Zoo & Aquarium News
Training citizen scientists
JENNIFER FIELDS V
isitors to zoos and a q u a r - i u m s
accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) come away from the experience wanting to do more to help the wildlife they just saw up close. AZA’s visitor impact study showed that a
majority of visitors leſt thinking differently about their role in environmental issues. According to the study, messages such as “Tere’s a lot I can do to conserve,” and “I am part of the solution to nature’s prob- lems,” increased significantly as a direct result of their visit. One way in which zoos and aquariums can continue to inspire people aſter their visit is through Citizen Science – involving visitors in organised, science-based activities. FrogWatch USA™ is AZA’s flagship cit-
izen science programme. As part of its commitment to lead in the global conser- vation of amphibians, zoos and aquariums have established FrogWatch USA™ chapters and are training members of their commu- nities to collect data about frogs and toads. Volunteers learn to identify frog calls and record the data in a national database. Amphibians play an important role in
the health of ecosystems. As a result of hab- itat destruction, pollution, climatic changes, and other factors, more than a third of the world’s amphibian species are facing the largest mass extinction since the dino- saurs. Data collected by FrogWatch USA™ citizen scientists is important in assessing North American frog populations, includ- ing spring peepers, green frogs, American bullfrogs, American toads, gray tree frogs, wood frogs and western chorus frogs. Tere are now more than 75 FrogWatch
USA™ chapters in 33 states. Trained citizen scientists are not only gathering data, they are more closely connected to the mission of their local zoos and aquariums. AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are
more than just places for family recreation. Innovative, mission-driven programmes reinforce the message that these facilities reach beyond their doors and make a differ- ence in their communities. For information please visit
www.aza.org/frogwatch.
Jennifer Fields, Communications coordinator, AZA
20 US$24m Living Planet for Utah
A US$24m (€18.3m, £15.5m) Living Planet Aquarium is on track to open to the public in Utah, USA in December this year. The new 136,000sq ft
(12,635sq m) facility, which broke ground last October, will take visitors from the Utah deserts and moun- tains to rainforest habitats to the oceans. The new aquarium, offi-
cially named the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, will be located in Draper City at Lone Peak Parkway. It will serve to showcase ecosystems from around the world and how they work together to form one global ecosystem, Te Living Planet. Te first floor will feature marine, freshwa-
Te 40ſt walk-through tunnel will feature a 300,000 gallon shark tank
aquatic species, amphibians and mammals indigenous to Utah. Premier attractions include the North
ter and rainforest exhibit galleries; a 400-seat banquet hall; a café; and a gift shop. The Discover Utah Gallery will exhibit freshwater
American River Otter Exhibit and Te Ocean Explorer Gallery, which features a 300,000 gallon shark tank with a 40ſt walk-through tunnel. Details:
http://lei.sr?a=b1w8e
Plans for £85m UK wildlife attraction
Wildside World is sharing plans with the local Glasgow and South Lanarkshire communities for an £85m (US$132m, €101m) wildlife and environmental development. The Scot t ish at trac-
tion would be opposite the Glasgow Commonwealth Village, and consist of three biospheres: polar, temperate and tropical. It would also have restaurants and a hotel and open shortly aſter the 2014 Commonwealth Games as a legacy project. Detailed plans will be sub-
Tree biospheres are proposed – polar, temperate and tropical
mitted in summer, but Wildside World, along with partners Sir Robert McAlpine and Ashley House, is currently canvassing local opinion. Cuningar Loop has sat derelict for 40 years, but planning permission was recently approved
for a £5m (€5.9m, US$7.7m) woodland park. Steve Minion, director of Wildside World,
said: “Te consultation is an opportunity for us to share our vision and what it will bring to the region.” Details:
http://lei.sr?a=3z4k6
New Secrets of the Sea centre to launch in Florida Secrets of the Sea is a 13,500 sq ſt (1,254sq m)
Construction is underway on the Secrets of the Sea Marine Exploration Center and Aquarium, a new US$5m (€3.8m, £3.2m) marine attrac- tion in Pinellas County, Florida USA. The new facility will open at John’s Pass Village, Madeira Beach this November.
Read Attractions Management online
attractionsmanagement.com/digital
marine exploration centre housed on two lev- els of John’s Pass Village. Te marine attraction and interactive visitor experience combines real-time scientific research and living marine exhibits. Details:
http://lei.sr?a=U6J1v
AM 2 2013 ©cybertrek 2013
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