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The aim of the study was to determine how litter affects the image of the environment and the animals at the Johannesburg Zoo, situated in the Northern part of Johannesburg, as perceived by various stakeholders. Furthermore, effectiveness of the educational awareness programmes developed and currently being presented at the Zoo were assessed. The central themes of the research on the issue of litter in a conservation area included the current status of litter in the Johannesburg Zoo, the perception of stakeholders frequenting or living in the vicinity of the Zoo and the nature and effectiveness of educational programmes presented at the Zoo. The stakeholders included visitors (n=332), employees (n=20) and others who represented the Zoo and people from the neighbouring Forest Town. It was possible to collect data on the premises while the Zoo was in full operation. The data-collection tools included two questionnaires (for visitors and employees) and interviews (other stakeholders), as well as a reflective recall of eight years of hands-on experiences and observations of a current curator at the Zoo. The latter served as a situation analysis of the Zoo to provide a backdrop for exploring the litter problem and served as background for designing the data-collection tools. The data of the survey conducted with questionnaires was quantitative in nature and was analysed descriptively in form of frequencies and percentages. The qualitative data gathered by means of the interviews were analysed and described against the experiences, beliefs and contact with the Zoo of the specific stakeholder. The educational programmes were described and the content assessed based on the effectiveness regarding litter minimisation information. The situation analysis revealed some tragic consequences of littering at the Zoo. It became clear that educating the public was a necessity to provide knowledge in such a way that it would inculcate a spirit of caring about and valuing the environment and the animals. All stakeholders identified that the Zoo has a serious litter problem and that the signboards needed more specific litter control messages and should be placed strategically so that they are noticed. Although the number of dustbins were sufficient, their distribution and placement in and around the Zoo were not effective. Educational programmes were considered by all to be the answer to the litter problem if the content could be expanded to include information on the consequences of and the legislation on littering. Recommendations regarding litter management for Johannesburg Zoo and for further investigation were suggested. / Geography / M. Sc. (Geography)

This thesis is aimed at the Czech ZOO´s education activities, concept of self-service worksheets for Ohrada Zoo and evaluation of these worksheets. Three tests (pre-test and two post-tests) and two groups of students were used for the evaluation. First group (experimental) passed the education activities and the tests and the second one (control group) just passed the tests. The self-service worksheets ?Our Fauna? create a practical output of the thesis. As a result of the evaluation we can say that the education activities provided in the Zoo had a pozitive and permanent influence on the students knowledge, irrespectively to their academic performance.

The aim of the study was to determine how litter affects the image of the environment and the animals at the Johannesburg Zoo, situated in the Northern part of Johannesburg, as perceived by various stakeholders. Furthermore, effectiveness of the educational awareness programmes developed and currently being presented at the Zoo were assessed. The central themes of the research on the issue of litter in a conservation area included the current status of litter in the Johannesburg Zoo, the perception of stakeholders frequenting or living in the vicinity of the Zoo and the nature and effectiveness of educational programmes presented at the Zoo. The stakeholders included visitors (n=332), employees (n=20) and others who represented the Zoo and people from the neighbouring Forest Town. It was possible to collect data on the premises while the Zoo was in full operation. The data-collection tools included two questionnaires (for visitors and employees) and interviews (other stakeholders), as well as a reflective recall of eight years of hands-on experiences and observations of a current curator at the Zoo. The latter served as a situation analysis of the Zoo to provide a backdrop for exploring the litter problem and served as background for designing the data-collection tools. The data of the survey conducted with questionnaires was quantitative in nature and was analysed descriptively in form of frequencies and percentages. The qualitative data gathered by means of the interviews were analysed and described against the experiences, beliefs and contact with the Zoo of the specific stakeholder. The educational programmes were described and the content assessed based on the effectiveness regarding litter minimisation information. The situation analysis revealed some tragic consequences of littering at the Zoo. It became clear that educating the public was a necessity to provide knowledge in such a way that it would inculcate a spirit of caring about and valuing the environment and the animals. All stakeholders identified that the Zoo has a serious litter problem and that the signboards needed more specific litter control messages and should be placed strategically so that they are noticed. Although the number of dustbins were sufficient, their distribution and placement in and around the Zoo were not effective. Educational programmes were considered by all to be the answer to the litter problem if the content could be expanded to include information on the consequences of and the legislation on littering. Recommendations regarding litter management for Johannesburg Zoo and for further investigation were suggested. / Geography / M. Sc. (Geography)

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The aim of this thesis was to provide a better understanding of the needs of spider monkeys (genus: Ateles) kept in zoological parks in order to provide an appropriate environment, which enhances the physical and emotional wellbeing of the individuals. This series of studies adopted primarily a physiological approach that entailed measuring cortisol in urine samples collected over a seven year period to assess the impact of a variety of social and environmental conditions. My studies also involved behavioural observations and a questionnaire study to collect information from other zoological parks that maintain groups of spider monkeys. In order to address the aims of my research I first validated an enzyme immunoassay for urinary cortisol which allowed for the activity of the HPA axis to be measured to assess the physiological stress responses in spider monkeys. The first study assessed the impact of visitors on spider monkeys by comparing levels of urinary cortisol collected with visitor numbers and I found an increase in visitor numbers was associated with an increase in cortisol. This was the first time the physiological impact of visitors was investigated and supports behavioural researcher that visitors adversely impact on primates in zoos. The second study I carried out involved a questionnaires to investigate frequency, direction and intensity of aggression in zoo-housed spider monkeys in 55 other zoos around the world. The pattern of aggressions reported indicated severe and lethal aggression was relatively frequent among captive spider monkeys. Adult males were the most frequent actors of aggression and sub adult males were the most frequent targets, contradicting reports from wild spider monkeys. This aggression could be a condition of the management of spider monkeys in the zoos whereby males and normally transferred between zoos contradicting reports from the wild spider monkeys in which females would emigrate on reaching maturity. Next I investigated aggression, reproductive and separation stressors in the spider monkeys housed at Chester Zoo over a seven year period and measured their effects via changes in urinary cortisol prior to, at and following each event. Aggression had the largest effect, with targets and bystanders having the highest levels of cortisol on the day of aggression for severe and lethal aggression, respectively. When examining the reproductive events, cortisol levels were significantly elevated in the mother the week prior to and the day or birth, but were highest for bystander females on the day of birth. In the case of separations, cortisol was elevated when an individual was separated for longer than 24 hours for separations and less than 24 hours for reintroductions. Finally I investigated the replacement of the breeding male in the spider monkeys at Chester Zoo. Although a significant behavioural effect was identified in the adult females, there was little evidence of an increase in urinary cortisol among them. In addition, there were no instances of aggression between the adult males and the juvenile male in the group. Overall conclusions from this study indicate that the group of spider monkeys did demonstrate a varying stress response to a variety of social and environmental stressors associated with elevated cortisol levels and behavioural changes. However, there was no evidence of long term chronic stressors which are normally associated with poor welfare. This indicated that the environmental provided for this particular group of zoo-housed spider monkeys generally allowed for the individuals within the group to cope and adapt. In light these findings the study also makes a number of recommendations regarding the enclosure design, relocated of individuals and the gradual introduction of spider monkeys in zoos. The findings of this study are important as it contributes to our understanding of the physiological responses to stressors in a zoo environment and therefore has implications for animal management. It also identifies potential species specific requirements for the spider monkey that should be considered.

Due to a large number of felid species being endangered they are subjects of conservation projects both in situ and ex situ. Keeping felids in zoos are problematic with stereotypic behaviours such as pacing and reproduction difficulties often occurring. The aim of this study was to review research and zoo husbandry knowledge about which resources are most important for the welfare of zoo kept felids, and in addition perform behavioural observations in seven felid species in four Swedish zoos to try to find an order of priority of resources. Observations were performed during opening hours in 36 sessions per species and zoo. The results showed that studies of felid resource usage are missing. Zoo husbandry practice is probably based mainly on traditions and anecdotal knowledge. The observations showed that except for minor differences felids behave similarly regardless of species but the use of resources varies. Small felid species seems to be hiding rather than pacing as a way of coping. Elevated resources and areas as well as numerous hiding places are important to felids but many factors might affect the choice of resting places. Therefore it is important to provide the felids with multiple choices. It is also important to evaluate both species and individuals when designing enclosures and providing resources. More multi-institutional studies with large number of individuals of all zoo kept felid species are needed to gather knowledge about felids needs and preferences of resources.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2006. / Title from PDF title page screen. Advisor: Catherine Matthews; submitted to the School of Education. Includes bibliographical references (p. 158-188).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of West Florida, 2007. / Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 39 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

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