EAZA Tiger Campaign 2002/4
Campaign efforts in Plock Zoo
Although Plock Zoo does not keep tigers in the collection we decided to participate in the EAZA Tiger Campaign. Information about the campaign and the zoo's activities was published in local newspapers and broadcasted in different radio and television programmes.
Three posters were prepared in order to inform our visitors about the EAZA Tiger Campaign and the situation of tigers in the past and present. The donation box is located next to the poster presentation so that affected visitors are prompted to donate money. Other fundraising efforts include selling the keyrings at two places in the zoo: at the ticket office and next to the posters in the Education Pavilion.
The zoo organised the successful 'Tiger Day' on 24 November 2002.
School children prepared a performance ‘If tigers would eat toffees' in which they presented the critical situation of tigers in the wild. Children could also participate in an art competition. Their task was to draw the tiger in its environment. All the drawings were awarded with a prize, and the children obtained tiger puppets as a reward. Visitors can still admire the drawings exhibited in the Education Pavilion. The Tiger Day also included face painting facilities for children. Educators were busy all day by informing the visitors about the campaign. Visitors could additionally view educational films about tigers and their behaviour. The Tiger Day will be repeated in summer season.
Educators of the zoo participated in a meeting with teachers of a local school on 8 January 2003, in which the campaign was presented. The teachers were interested in raising awareness by implementing the EAZA Tiger Campaign in their school newsletter. The zoo provides the school with regular updates on campaign. The education department of the zoo organises lessons for school groups as a series ‘Face to face with the tiger'. The lessons provide the children with general information on tigers, tigers in captivity, reintroduction, illegal wildlife trade, and of course the EAZA Tiger Campaign explaining that zoos actively contribute in tiger protection.
