Zoo & Aquarium News
At the frontline of conservation
Jennifer fields T
here are a total of 221 zoos and aquar-
iums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) across seven countries. Each of these help connect people to nature and collec- tively they welcome 175 million visitors per year. Being AZA accredited means that an attraction has a track record of being dedicated to educating people about the challenges many species face in the wild and is a global leader in field conservation. One of these is Ocean Park in Hong
Kong, which first opened in January 1977. Since its launch, it has developed itself into a world-class attraction, welcoming almost 7.5 million people a year, with wildlife con- servation serving as a key platform for the organisation. For Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong (OPCFHK), 2013 began with this mission in mind – a major effort in seahorse conservation. In order to further understand and pro-
tect seahorses, OPCFHK conducted the first systematic seahorse survey in Hong Kong, covering 31 sites in local waters from September 2011 to October 2012. According to data reported 10 years ago,
yellow seahorses were moderately abun- dant in Hong Kong waters, but the recent seahorse survey conducted by OPCFHK showed that only six seahorses were found in 31 diving sites in Hong Kong’s eastern waters, including areas around Sai Kung and Tung Ping Chau. Different factors impact seahorse survival,
with 11 out of 54 species listed as Vulnerable or Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Tey are typ- ically threatened by over-exploitation for uses in traditional Chinese medicine and loss or degradation of natural habitats. In 2013, the scope of this survey will be
expanded to include more sites in Hong Kong. Te OPCFHK will also embark on a seahorse tagging initiative – the first ever in Hong Kong. Over the years, OPCFHK has also handed out more than HK$500,000 worth of funding to support seahorse-related conservation initiatives in Asia. Tis is just one example of the work that AZA members continually conduct.
Jennifer Fields, communications coordinator, AZA
14 £30m Chester Zoo plans approved
Visitors to Chester Zoo will soon be navigating their way through swamps, mangroves, bamboos and tropical forests, now that the zoo has received the green light from plan- ners for its £30m (E35.6m, US$47.5m) Islands project. As featured in Attractions
Management Q3 12, an unoc- cupied part of the estate will be transformed into replicas of the islands of the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Bali, Sumatra, Sumba and Sulawesi and linked with a series of bridges and one journey on water. Islands will be home to indigenous animals,
including new species of crocodile, Sumatran tigers, Sulawesi macaques and Indonesian rhi- noceros hornbills. Te redevelopment will also create an Indonesian jungle house – which will be the largest indoor zoo exhibit in the UK and home to orangutans – as well as retail and catering units and will open by Easter 2015.
Now Islands has been approved, the zone should be open by Easter 2015 Director general of the zoo, Dr Mark
Pilgrim, says the ambitious scheme will offer an unparalleled experience. “For many of our visitors, taking a trip to these islands is just a dream. But we’ll be making those dreams a reality, transporting our visitors thousands of miles away,” he says. Designed by German architects, Dan Pearlman, the project will feature the local architecture and vegetation. Details:
http://lei.sr?a=e1j2d
Work starts on Columbus’ African zone
Construction work has begun on the new Safari Africa zone at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio, US. The new area has been
designed to ‘transform’ guests into world travelers on an journey that will see the adventure into the deepest wilderness of southern and eastern Africa. Visitors will find a colour-
ful and active village outside the gates of a national park and experience the sights and sounds of a vast savan- nah from raised platforms. Te Safari Africa zone is set to become the
new home to a range of iconic African animals, including giraffes and zebras. Te 43-acre
Te new area will take guests on a journey to the wilderness of Africa
project is expected to cost around US$30m (£19m, E23m) and is set to open in May 2014. Details:
http://lei.sr?a=g8I9y
investors pump $10m into Cairns aquarium project
Plans for a AU$33.5m (£22m, €26.5m, US$35m) aquarium in the north Australian city of Cairns, renowned for its coral reef, have been given a cash injection of $10m (£6.5m, €8m, $10.5m) from private investors. Te Cairns Aquarium and Reef Research
Centre project is being led by entrepreneurs, Daniel Leipnik and Andrew Preston, and is
Read Attractions Management online
attractionsmanagement.com/digital
widely supported by the public sector. Regional Development Australia, the Cairns Regional Council’s investment attraction fund and the federal Tourism Investment Regional Fund have also been approached for cash. Te company hopes to start construction
in 2015, with an opening date of late 2016. Details:
http://lei.sr?a=G3K5O
AM 1 2013 ©cybertrek 2013
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