Effective conservation exhibits in zoos

[DavidBrown]

One of the main arguments for why we need zoos is that this is the only way that the majority of people will ever see species like giraffes, elephants, lions, apes, etc. and that the contact with zoo animals will help inspire appreciation and conservation action for their wild relatives and their habitats.

I'm wondering what people think are the most effective zoo exhibits that have inspired them and/or others they know to conservation action.

I know that the Congo Gorilla Forest uses the entry funds to support specific projects that patrons get to choose how to support (gorilla, okapi, elephants, mandrill). Are there other examples that people have experienced.

I ask because I am a giraffe conservationist involved with trying to make zoo giraffe exhibits more effective tools for wild giraffe conservation. I am looking for any exhibit model that folks think promotes real conservation in the wild ...

 

[Sun Wukong]

(...) I am a giraffe biologist (...)

Didn't know that such a job exists. So you're a "Giraffidiologist"? Or rather a(n) (aspiring) mammalogist with a peculiar focus on one family of Artidactyla, who appears to assume that the average Zoochat member is a little bit simple?

I just hope that most zoo visitors won't have any direct contact with any of the mentioned species-that could be rather fatal.

So, let's begin the merry mentioning of extraordinary exhibits:

-Partula Snail Exhibit, ZSL

Who's next?

 

[DavidBrown]

Thanks for the reply Sun. I am a biologist who studies giraffes and other things, but giraffes are my favorites, so I lead with that.

I do not at all think that ZooChat members are simple. I reached out for this community's opinion because they have deep experience and expertise with all aspects of the zoo world.

Zoos talk a lot about how their residents are conservation ambassadors for their wild relatives. I am trying to figure out exactly how to define that and find specific examples of exhibits that have inspired specific conservation action for the wild relative of the zoo animal by the zoo visitor experiencing the exhibit.

The revamped polar bear exhibit at the San Diego Zoo has several displays on how to lower one's carbon footprint as concrete example of how the zoo visitor can contribute to polar bear conservation (via general climate change reduction). I am looking for as many examples of this kind of zoo exhibit as I can find.

 

[Zooplantman]

The revamped polar bear exhibit at the San Diego Zoo has several displays on how to lower one's carbon footprint as concrete example of how the zoo visitor can contribute to polar bear conservation (via general climate change reduction). I am looking for as many examples of this kind of zoo exhibit as I can find.

David,

It's a tricky question.
Has evaluative work been conducted to determine whether visitors made any changes at home or at work? Has there been follow-up to see whether they had made or maintained changes over some period of time? Do the small changes of a few thousand zoo goers (recycling paper, using compact fluorescent bulbs, etc.) have any impact whatsoever on conservation?

Is it sufficient that visitors leave with an enhanced appreciation and valuation of wildlife or do they need to take some concrete action? In what timeframe? Of what sort? (Nevermind the question, what proportion of visitors must do these things for us to consider the conservation message a success?)

When Congo Gorilla Forest was designed, there were alot of internal discussions about just what can the visitors do for conservation? What are the connections between New York visitors and Congo wildlife issues? Formative tests were conducted before the exhibits were designed to attempt to learn what visitors knew already and what response they might have to new information. It is now easy to see how much money has been funneled to WCS's work due to the exhibit, but not so easy to determine any other possible conservation accomplishment. Perhaps a greater number of visitors "love" gorillas. But does that really matter? Matter in a real way that is.

Since so many other zoos have adopted the model of tying donations for fieldwork to exhibit viewing areas, the question remains is there another conservation step that can be taken at a zoo exhibit and if so, what is it? How do we measure it? How do we strengthen and expand it?

 

[jbnbsn99]

You don't happen to be the same David Brown of the famous Brown et al 2007 paper that started the idea of splitting the the single giraffe species into multiple species?

 

[DavidBrown]

David,

Since so many other zoos have adopted the model of tying donations for fieldwork to exhibit viewing areas, the question remains is there another conservation step that can be taken at a zoo exhibit and if so, what is it? How do we measure it? How do we strengthen and expand it?

Thank you for your very thoughtful response Zooplantman. You have framed exactly the questions that I am trying to figure out.

Is anybody in the zoo world actively thinking and talking about what the "next step" is in trying conservation action to zoo exhibits? I would greatly value the opportunity to talk with anyone who is thinking about these things. We have a great potential "guinea pig" in giraffes to work on these questions.

 

[DavidBrown]

You don't happen to be the same David Brown of the famous Brown et al 2007 paper that started the idea of splitting the the single giraffe species into multiple species?

Yes. I was part of the team that wrote the paper. I hope that this won't get me tossed out of here.

 

[jbnbsn99]

Yes. I was part of the team that wrote the paper. I hope that this won't get me tossed out of here.

Not by me at all. I have reread that paper numerous times and find it endlessly fascinating.

I think you are right, you can do a lot of conservation talk with giraffes. It is probably due in part to their overall approachableness as seen in many giraffe feeding stations around the world. Something effective to do here would be to have a large portion of the food sold go directly to giraffe conservation (say for the West African Giraffe). I don't think you really need to have a special exhibit designed that promotes any one form of conservation. You can do this with any existing exhibit. But, what you can do is have an educated zoo staff person (or WELL-educated volunteer) talk to guests and inform them not only about giraffes in the zoo but also giraffes in the wild. If you are talking about giraffes in zoos of course it might be best is you are dealing with Masais. I personally tried to talk to guests at my zoo about our giraffes. They ask what kind of giraffe you have and I can't give them an honest answer. "Well Johnny, this is a Rothticulated Giraffe. It is a cross between two species of giraffe and both of those species are endangered. in fact one is so endangered that there are only a few hundred left in the wild. So it seems that the zoo really screwed that up. Oops, our bad." I can see this being said in a rather evil laugh. But, maybe that is because I just came off of working a long day at a busy zoo.

P.S. If you can't tell, I am a bit of a giraffe geek.