The captive audience: the educative influence of zoos on their visitors in India

摘要: A questionnaire survey was conducted to assess theeducative influence of zoo visits on their visitors at threeIndian zoos. Although 300 questionnaires were com-pleted each site, 150 for ‘zoovisitors’ and the ‘general public’, only 863 (96%) wereused in analysis because others incomplete.A significantly higher number ‘zoo visitors’ (n5111/150, 74%) found be aware appearance andbiology Lion-tailed macaque Macaca silenus incomparison with public’ (n567/150, 45%)at Thiruvananthapuram Zoo (TZ). When asked about thegoals a zoo, relatively greater percentage Arignar Anna Zoological Park (20%) TZ(29%) stated that goal protectendangered species, while 69% atShri Chamarajendra Garden said they did notknow. As high as 64% across thethree zoos could definitely help protectwild animals. Overall, correctly an-swered questions biology,behaviour habitat macaques com-parison ‘generalpublic’. Ourstudy suggeststhatzoos are an excellent learning environment convey the‘conservationandeducation’messagesbutcurrentlytheyare underutilized resource. Zoos initiate theprocess educating public by providing them with‘pocket’ guides brochures wildlife entranceandalsobyconducting15minute-longtalksattheanimalexhibits crucial conservation issues.Key-words: animalwelfare;conservationeducation;India;lion-tailed macaque; rainforest conservation; visitor.