ZOOS & AQUARIUMS NEWS Safari park planned for Egypt resort
INDUSTRY OPINION
Zoos and aquariums teach wonder of wild through nature play Elliot Zirulnik
In a time when real- world experiences are constantly outpaced and replaced by technology, it’s more critical than ever that we encourage
children and families to “unplug” and experience the wonders of nature fi rsthand through nature play. Nature play is characterized
by free, unstructured play in an outdoor setting, where children are encouraged to explore animals, plants, weather, habitats and landscapes without any specifi c direction from adults. Facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), championing the conservation of wildlife across the globe, have long understood that the connection between families and nature is one of the most potent forces in the world. To cultivate and enhance this relationship, AZA applied a gift from the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund to provide 30 member zoos and aquariums a total of $220,000 (£146,000, €205,000) in nature play funding. This is fi nancing programming as diverse as family nature clubs, portable hands-on displays, sensory gardens, camping trips, workshops and art projects, all of which ultimately aim to inspire the next generation of conservationists. Zoo and aquarium educators agree that nature play must stretch beyond the gates or walls of an institution. AZA-accredited zoological attractions are ideal venues for children to engage in nature play and inspire families to create their own games or activities, or simply explore wild environments. Quite simply, nature play taps into the instincts that drive us to touch, listen to and question our natural world.
Elliot Zirulnik, communications intern, Association of Zoos and Aquariums
22
attractionsmanagement.com
Plans for a leisure development in Egypt, which were derailed by the Egyptian Revolution in 2011, are back on track, according to one of the key players behind the $1.1bn (€1bn, £738m) safari, theme park, hotel and housing scheme. A consortium – made up of Egypt-based 300 Years History, UK-based Chipperfi eld Companies Group, Canada’s Maple Leaf, South Africa’s Glen Afric and Italy’s Pinfari Coasters – is behind the New Cairo proposal, which has been submitted to the Egyptian Housing Ministry for approval. Adventure City is the brainchild of Tariq Bahgat, chair and CEO of 300 Years History. He has been working closely with consortium partner John Chipperfi eld.
■ A safari park is part of the Adventure City proposals
“Back in 2009 [Bahgat] contacted me to look into what it would take to get the project started and since then it has progressed signifi cantly,” Chipperfi eld, MD of Chipperfi eld Companies Group, told Attractions Management. “We were
making great progress and then the political situation changed in Egypt with the revolution. Now the country is getting back into its stride, [Bahgat] has resurrected the project, working for the last year to form the consortium and develop the plans.”
■ Details:
http://lei.sr?a=C4t9E_A
Police to give zoo employees fi rearms training
New legislation has been introduced in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that allows police offi cers to train zoo and aquarium employees to use a fi rearm when dealing with a dangerous animal. Pittsburgh City Council enacted the legislation in response to the 2012 mauling of a toddler, who died after falling into Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium’s African painted dogs enclosure. The legislation authorises
weapons training for the next three years. The police will train employees to use fi rearms in cases where an animal poses a danger, while zoo staff, in turn, will school police on animal behaviour and the zoo’s layout to improve emergency response time.
■ An attack by African painted dogs kickstarted the move “The zoo and the police
department have had an informal agreement now for the past fi ve years or so,” said Pittsburgh Police spokesperson, Sonya Toler. “This proposal is an attempt to formalise the arrangement. It’s important to note this is cross training – police
will learn about the zoo animals and their behaviours and become familiar with the grounds of the zoo, while zoo employees will learn what to do when and if there is a situation with a dangerous animal that has got loose.”
■ Details:
http://lei.sr?a=Y3s9P_A AM 2 2015 ©CYBERTREK 2015
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