Hope for the future: Strategies for effective conservation education

Abstract

The traditional strategy of attempting to modify the attitudes of children in zoo education may be ill-fated, as changes may arrive too late to produce significant results in a depleted environment. Adults, however, have the resources to make a real difference today and are therefore the primary target audience at the Cincinnati Zoo. The focus for programs is the positive side of conservation; in addition to intensive captive propagation and education efforts, zoos must support international conservation efforts to be most effective in the conservation movement.