Presented by

Dr Emma Thompson
University Program Coordinator & Lecturer
Taronga Institute of Science and Learning

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 I would like to acknowledge the Cammeraygal people who are the
traditional custodians and caretakers of this land.
I would also like to pay respect to the Elders, both past and
present, and extend that respect to any Aboriginals present.

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 Learning Outcomes:

1. Describe and give examples of how human-animal

interactions are culturally influenced
2. Describe and give examples of the human-animal interaction
at zoos
3. Describe how zoos can help change human attitudes to assist
in wildlife conservation

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 We look forward to having you spend time with us at Taronga Institute of
Science and Learning and out in the zoo!

So that’s me, and more about the zoo in a

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minute. Lets find out more about you!
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  Assembly points
 Institute of Science and Learning: adjacent to car park
next to rear doors
 Zoo: follow instructions from your demonstrators, or
from Taronga staff member

 Wifi: eduroam (see instructions on Canvas)

 Please be advised that the kitchen area is for staff only
 Representative of USYD: please act in a respectful manner
to demonstrators, lecturers, staff, and other visitors

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  Established in 1916

 Not-for-profit organization
 ~4,500 animals in our care
 Largest: elephant, >2,500kg
 Smallest: feather-tailed glider, ~13g
 >2 million guests per year (420,000 in 1916
which was 66% of Sydney’s population!)

 Administered by NSW Dept of Planning, Industry

& Environment
 Accreditation: Zoo & Aquarium Association
 Adhere to State, Federal and International
legislation

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More in Module 4
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 ANIMALS

EXPERIENCES
MISSION

+ =
“The experience of
the zoo is very
“Most people feel the zoo is animals “Expectations of the zoo divorced from
on display for fun and entertainment - were vague. For adults conservation issues.”
despite being able to rationalise there were no specific
something different.” points of interest.”

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 ANIMALS EXPERIENCES SECURING A SHARED
FUTURE FOR WILDLIFE
AND PEOPLE

+ =

“We should be unapologetically focused on providing inspiration”

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 Conservation Centre

Zoological Park 360o Visitor

Experience
Visitor • Not just a 1D
immersion animal viewing
Full theming experience
• Windows,
• Theming tunnels, • Choregraphed
Menagerie Realistic inside and and props • Technology-enabled
settings outside the
• Creating links in
exhibit
• Foliage, stories between
Menagerie water and animals and
• Cages and fake rock conservation efforts
concrete pits work • Start with messages
• Random
collections
1900s 1940s 1970s 1990s - 2010 2015 - 2020

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 Our vision
To secure a shared future for
wildlife and people.

Our role
As leaders in conservation we
protect wildlife and empower people
to secure a sustainable future for our
planet.

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 Conservation Centre

Zoological Park A New Era

• San Diego Zoo
Animal Global
conservation • Collaboration and
Moating the
• Off-site cooperation to save
zoo
breeding to species from
Menagerie Zoological • Moats enhance extinction
gardens around conservation • Research to learn
exhibits efforts more about, protect
Panama-Californian allowing and care for plants
Exposition removal of and animals
fencing
• ‘Ragtag collection’
of animals

1910s 1920s 1960s 1960s-1990s 2000s onwards

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 SAN DIEGO ZOO MISSION STATEMENT
San Diego Zoo is committed to saving species worldwide by
uniting our expertise in animal care and conservation science
with our dedication to inspiring passion for nature.

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 ZOO BERLIN
VISION
To continue to shape the future, to discover and
develop potentials, and to present the unique history
all the while setting new standards in animal care and
research, species conservation, and visitor experience
is a monumental and exciting task that the entire
team will approach with great passion both now and
in the coming decades

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 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY LONDON
VISION
A world where wildlife thrives

PURPOSE
To inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild
animals going extinct

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 We create transformational
experiences that empower people to
change their attitudes and
behaviours and achieve positive
outcomes for wildlife.

Taronga participates in regional and

global conservation breeding
programs to establish insurance
populations for species threatened in
the wild, and carries out world-class
research and education programs.

Below the iceberg

Conservation
Research
Education
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Tourism
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 Ensuring all our efforts contribute to tangible and
measurable conservation outcomes

What is conservation?
• The protection, management, restoration and
enhancement of the natural environment
• The effort might be in captivity but the
effectiveness is measured in the wild

What is conservation science (biology)?

• The interdisciplinary study of the protection of
biodiversity (species, habitats, ecosystems)

More in Module 3

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  Marine and terrestrial ecology with many sub-
disciplines
 Understanding species role in ecosystem to help
with reintroduction and translocation programs
 IUCN* Recovery Plan for the Fijian Crested Iguana
 Booderee National Park marsupial translocation
 Bilby reintroduction into NSW
 Plains-wanderer plan to release with OEH

Photo: G. Ramage

*International Union for Conservation of Nature

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 Taronga Wildlife Hospital
Looking after animals in our care, and wild animals brought in

Investigating unusual mortality events, along with….

 Australian Registry of Wildlife Health

Detecting emergent diseases
Chytrid fungus in frogs

Bellinger River Snapping Turtle virus

Using information to breed and release animals into the wild

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 • Nutrient requirements
• Interacts with health (repro, GI, dental), behaviour,
disease, habitat health
• Fundamental component of rescue-rehab
protocols, breed-for-release
• Silver spoon start to life
• Impact of climate change on food availability

Photo credit: Rick Stevens

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 Informing Species Recovery Plans
• Characterising behaviours related to successful
reproduction
• Retain behavioural diversity from wild caught
animals to maximise success of post-release survival

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 • Sustainable populations:
• Genetic diversity, connectivity, demographic stability
• Reproductive Sciences
• Management decisions for wild populations
• Bolstering zoo-based insurance populations
Safeguard genetic diversity
• CryoDiversity Bank

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 We create transformational
experiences that empower people to
change their attitudes and
behaviours and achieve positive
outcomes for wildlife.

Taronga participates in regional and

global conservation breeding
programs to establish insurance
populations for species threatened in
the wild, and carries out world-class
research and education programs.

Below the iceberg

Conservation
Research
Education
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Tourism
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 Using our conservation and research knowledge to
increase our visitors’ knowledge, influence their values
and offer opportunities to develop their skills that enable
them to take action for conservation.

 Visitor education
2.1 million visitors

 Community education (inc schools)

30,000+ students: teaching people about conservation in their
own neighbourhoods, ie. tree planting, bush regeneration,
zoomobile

 Formal education
• 100,000+ students
• 30 Grad students
• 60 interns
• 350 vocational students
• 2,300+ university students!
• 100+ Undergraduate & postgraduate degree students

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 The steps in behaviour change: turning awareness into
advocacy and instigating change

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 Turning awareness into advocacy and instigating change

Awareness to Advocacy
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 Vanentine’s Day tweeting zoo style

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 • Animal Welfare
• Dignity and Respect (taking animal welfare further)
• Ethics
• Legislation

More in Conservation and Legislation Modules

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• Explore Taronga and see how it has evolved since 1916
• Bear pits, capybara exhibit, elephant temple, main entrance, foreshore
• How has the interaction of zoo andimals and visitors changed over time?
• What would visitors in 1916 be thinking and experiencing compared to your
perceptions and experiences now?
• Stay with your group
• Reflections and group set-up for assessments at the end of the prac
 Week 3 Room:
Group Demonstrators Morning Group Afternoon Group
A Caitlin Morrison & Adelaide Dedden Quadrangle room Eastern Ave
S227 room 115
B Caitlyn Drayton-Taylor/Vivi Chang & Claudia Santori Woolley Tutorial Quadrangle
room N384 room S421
C Rouja Haghdoust & Cameron Negus Carslaw room 274 Woolley
tutorial room
N384
D Bobbie Cansdale & Renae Kirby Mills Lecture room Marjorie
209 Oldfield lecture
room 208a
E Francisco Garcia Bulle Bueno/Lauren Cole Mackie seminar Quadrangle
& Loren Fardell room 114 Oriental room
S204
F Mitch O'Brien & Rowena Chong Mackie seminar Quadrangle,
room 107 the Refectory
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