EAZA Tiger Campaign 2002/4
Campaign efforts in Austria
Close cooperation in Austria
In a cooperative effort, Austrian zoos (Österreichische Zoo Organisation - OZO) produced a series of special exhibitions entitled ‘Wildlife under threat' in the framework of recent EAZA Campaigns (Bushmeat, Rainforest, Tiger Campaigns). The Tier- und Naturpark Schloss Herberstein, the Salzburger Tiergarten Hellbrunn, the Haus des Meeres - Vivarium Wien, the Zoologischer Garten Schmiding, and Tiergarten Schönbrunn combined forces to create very impressive and informative poster displays designed to inform the public about these activities. These exhibitions very comprehensively outline the EAZA Campaigns and highlight the broad spectrum of issues being treated.
International organisations such as WWF and Greenpeace participated in the various exhibitions in Austria. Specific information on the various topics was also offered through the school system (guided tours, workshops, days of action, zoo-active programmes, treasure hunts, etcetera). In the framework of special vacation programmes, a jungle adventure path with individual games and various ‘touch' and ‘smell' stations was successful in attracting both young and old.
The current Tiger Trail - an interactive station game - is designed to draw public attention to this issue. The visitor's interest for tigers is initially awakened in the exhibition, after which they want to learn more and continue along the trail (or vice-versa). The coin donation funnels, which proved to be so successful in earlier exhibitions, were again set up at the Tiger Campaign. Each was accompanied by a special poster that advertised the project. The graphic design was selected to attract both youngsters and adults. After all, children turned out to be the most diligent donators, but typically received the coins from their parents and accompanying adults rather than using their own allowances.
Large-format (A0) German-language exhibition posters (for all three campaigns) were especially produced and offered to interested EAZA zoos. They are fully designed and ready for use and are also available on CD-ROMs. Numerous zoos in Germany and Switzerland took advantage of this offer made by the Austrian zoos.
Cooperative projects such as the intensive participation of OZO in the EAZA Campaigns clearly show that knowledge can be very effectively disseminated on a large scale.
