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South Asia
Network of International Zoo Educators SAN-IZE
SAN-IZE
(pronounced “san – easy”) is an acronym for the South Asian Network of
International Zoo Educators. SANIZE represents the International
Zoo Educator Association in South Asia. The International Zoo Educators
Association IZE (www.izea.net)
governing board & members have decided to make two regions in Asia
for the purpose of better networking and serving of Asian zoos and zoo
educators. Thus our SAN-IZE, which has been operating as an unofficial
sub-region of IZE Asia region, is now separate region. This was
announced in the 2006 biennial conference which was held at Pretoria,
South Africa 11-14 October 2006. South Asia includes
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri
Lanka. Sally Walker is the Regional Representative for this region
and it is hosted by Zoo Outreach Organisation (www.zooreach.org)
and assisted by our sponsors Columbus Zoo and Wildlife Conservation
Society and ZOO’s networks. We are members of WAZA and are guided
by WAZA principles. WAZCS enjoins all zoos and aquariums to support
the protection of wildlife in the wild in any meaningful way possible for
them regardless of their size or budget. For some zoos, the most
immediate and meaningful way to support protection of wildlife and its
habitat is through education. WZACS also makes a strong argument for zoos
partnering with other organizations to enhance our effectiveness in
protecting wildlife and habitat.
Z.O.O. and
W.I.L.D. host several important IUCN groups, taxonomically-themed
international NGO’s, focused on the more neglected, highly speciose taxon
groups, such as Invertebrates, Amphibians, Reptiles, Bats, Rodents
and Insectivores, and Primates. We use CBSG workshops to gather and
assess information which we use for education.
ZOO/SAN-IZE
develops much educational material for all target groups, making use of
scientific facts about species and their habitats from workshops we
conduct involving indigenous scientists. Due to postage and customs
costs, we supply the bulk of these materials to Indian educators, but
take every opportunity to load visitors from the zoos in India with
materials to take back. We also send samples of everything to all
in the region and give permission for them to use it as they require, in
translation, modified more to their country, culture etc.
To know more
about How SAN-IZE works, click on "How SANIZE works"
To see SANIZE
members directory "SANIZE
Directory"
Supply of
Education materials
Zoo Outreach
Organisation develops and distribute education materials to its SANIZE
network members and others during Earth Day, World Environment Day,
Wildlife Week and other special occasions free
To view the
invitation, requirements and list and illustrations of items we had on
hand for this year’s programme click on "Wildlife Week Invitation and Illustration of materials"
To see our
current education reports click on
"Education Reports"
To see 2009
SANIZE Regional Report and other education workshops
Report for the period of January through March
Report for the period of April through September
Report for the period of October through December
Previous reports
Report for the period January through March 2008
Report for the period April through June 2008
Report for the period July through December 2008
To see some previous educators training programme
reports
Report on Getting along with Elephants Educator
Workshops held in West Bengal, Nepal, Bangladesh,
Bhutan
and Sumatra
Report on Intensive Educator Skills
Training on Wildlife Teaching
Education Training Program for
Meghalaya NGO
Teachers for Tigers workshop held in
Nepal
Summary of Hoolock Gibbon Educators
workshops held in Assam
The following
report is a bit about each country in our region:
Afghanistan
Kabul Zoo has an Education Officer, who
conducts tours, classes, school programmes and outreach visits.
Mohammed Fazil, the former education officer, had attended several
training courses and meetings conducted by Zoo Outreach Organisation.
Very recently the new education officer Najibullah Nazary came to India
for training and he was trained by ZOO staff and visited few South Indian
Zoos to know much more about the education activities run by the Indian
zoos.
Bangladesh
There are about nine
zoos in Bangladesh of which two have some systematic education programme
or facilities. The Dulahazara Safari Park has a museum,
interpretation center and nicely painted bus to take visitors around, as
well as some handout literature.
The Dhaka Zoo serves
as a training center for all the zoos, very kindly inviting all of them
to any useful training programme conducted at the zoo. For the past
3-4 years, ZOO has been conducting informal programmes there for several
zoos.
Bhutan
There is one
mini-zoo in Bhutan with only one zoo officer. He gives information
to visitors when asked and sees to signage. ZOO/SANIZE provide him
with some educational material to use when he speaks to school groups and
other public functions.
Sri Lanka
All Zoological institutions
in Sri Lanka come under the Department of National Zoological Gardens –
Sri Lanka (DNZG). Last year the Government of Sri Lanka created a
Ministry of Zoological and Botanical Gardens. Under this Ministry
there are better opportunities for progressive ideas and actions.
In the same year the zoo was awarded posts for 30 scientists graduates
and post Graduates from the University, of which 12 are being utilized as
educators. This is a singular event in the world of which the
entire South Asia is proud! ZOO has been invited to conduct a zoo
educator training for them specifically to train in planning programmes,
events and give presentations.
Nepal
Central Zoo is
the only real zoo in Nepal and, as such an excellent platform for
conservation education. The zoo has an audience of over a million
visitors a year, mostly from rural areas. They run 2 kinds of
conservation education programes, those for members of the highly
successful (17,000 members) Friends of the Zoo FOZ and walk-in visitor
programmes. The zoo has networked over 150 school of Kathmandu valleys,
establishing Eco clubs in 40 of these schools. FOZ programmes
include elaborate functions and even trips to wild areas. Visitor
programmes include guides for school groups booking in advance,
hand-outs, interpretation center, etc. The zoo also conducts
teacher training programmes frequently. In 2000 ZOO conducted an 8
day regional zoo educator training course at Nepal for zoos of South
Asia, and in 2003 assisted in a two-day training for teachers.
Pakistan
Pakistan has
about 26 wild animal facilities of which two have education programmes,
Karachi Zoo and Lahore Zoo. Karachi Zoo conducts special visitor
programmes with the schools on special days appropriate to celebrating
wildlife. They have a well-furnished museum and facilities for
group functions in their Mogul Garden.
Lahore Zoo runs a
number of programmes and conducts evaluation for knowing the impact of
their education and training programmes with comparative assessments, surveys
and questionnaires, observation of visitor’s behavior, donation records
and response to pledges and petitions as well as record of media coverage
and teacher feedback on formal programme. Bushra Khan,
Education Officer of Lahore Zoo, is the Education Representative
for the South Asian Zoo Association for Regional Cooperation.
India
India has 159
zoos all of which come under the auspices of the Central Zoo
Authority. Over half a dozen zoos now have education cells and
close to a dozen posts for education officer. In India the Central
Zoo Authority has formed a Steering Committee to prepare a protocol for
zoo education, with Master Plan guidelines, Visitor survey protocol and
other helpful material. The renowned Centre for Environmental Education,
the nodal government specialist on environmental education is the focal
point and coordinator for this important activity. Zoo Outreach
Organisation / SAN-IZE assisted over 200 zoos and other organisations and
individuals to conduct education in zoos and other public venues with our
packets, posters, report summaries, drama kits, t-shirts, etc. In
the year 2006 ZOO distributed 40,065 packets, 17,600 posters, 3200
booklets on diverse topics such as WZACS, primates, animal welfare,
plants for life, herptiles, bats, rodents, hoolocks, bears, etc.
Zoo Outreach organized 11 teacher training workshops, 5 refresher
courses, and 1 advanced training in 2 countries, educating 345
participants in how to teach wildlife conservation better.
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