Tasmanian devils, scavengers in the wild, eat their meal at the Taronga Zoo out of a kangaroo armature.
guests’ understanding of food chains and the important role that scavengers play. Zoos and aquariums know that it’s the lions, dolphins and other exotic “worldly” animals that our guests think of when planning their trips to the zoo. But as we seek to inspire guests towards positive conservation attitudes and actions, we can’t ignore the animals in our own backyards. The Taronga Zoo has exemplified this concept in their Tasmanian devil habitat. They’re also building a literal backyard exhibit where they can house a variety of native marsupials. Currently, many domesticate cat owners allow their pets to be “outdoor” cats, which can be a significant problem for native species; they hunt and kill many of the smaller animals that call Australia home. Taronga Zoo and other conservation organizations are working to convince pet owners to keep their cats inside
for the safety of the ecosystem in which they live. This exhibit will help the zoo communicate that message by once again highlighting how much a part of nature humans and their built environments are. The Taronga Zoo mission statement reads: “Our role in conservation is to create direct and positive connections between wildlife and people.” I can’t think of anything more direct than using exhibit design to showcase the complexity of the human-wildlife relationship. What ways can all of us push the boundaries to provoke such reflection in our guests? I challenge each of us to have some “guts” as we answer that question.
National Association for Interpretation 31