Conservation Education Impacts of Animal Ambassadors in Zoos

Abstract

To mitigate the effects of anthropogenic environmental impacts, conservation education (CE) aims to increase public awareness of biodiversity and encourage the uptake of pro-environmental behaviours (PEB). One way of achieving this goal is the use of controlled animal interactions with animal ambassadors to promote CE goals. This study aimed to determine how differing experiences with ambassador Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) affected visitors’ knowledge of conservation actions (CA) and their likelihood to perform PEBs in a UK zoo. A quasi-experimental repeated measures questionnaire was used to investigate this aim. Visit types were categorised as (a) ‘penguin parade’, (b) ‘animal encounter’, (c) ‘exhibit viewing’ and (d) a ‘control’ groups. A Kruskal–Wallis test was used to determine if responses to rating scale items related to PEBs differed according to experience. No significant (p > 0.05) differences were detectable between groups. Qualitative data provided in open ended questions relating to CAs were coded into themes and the percentage of responses were calculated for each theme. Whilst the ‘exhibit viewing’ group mentioned sustainable fish significantly more (p = 0.017) than the ‘control’ group, no significant difference was found for any other pair-wise comparison (p > 0.05 in all cases). Overall, this study highlights that zoo visitors gained specific conservation-based knowledge and had higher behavioural intentions towards PEBs than they previously had. However, no evidence was found to suggest that animal encounters improved CE outcomes. To ensure best practice is followed and CE outcomes are considered equally alongside ambassador animal welfare concerns, further research is recommended.

Environmental Education in Zoos—Exploring the Impact of Guided Zoo Tours on Connection to Nature and Attitudes towards Species Conservation

“…For example, Whitehouse-Tedd et al ( 2021) found that a zoo tour was more likely to increase zoo visitors' knowledge than an animal encounter, potentially because the tour was longer and thus provided more opportunities for learning [23]. Another study was able to show that there was no difference in environmental behavior improvement between zoo groups with and without animal contact [80]. Our results are consistent with these findings.…”

Impact of animal programming on children's attitudes toward local wildlife

“…One interactive educational experience utilized by zoos and nature centers is animal programming, which features live animal ambassadors. These ambassadors are animals trained for visitor engagement (Clifford‐Clarke et al, 2022 ; Watters & Powell, 2011 ). These animal ambassadors connect people to wildlife by seeing them up close, touching the animals, or witnessing trained behaviors in an educational setting (Clifford‐Clarke et al, 2022 ; Miller et al, 2012 ; Watters & Powell, 2011 ).…”

“…These ambassadors are animals trained for visitor engagement (Clifford‐Clarke et al, 2022 ; Watters & Powell, 2011 ). These animal ambassadors connect people to wildlife by seeing them up close, touching the animals, or witnessing trained behaviors in an educational setting (Clifford‐Clarke et al, 2022 ; Miller et al, 2012 ; Watters & Powell, 2011 ). These animal programs also include interpretive presentations narrated by animal care or educational professionals, who share messages about the specific animals and conservation actions for the participants to engage in (Clifford‐Clarke et al, 2022 ; Moss & Pavitt, 2019 ).…”

“…These animal ambassadors connect people to wildlife by seeing them up close, touching the animals, or witnessing trained behaviors in an educational setting (Clifford‐Clarke et al, 2022 ; Miller et al, 2012 ; Watters & Powell, 2011 ). These animal programs also include interpretive presentations narrated by animal care or educational professionals, who share messages about the specific animals and conservation actions for the participants to engage in (Clifford‐Clarke et al, 2022 ; Moss & Pavitt, 2019 ). Animal programs have been demonstrated to increase knowledge, change attitudes, and spread messaging about conservation and environmental responsibility (Baird et al, 2016 ; Mann‐Lang et al, 2016 ; Mellish et al, 2016 ; Schönfelder & Bogner, 2017 ).…”

Encouraging pro-conservation intentions in urban recreational spaces: a South African zoo perspective

“…Hence, zoos need to encourage visitor conservation behaviour and are therefore in an excellent position to capitalise on the conservation experience – thereby exposing visitors to acceptable conservation behaviour. In other words, zoos must effectively engage visitors and raise awareness and action for conservation (Skibins & Powell, 2013) through environmental education (Clifford-Clarke, Whitehouse-Tedd, & Ellis, 2021) beyond the mere entertainment and leisure value prioritised by visitors (Tribe & Booth, 2003; Carr & Cohen, 2011).…”