolunteer. As you point out the major source of conservation troubles is frequently political. Trying to find a way to present the root cause of conservation problems to the public in a meaningful way is a great challenge for conservationists, especially in a zoo setting. I like your idea about the noticeboard. With technology it seems like there are many ways one could connect an exhibit with external information sources too (e.g., having a code on an exhibit sign that links to an actively updated website or video discussing habitat loss in Madagascar).