Chimpanzees fishing for termites with long sticks, elephants playing and socialising with their friends and family members in a pool, or a monitor lizard climbing to catch insects in a special high up feeder are interesting and wonderful activities to watch. Promoting optimal animal welfare and predominantly positive experiences 24/7 across an animal’s lifespan is one of the core responsibilities of accredited zoos and aquariums today.
Caring for Wildlife, a WAZA Animal Welfare Strategy, offers guidance on topics like assessment and monitoring of animal welfare, environmental enrichment, exhibit design, research, engagement and interaction with visitors. As animal welfare coordinator for WAZA, I work with members and external experts on matters related to animal welfare.
Where possible we also reach out to non-WAZA members to offer welfare support and advice. The expression “a rising tide lifts all boats” underscores one of WAZA’s objectives, which is to collaborate with others in our shared commitment to maintain, improve and actively encourage optimal animal welfare in all facilities housing wild animals.
Animals should be provided with opportunities for choice and control through a stimulating and complex environment and enriching activities. Different climate zones and views, the ability to retreat from a group, having to solve a puzzle to access that valued nut – these are ways zoos not only engage animals, but also the visiting public. By engaging the public through activities – and seeing happy animals – zoos hope to promote human behaviour change, caring for animals, nature and the planet.
Sabrina Brando, Animal welfare coordinator, WAZA
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2018 issue 2
People profile: Damien Hirst
Turner Prize-winning artist Damien Hirst exhibits a series of spot paintings and huge sculptures at a Norfolk stately home
People profile: Penka Kouneva
Movie and video game composer Penka Kouneva moves into the world of attractions with the Heroes and Legends exhibit and VR installations
Industry Opinion: Zoos & Aquariums
WAZA’s Sabrina Brando on providing animals with opportunities for choices, stimulating environments and enriching activities
Interview: Sultan Al Dhaheri
With the launch of Warner Bros World and
the Louvre in Abu Dhabi, the Department
of Culture and Tourism’s Sultan Al Dhaheri
explains how investing in attractions is
helping the emirate meet its tourism goals
Animal sanctuaries: Paws for Thought
The UK’s Big Cat Sanctuary is the subject
of a recent BBC documentary. Managing
director Giles Clark explains how the
facility works – and introduces Maya
the jaguar and Willow the cheetah
Science Centres: Getting Engaged
Researchers Dr Amy Seakins and
Dr Heather King explain how science
capital empowers science centres
to engage wider audiences in STEM,
plus European initiatives in action
Digital art: Light Fantastic
Tokyo-based digital art collective teamLab is
on a mission to change the way we interact
with and experience art. Magali Robathan
reports on the group’s installation work
and their upcoming museum launch
Chimpanzees fishing for termites with long sticks, elephants playing and socialising with their friends and family members in a pool, or a monitor lizard climbing to catch insects in a special high up feeder are interesting and wonderful activities to watch. Promoting optimal animal welfare and predominantly positive experiences 24/7 across an animal’s lifespan is one of the core responsibilities of accredited zoos and aquariums today.
Caring for Wildlife, a WAZA Animal Welfare Strategy, offers guidance on topics like assessment and monitoring of animal welfare, environmental enrichment, exhibit design, research, engagement and interaction with visitors. As animal welfare coordinator for WAZA, I work with members and external experts on matters related to animal welfare.
Where possible we also reach out to non-WAZA members to offer welfare support and advice. The expression “a rising tide lifts all boats” underscores one of WAZA’s objectives, which is to collaborate with others in our shared commitment to maintain, improve and actively encourage optimal animal welfare in all facilities housing wild animals.
Animals should be provided with opportunities for choice and control through a stimulating and complex environment and enriching activities. Different climate zones and views, the ability to retreat from a group, having to solve a puzzle to access that valued nut – these are ways zoos not only engage animals, but also the visiting public. By engaging the public through activities – and seeing happy animals – zoos hope to promote human behaviour change, caring for animals, nature and the planet.
Sabrina Brando, Animal welfare coordinator, WAZA
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2018 issue 2
People profile: Damien Hirst
Turner Prize-winning artist Damien Hirst exhibits a series of spot paintings and huge sculptures at a Norfolk stately home
People profile: Penka Kouneva
Movie and video game composer Penka Kouneva moves into the world of attractions with the Heroes and Legends exhibit and VR installations
Industry Opinion: Zoos & Aquariums
WAZA’s Sabrina Brando on providing animals with opportunities for choices, stimulating environments and enriching activities
Interview: Sultan Al Dhaheri
With the launch of Warner Bros World and
the Louvre in Abu Dhabi, the Department
of Culture and Tourism’s Sultan Al Dhaheri
explains how investing in attractions is
helping the emirate meet its tourism goals
Animal sanctuaries: Paws for Thought
The UK’s Big Cat Sanctuary is the subject
of a recent BBC documentary. Managing
director Giles Clark explains how the
facility works – and introduces Maya
the jaguar and Willow the cheetah
Science Centres: Getting Engaged
Researchers Dr Amy Seakins and
Dr Heather King explain how science
capital empowers science centres
to engage wider audiences in STEM,
plus European initiatives in action
Digital art: Light Fantastic
Tokyo-based digital art collective teamLab is
on a mission to change the way we interact
with and experience art. Magali Robathan
reports on the group’s installation work
and their upcoming museum launch
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
+ More news
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