Inspiring a new generation

INSPIRING A NEW GENERATION OF WILDLIFE PROTECTORS

As a not-for-profit organisation, Zoos Victoria values the support of its animal-loving community. This includes a valued partnership with PETstock who are inspiring and educating a new generation of wildlife champions.

WORDS Sonya Gellert

Through storytelling, education programs and research support, PETstock is helping Zoos Victoria to work toward its greatest goal: to fight extinction.

Now in year two of a three-year partnership with Zoos Victoria, PETstock – and its charity foundation – is dedicated to supporting conservation work and animal care and welfare, while educating the next generation of conservationists.

One of the ways PETstock is working towards this collaborative aim is by funding educational readers for Victorian primary schools. The Zoos Victoria Readers are designed to make kids more aware of their local wildlife – and, importantly, to care about it.

These captivating readers, filled with engaging stories, were provided to schools in time for Term 2 (which began in April 2022) and are supported by a range of online workshops and teaching resources, to help teachers create meaningful lessons about wildlife.

“We are believers in leaving the world a better place than we found it, and inspiring our youth to do the same can only be good for the planet,” says Dion Collard, Head of Marketing, Operations and Communications at PETstock. In-store colouring activities and competitions are also part of PETstock’s commitment to supporting Zoos Victoria.

Mel Wyatt, Zoos Victoria Senior Manager, Education, says, “One of the first steps in protecting our wildlife is knowing that it exists in the first place. Often with Australian species that tend to be either nocturnal and secretive in behaviour, or more rarely encountered, we only begin to understand our own local wildlife diversity at an older age.”

The readers will ensure Foundation to Year Two students are well informed about the Critically Endangered animals. “The readers have been brought to life through eliciting the story and connection of our Threatened Species team members working directly with these species in their wild habitats. I cannot wait for children to read them,” Mel says.

Another example of how PETstock’s support has made a significant difference to Zoos Victoria’s work is by establishing the role of Animal Welfare Research Officer – a position that Amy-Rose Fraser has passionately undertaken.

“Collaboration is so important in the world of animal welfare and

“We are committed to continuous improvement in the way in which we house and look after animals.”

AMY-ROSE FRASER

Animal Welfare Research Officer, Zoos Victoria The amazing new readers

conservation,” says Amy-Rose. “We’re all working towards similar objectives – happy animals, respected animals and fighting extinction.”

Amy-Rose is relishing the chance to actively help meet those objectives. “We are committed to continuous improvement in the way in which we house and look after animals,” she says, “which is why it is so important for Zoos Victoria to have specialised staff dedicated to animal welfare research.”

In Amy-Rose’s daily interactions with animals, she’s been able to gain useful data and information about how Zoos Victoria can further prevent extinction.

“Each day typically involves some form of animal observations,” she says. “I might watch Hutan the Sumatran Tiger for a few hours to observe and record how he reacts to certain changes in his environment, like a new enrichment opportunity. This type of behavioural data, whether it’s for a Sumatran Tiger or a Lord Howe Island Stick Insect, is imperative for our understanding of the animals in our care.”

The research – conducted during the zoo closures (due to COVID-19) – gave keepers the opportunity to observe the behaviours of animals when visitors weren’t around. “The results showed us that some short-term behaviour changes were observed, but there was surprisingly very little significant difference in behaviour during the zoo closures and when visitors returned.”

Thanks to the support of PETstock, Amy-Rose and her team are able to continue the important work they do monitoring and understanding the animals in Zoos Victoria’s care. This helps with making evidence-based decisions and changes to continually improve the lives of animals.

“We have supported and seen firsthand the results Zoos Victoria has accomplished over the last couple of years,” says Dion. “We are so very proud to partner with an organisation that takes real action when it comes to the conservation of species.” ZN

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To learn more about the Critically Endangered species Click here to learn more