Thordsen, Jan

Modern zoos are being criticized for contributing too little to conservation efforts and also neglecting zoo animals’ welfare by placing them in outdated exhibits and captive environments. it is therefore important that zoos continuously improve the conditions and welfare of the animals they exhibit while simultaneously educates and informs the public about the impact of their conservation work. Informed by Packer and Ballantyne’s (2010) theories about the ‘The role of Zoos and Aquariums in Educating for a Sustainable Future’ and other relevant theories, and using problem-oriented qualitative methods, I analyzed open-ended responses from selected key informants visiting Copenhagen Zoo. This was done to understand how Copenhagen Zoo applies new fundraising experiences as an answer to the above-mentioned problems and how effective these new fundraising experiences are for meeting Copenhagen Zoos' conservation education goal for a guest visit. Ten subthemes were identified in a thematic analysis under two overarching themes: ‘The zoo visit including the fundraising experience’ and ‘extra generated effect’. The fundraising experience enhanced the environmental learning taking place at the zoo and thus assisted in meeting the conservation education goal. But the study also revealed room for improvement in the current setup and strategy if the zoo is to succeed in reaching more than only pro-zoo guest segments.Modern zoos are being criticized for contributing too little to conservation efforts and also neglecting zoo animals’ welfare by placing them in outdated exhibits and captive environments. it is therefore important that zoos continuously improve the conditions and welfare of the animals they exhibit while simultaneously educates and informs the public about the impact of their conservation work. Informed by Packer and Ballantyne’s (2010) theories about the ‘The role of Zoos and Aquariums in Educating for a Sustainable Future’ and other relevant theories, and using problem-oriented qualitative methods, I analyzed open-ended responses from selected key informants visiting Copenhagen Zoo. This was done to understand how Copenhagen Zoo applies new fundraising experiences as an answer to the above-mentioned problems and how effective these new fundraising experiences are for meeting Copenhagen Zoos' conservation education goal for a guest visit. Ten subthemes were identified in a thematic analysis under two overarching themes: ‘The zoo visit including the fundraising experience’ and ‘extra generated effect’. The fundraising experience enhanced the environmental learning taking place at the zoo and thus assisted in meeting the conservation education goal. But the study also revealed room for improvement in the current setup and strategy if the zoo is to succeed in reaching more than only pro-zoo guest segments.<br/

Roskilde Universitet

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Fundraising through a Zoo Experience A case study of new fundraising experiences and environmental learning at Copenhagen Zoo: A case study of new fundraising expereinces and environmental learning at Copenhagen Zoo

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Fundraising through a Zoo Experience A case study of new fundraising experiences and environmental learning at Copenhagen Zoo: A case study of new fundraising expereinces and environmental learning at Copenhagen Zoo

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Roskilde Universitet