This dissertation explores the experiential quality of zoological garden enclosures and the threshold between man and animal. This exploration manifests within the context of man’s act of demarcation represented in zoological gardens. The National Zoological Gardens in Pretoria situated on the periphery of the Central Business District form the proposed context of this study. The zoological gardens provide a platform to explore the ill-defined threshold between man and animal, the lack of experiential levels and the quality of the enclosures as habitat. The study investigates landscape design as a medium for design intervention to enhance the experience of zoo enclosures for both the visitor and animal. Through a methodological approach, the dissertation aims to establish design stratagems grounded in theory of landscape architecture, zoo design theory and case study review. The stratagems will serve as catalyst to challenge current zoo design principles in order to determine a new set of principles for landscape intervention. The design will follow a hypothetical process that implements the principles as spatial explorations, followed by pragmatic considerations. The outcome will demonstrate on a spatial and experiential level how landscape design can combine ecology and aesthetics to create a hybridised interactive experience with nature, animals and humans in a detail enclosure design. Technical and programmatic requirements will test and refine the final proposal of the enclosure design. / Dissertation (ML(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2014. / Architecture / ML(Prof) / Unrestricted

Title: Creation and verification of educational programs for students of lower secondary education in ZOO Pilsen The diploma thesis is focused on the ZOOs in the Czech Republic and their educational activities. The most examined one is Zoological and botanical garden in Pilsen, for which I created two educational programs including worksheets for students and teachers. The educational programs were then tested at a selected group of students from 8th grade of lower secondary school. The evaluation was based on the success of students in solving tasks in the worksheets. The practical output of this thesis are designed educational programs (methodology for teacher) and worksheets for ZOO Pilsen (programs Mysterious Africa, Far Australia) including correct solution.

The thesis deals with food preferences of elk (Alces alces) in Czech zoological gardens and contains observation of food preferences in zoo Hluboká nad Vltavou. The results are compared with food offer and preference in the wilds described in literature. The first part of the thesis is aimed at literary review about elk, its characteristic, categorization, distribution and biology. It is focused mainly on the studies dealing with feeding habits and food preferences of elk in the wilds and captivity. The second part describes observation of food preferences of three elks in zoo Hluboká nad Vltavou, provided during 10 feedings. The food quality and composition of feed ration was also evaluated not only in zoo Hluboká nad Vltavou, but also in zoo Praha and zoo Brno (based on information from local zoo keepers). Analysis of variance showed that there are differences in feeding latency between various types of food. Elks preferred dried herbs, carrot and oak bark. On the contrary, elks did not preferred oat flakes and both granules for giraffes and elks. Recommendation for feed ration improving, including also food preferences of the elk were also suggested.

The primary goal of my thesis is an analysis of czech accounting regulations in the area of evaluation, accounting and reporting of an animals that is followed by survey of solutions used in particular zoological gardens of the Czech Republic. My thesis also contains basic informations of history, legislation and funding of zoological gardens in the Czech Republic.

This dissertation explores the relationship between man, animal and architecture within the theoretical discourse of the liminal. This exploration comes to pass within the context of humanity’s on-going captivation with animals and the manifestation of this in typological architecture as Zoological Gardens. The National Zoological Gardens of Pretoria situated in within the Central Business District forms the proposed context of this dissertation. Potential manners in which the relationship between man and animal manifest as spatial construct or architecture are investigated, within the context of the Zoological Gardens. The strict boundary conditions that exist within this context are consequently criticised. The existing concrete palisade fence epitomises these strict boundaries; between man and animal, city and Zoological garden and observer and observed. The intervention considers the liminal space which is created due to these boundaries, and the possibilities of this liminal space, or third space, as a habitable threshold. The threshold is programmed as an urban intervention that addresses the boundary condition by facilitating public open space, public amenities, Zoo interface and a Gratis Observatory Route. The dissertation challenges conventional architectural typologies and proposes an intervention, a “third nature” that occupies this liminal space. The new condition attempts to blur the rigid boundaries between the existing conditions of ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ the Zoo. The intervention takes on the program of functioning as a public dwelling for man, in the form of public open space, while simultaneously offering an urban habitat for animals. The proposed intervention manifests as a typological architecture that creates thresholds over which to renegotiate the relation between man and his understanding of “Nature”. / Dissertation MArch(Prof)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Architecture / MArch(Prof) / Unrestricted

There is a large number of species existing in the world; each year, however, the number of the endangered ones rapidly increases. Nowadays, captive breeding becomes an option for their survival in refugees. Sufficient population with satisfactory breeding management gives hope for survival to the endangered species (in mid-term) or even possible future reintroduction to their natural habitat. WAZA is currently the world's leading association of worldwide zoos and similar breeding facilities. Because these institutions operate as a network to facilitate the exchange of reared individuals, for conservation purposes, their captive populations may be seen as one large population characterized by its size, i.e., the total number of individuals. Such view is currently recognized by many conservationists as the so-called concept of Noah's Ark. The space on the Ark is limited, therefore it is needed to heed the characteristics of the species aboard to maximize the conservation potential. Many factors influence the presence of species in zoological gardens. Following previous studies we selected some factors that may be important, i.e., body lenght, taxonomy, and IUCN status. Analysis of these factors among the main reptile clades shall reveal the pattern of reptile composition in worldwide zoos. One of the factors...

Heading: Utilization of ZOO Dvůr Králové in Education This thesis deals with the educational function of zoos and capacity utilization of the ZOO Dvůr Králové nad Labem in ethological fieldwork. The thesis results into a summary of theoretical knowledge concerning zoological gardens and their educational function supplemented by the results of questionnaire survey detecting the concept of perception of education in the Czech and foreign zoos. Further result of this thesis is a set-out of full-scale materials for ethological fieldwork including introductory lecture, worksheets and methodological manuals for teachers. Key words: fieldwork, zoological garden, educational program, worksheet

The goal of the thesis is an architectural study of Exposition Hall for the okapi, bongo and the hippos, including open-air concept. The pavilion has an organic, regular shape of drop, which is the entry point deformed inwards. The face is made of aluminum facade system. The interior of the pavilion evoking a rainforest environment with rooflights and pillars in the shape of trees. Around the pavilion to span the different paddocks lined visitor's tour, seats and view points.

Zoological gardens play an important role in conservation and preservation of wildlife nowadays. Building a positive image and trust of the public is very important for them to be able to work on this mission. Providing the public with up-to-date and positive information about what goes on within the organisation helps keeping up or even increasing visitor numbers. Press staff of the zoos use a set of simple marketing tools to turn some of their animals into iconic celebrities. On the other hand, zoos have their fair share of crisis situations such as the loss or escape of animals, natural disasters, injuries to staff or visitors, loss of trust or increasing entrance fees. This thesis analyses a number of such important crises in Czech zoos using qualitative analysis methods and offers some solutions that might diminish the impact of similar situations in future.

This diploma thesis deals with the formulation of tourism development strategy for ZOO Chleby. After an evaluation of importance of zoos in the Czech Republic, the theoretical part follows, relating mainly to the issue of marketing of tourism services. The work also focuses on a comprehensive analysis of external and internal environment of ZOO Chleby, especially on the evaluation of competition and importance within the tourist area of Polabí. The key part of the analysis is represented by a marketing research containing two surveys among potential and existing visitors of the zoo. The final section is devoted to the formulation of particular parts of the development strategy, including instruments of the marketing mix and design of specific measures for the director of ZOO Chleby.