Best conservation education displays at zoos ?

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

One display that stuck to my mind is one in Rotterdam Zoo in a display about marine pollution. At first glance, you'll see two identical tanks with moon jellyfish. But when you come closer, one tank is actually filled with jellyfish and the other with plastic bags. You can see with your very eyes how similar a drifting plastic bag is to a jellyfish, and why turtles mistake the former for the latter.

In one glance a visitor can see the problem, without any signage or explanation required. And limiting the use of plastic bags is something most people can actually do in their daily lives.

Wow, I have to see this one, it sounds incredible !

Are there any pictures in the gallery ?

 

[red river hog]

One display that stuck to my mind is one in Rotterdam Zoo in a display about marine pollution. At first glance, you'll see two identical tanks with moon jellyfish. But when you come closer, one tank is actually filled with jellyfish and the other with plastic bags. You can see with your very eyes how similar a drifting plastic bag is to a jellyfish, and why turtles mistake the former for the latter.

In one glance a visitor can see the problem, without any signage or explanation required. And limiting the use of plastic bags is something most people can actually do in their daily lives.

There's a similar display at my local aquarium, but instead they're in the same tank!

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

There's a similar display at my local aquarium, but instead they're in the same tank!

I think it is a really interesting optical way to highlight plastics in ocean ecosystems and foodchains indeed.

 

[red river hog]

I think it is a really interesting optical way to highlight plastics in ocean ecosystems and foodchains indeed.

It's very affective, too. I didn't notice for a few seconds that some of the "jellies" were actually plastic.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

It's very affective, too. I didn't notice for a few seconds that some of the "jellies" were actually plastic.

I love optical illusion type educational displays like that, they are awesome!

 

[Jurek7]

Zoo Zurich has a side tank near king penguins filled with plastic trash. It looks like this is a former exhibit which by modern standards is too small for animals.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Zoo Zurich has a side tank near king penguins filled with plastic trash. It looks like this is a former exhibit which by modern standards is too small for animals.

That sounds like another interesting one.

I think there would be some people who would consider it a bit unsightly but I think that this really does need to be a role of zoos in the sense of showing and highlighting the unsightly impact that our species has on biodiversity.

There isn't any way of softening it or shying away from it.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Dyreparken in Kristiansand has a small house dedicated to the Endangered species with only two animals inside, where the Park shows its success with the breeding of Norway's rarest animal the Pool Frog (Pelophylax lessonae). Behind the Frog's exhibit you can take a look on the breeding terrariums. There is an "ambassador" Red Panda indoor exhibit too, which probably attracts most of the visitors, but once enter the house they can learn a lot from the educational displays inside the house.
There is a funny lid with the sign "The most dangerous animal". When one open it, he can see himself in the mirror.

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Sorry about my late reply about this display @twilighter and thank you for sharing this !

I had no idea about the pool frog being so endangered in Norway and I really like the concept of this display and especially that you look through the terrarium and into the laboratory where the ex-situ programe is taking place.

 

[twilighter]

Sorry about my late reply about this display @twilighter and thank you for sharing this !

I had no idea about the pool frog being so endangered in Norway and I really like the concept of this display and especially that you look through the terrarium and into the laboratory where the ex-situ programe is taking place.

No need to apologies. This is an interesting discussion

The Hibernation exhibit for Japanese black bears at Ueno Zoo is also an unique educational display. There are some pictures in the gallery thanks to @FunkyGibbon

And an article in the International Zoo Yearbook

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

No need to apologies. This is an interesting discussion

The Hibernation exhibit for Japanese black bears at Ueno Zoo is also an unique educational display. There are some pictures in the gallery thanks to @FunkyGibbon

And an article in the International Zoo Yearbook

Yes, that really is an interesting display indeed, I'm definitely going to check out the Zoo Yearbook article on it too.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Bird conservation displays that caught my eye in the gallery.

Silent forest campaign display at Gaia zoo Kerkrade, Netherlands.

Californian condor education display at San Diego zoo, USA.

Silent forest campaign display at Nurnberg zoo, Germany.

Silent forest campaign displays at Planckendael zoo, Belgium.

Silent forest campaign publicity on focal species including in an empty aviary at Antwerp zoo, Belgium.

Parrot trust sign at Harewood house, UK.

Photo credits to @KevinB, @Macaw16 , @Hvedekorn, @snowleopard, @geomorph, @DavidBrown.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Mammal conservation displays at zoos that are quite impressive.



Remains of a poached elephant as an education display at the Bronx zoo, USA.

Interactive education display on polar bears at Assiniboine zoo, Canada.

Mexican wolf conservation education display and petition for reintroduction boxes at Hogle zoo, USA.

Tree kangaroo conservation display at Milwaukee zoo, USA.

Civet conservation sign at RSCC, UK.

Pangolin conservation education display at Singapore zoo, Singapore.

Display of technology used in wildlife conservation, ZSL London zoo, UK.

Education display on the bushmeat trade in Central Africa, Planckendael zoo, Belgium.

A display during the 1980's on the illegal trade in big cat fur for the fashion industry, Frankfurt zoo, Germany.

Display on painted dog conservation and the threats from snares featuring snare sculptures, Pittsburgh zoo, USA.

Numbat signage and looped educational film, Perth zoo, Australia.

Display on use of technology such as camera trapping in mammal conservation, Knowsley safari park, UK.

Sign about issues affecting general biodiversity and lemur conservation in Madagascar, Overloon zoo, Netherlands.

Celebes macaque conservation displays around enclosure at Singapore zoo, Singapore.

In-situ projects supported by zoo map, San Diego Zoo, USA.

Photo credits to @snowleopard , @Goura, @MagpieGoose, @Crowthorne, @Hipporex , @Zooish, @Arizona Docent, @Wild wolverine , @Paix , @KevinB, @Hix, @ThylacineAlive, @geomorph, @KevinB.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

More bird conservation displays.


Vulture conservation display at Rotterdam zoo, Netherlands.

Peregrine centre educational displays on raptors, USA.

Spix macaw display next to enclosure, Jurong bird park, Singapore.

Conservation signage at Chester zoo, UK.

Information display on vulture research at zoo with potential for in-situ conservation, Planckendael zoo, Netherlands.

Photo credits to @KevinB, @snowleopard @Ituri, @Zooish, @MagpieGoose and @KevinB.

 

[Arizona Docent]

@Onychorhynchus coronatus You accidentally mislabeled the location of the Mexican Wolf display as Hogle Zoo. It is actually El Paso Zoo.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

@Onychorhynchus coronatus You accidentally mislabeled the location of the Mexican Wolf display as Hogle Zoo. It is actually El Paso Zoo.

Oh right, sorry about that @Arizona Docent ! Will have to speak to a moderator and get that changed.

I was quite impressed by that display in your picture, I was thinking that Chapultepec could have had something like this for their Mexican wolves too.