Indonesian Conservation Management Practices & the Australian ...

The Australian Context11• The use of captive animals creates a personable impact for visitors, who can alsoinitiate action of their own to contribute to conservation.• Educational conservation is a priority of most zoos within Australia, and createsprograms developed to change community attitudes.• Professional zoo organisations (ARAZPA, ASZK and WAZA) have developed policiesand procedures, and criteria to ensure these are adhered to within the zoo industry.The criteria also ensure that conservation is a priority focus.Weaknesses• Lack of strategic plans when identifying conservation management within the industry.Zoos Victoria has the only strategic conservation plan among Australian zoos.• Lack of funding support from most government bodies to identify and integrateconservation opportunities for staff, including participation in the management of theconservation outcomes in the field.• Lack of communication within the industry to discuss issues, activities and directionin relation to supporting conservation programs.• Lack of reports on what is working and not working in zoo-supported conservationactivities.• Lack of dedicated training systems for zookeepers to become conservation professionals.This includes lack of education opportunities, scholarships and incentives for staff todevelop career paths towards conservation management.• Cost to replace staff that participate in field conservation.• Lack of media opportunities to highlight the involvement of Australian zoos in achievingconservation outcomes.• Lack of paid positions to encourage professionals within the field to become committeemembers for ARAZPA, ASZK and other conservation bodies, which promote changesin conservation direction for the zoo industry.Opportunities• Greater conservation outcomes can be achieved.• Zoos can work together in the same direction.• Communication could be increased on all levels in the industry. This promotesconsistent information for zoo visitors, which can lead to changes in their behavioursand actions towards conservation.• Skilled zoo employees can provide increased support in the field.• Zoo employees can learn from experiences and skills gained in the field.• Educational opportunities can be strengthened.• Zoos can become true conservation centres.• Zoos have the opportunity to become leaders in ‘green technology’.• Develop ‘online’ learning activities.• To investigate the delivery of learning activities within South East Asia under a ISSFellowship