EAZA Tiger Campaign 2002/4
Campaign efforts in Valencia Zoo
A theatre play to save the tiger
Valencia Zoo enthusiastically participates in the third EAZA Conservation Campaign dedicated to the conservation of wild tigers. We have also participated in the previous EAZA Campaigns, but this campaign is particularly interesting for us because of the selection of an emblematic animal, capable of arousing the appreciation and admiration of our visitors. We believe that this appreciation makes it easier to inform the public about the terrible status of tigers in the wild, which is just one dramatic example of the catastrophic state of the biodiversity on our planet, caused by the selfishness of (certain) human beings. Relaying this harsh reality to the public is the primary objective of Valencia Zoo and perhaps it is the only justification for the existence of zoos nowadays.
Our efforts for the campaign include the Spanish translation of the information provided on the EAZA Tiger Campaign CD-ROM, and adaptation of the two posters and the information leaflet. Using the photographs on the CD-ROM, we produced a third poster entitled 'Chronicle of an extermination'. This poster informs the public about tigers in the wild and describes why tigers are endangered nowadays. This material has been distributed among various Spanish zoos interested in participating in the campaign. In addition we have designed a new line of key rings which are sold together with the t-shirts provided by EAZA. These products are available at the stand where also the posters are present. Currently, we have sold 1500 t-shirts and 2100 key rings, and - of course - the raised amount of money will be handed over to EAZA at the end of the campaign.
The most innovative contribution to the campaign, of which we are most proud, is the production of a theatre play for children, called 'La tigresa Violeta', performed last Autumn in the zoo. The play tells the story of Violeta, a tigress whose mother was killed by a hunter. Judging from the reactions of the 1500+ spectators and the engrossed faces of the children we believe that the play has been a success. Everything in the play -script, costumes, scenery, design of the masks - has been produced exclusively for this theatre play. The zoo intends to perform the play again in Spring, and perhaps we will also do a tour among other zoos and theatres in Spain.
We hope that this story of Violeta, the white tigress of Valencia Zoo, will succeed in increasing the awareness of the future generation and will contribute to a society that respects nature and its creatures. We are after all also one of nature's creatures!
