AS/A2 Conservation and the role of the zoo Information and guidance for teachers Contents Lesson plan Plan a route Suggested activities to link with session Things to arrange prior to visit The day of your trip: arriving at the Zoo Your teaching session Harvest mouse re-introduction at Chester Zoo

Back to top One of our Discovery sessions in action! Lesson content outline This session would fit in well with conservation work explored through both biological and geographical courses. Based around a PowerPoint presentation this session focuses on: the history and changing role of zoos Chester Zoo’s mission and how it is implemented both in-situ and ex-situ examples to illustrate the Zoo’s involvement in co-operative breeding programmes collection planning including consideration of the IUCN Red List categories and native species out-reach conservation work in which the Zoo is involved both in the UK and world-wide Our male Sumatran Orang-utan, Puluh

Plan a route Animals discussed during session Many different animals are discussed during this session including Sand Lizards, Jaguar, elephants, Tarictic Hornbills, Scimitar-horned Oryx, Chimpanzees, Rodrigues Fruit Bat and orang-utans. Animals to visit before session (or after session if at 10.30) Scimitar-horned Oryx (in West Zoo near Zebra enclosures) - We have been involved in a breeding programme for this species which is still listed on the IUCN Red List as Extinct in the Wild. Black Rhinoceros (in West Zoo not far from the Main Entrance) - The Tsavo Black Rhino Experience has lots of interesting interactive signs. Black Rhinos are listed as Critically Endangered. Asian Elephant (in West Zoo not far from the Main Entrance) - Asian Elephants are on the IUCN Red List as Endangered. Tarictic Hornbill (in East Zoo in the Tropical Realm) – These hornbills are on the IUCN Red List as Endangered and are an example of ex- situ conservation work as part of our Philippines Biodiversity Programme. Orang-utan (in East Zoo near to the Aquarium) - Chester Zoo has been successfully breeding Orang-utans for over 20 years. We helped set up a rehabilitation centre for orphaned Orang-utans in Borneo. Sumatran Orang-utans are Critically Endangered and Bornean Orang-utans are Endangered. Back to top Asoka – Chester Zoo’s male Asiatic Lion Click here to download a Zoo Map

One of our young Sumatran Orang-utans born in 2004 Suggested activities to link with session Before Visit (recommended prior learning) Investigation of internet sites such as the IUCN (which includes the Red List at and CITES ( websites. The online Chester Zoo Annual Review gives additional information concerning our collection and our conservation work within the Zoo, in the UK and overseas. Our website also includes summaries of our current conservation field programmes. Review During Visit Collect data (status, threats, distribution etc) to create a Chester Zoo specific Red List. Much of this information can be found on signage around enclosures. Over 56% of Chester Zoo’s collections are species that are threatened in the wild. Those most seriously threatened include several species that are Extinct in the Wild, those that are Critically Endangered and those that are classified as Endangered. Investigate specific habitats; the flora and fauna, the threats, the consequences of species decline. The South American rainforest can be investigated in Spirit of the Jaguar. Additional South American animals, including Spectacled Bears, guanaco, vicuna, rhea, marmosets and tamarins can be seen opposite and past the Twilight Zone. Breeding is a very important part of our work in the Zoo. How many babies can you spot around the Zoo? Continued on next page…

One of our Critically Endangered Blue-throated Macaws Ask your students to imagine they are a zoo collection manager. Which five species of animals would they choose to save and why? This echoes the job of the Zoo’s curators who must decide which species we will have in our collection. Visit Zoo Information and collect one or two sets of leaflets for your class describing the Zoo’s conservation work. After Visit Investigation of internet sites such as the IUCN (which includes the Red List) and CITES websites (see above for links). Investigation of conservation charities such as the work of the RSPB ( Save The Rhino ( and FFI ( There is masses of information about status and conservation of our plants and animals that can be found in our Annual Reviews which can be viewed on our website. Create a collection plan for a zoo (list of species that ex-situ zoo conservation could help).Annual Reviews Analyse information gained from your visit to answer questions e.g. most common threat, percentage of critically endangered animals. Create an outreach project. Choose a threatened species/habitat (this could be a native project) consider cost, research, staffing, equipment, inclusion of the local community, education etc. Back to top

Things to arrange prior to visit Please check details on confirmation letter, any queries please call Arrange a pre-visit to the Zoo, contact us for details. Arrange appropriate number of group leaders and collate contact details. Assign students to a group leader, ensure students and leaders know the running plan for the day, have staff contact details and map of the Zoo (click here).click here Ensure group leaders have a plan for the day including: student names, time and location of teaching session (e.g. a copy of the confirmation letter) and where to meet, if necessary, after the session as well as a map of the Zoo. Running plan for the day Time and location of teaching session Time and location to meet for teaching session Time and location to meet for lunch Time to visit Twilight Zone (all students under 16 must be accompanied through the Twilight Zone) Time for students to visit the gift shop (the shop at the entrance is open all year round, opening times of the other 2 shops vary throughout the year). All students under 16 should be accompanied in the gift shops. Time and location to meet when leaving the Zoo Back to top A visitor favourite: ‘Boris’ the chimpanzee

Back to top Tigers face the imminent threat of extinction in the wild The day of your trip: arriving at the Zoo Please help us to make your entrance to the Zoo as smooth as possible Allow plenty of time to get to and into the Zoo, it can take over 30 minutes to enter the Zoo and reach the Education Centre, particularly at busy times of year. On arrival the group leader only should approach the main gate with the confirmation letter. Students and other staff should remain on the coach. This provides an ideal opportunity for another member of staff to run through the itinerary for the day with students and helpers, to hand out work sheets, information, maps, talk times etc. Once the paperwork has been completed the group leader can collect the group from the coach to be counted into the Zoo by Gate Staff. There are toilets at the main entrance both inside and outside the Zoo. Rainy day – indoor enclosures The Aquarium, Tropical Realm, Twilight Zone, Spirit of the Jaguar, Islands in Danger and Realm of the Red Ape are all undercover, indoor exhibits. Additionally, Magnificent Macaws, Chimpanzee Island, Giraffe House, Elephants of the Asian Forest, Tsavo Black Rhino Experience, Monkeys and Miniature Monkeys all have undercover viewing.

Your teaching session Sessions are run in 3 classrooms all located in the Education Centre next to the Spirit of the Jaguar exhibit. Please be aware that it can take 30+ minutes to cross the Zoo particularly at busy times of year. On arrival at the Education Centre please wait outside the appropriate room (Cook, Columbus or Cousteau), as stated on your booking confirmation, for an Education Officer to greet you. Please don’t block doorways to education classrooms as there may be classes about to leave. Each teaching session will last approximately 50 minutes. There is plenty of open space for lunches outside the Education Centre. On rainy days there is an indoor picnic area (Arara Picnic Lodge) past the Spirit of the Jaguar exhibit. There are toilets opposite the Spirit of the Jaguar house just past the Education Centre. If you are delayed for any reason and may be late for your teaching session please contact , we may be able to help! If you have found this information useful or think there is something that we could add to help your day run smoothly please let us know at Back to top Meeting ‘Beaky’ the quail during a Discovery session