Francesca Bandoli, Eleonora Angelini, Veronica Rastelli Giardino Zoologico di Pistoia, Italy Can Brown Bears Link Education and Conservation?

WHY BEARS? Bears are part of our history and culture

Pistoia province was a “Bear Country”: bears were present in Northern Tuscany until the XVIII century and…

…a Brown bear, which is called “Micco”, is the coat of arms of our town!

Abruzzo (Italy): the Marsican brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus), an endemic and critically endangered subspicies

AIMS OF THE PROJECT To let schoolchildren learn about the Marsican brown bear and conservation issues To support conservation of the Marsican brown bear To raise funds to compensate farmers for damage caused by wild bears

TARGET AND ORGANIZATION Participation of38 classes with a total of 950 children from 4 to 11 years old Participation of 38 classes with a total of 950 children from 4 to 11 years old 4 steps: 1)Teacher training 2)Educational activity by teachers 3)Educational activity by Zoo educators 2 lessons at school (duration 1,5h) 2 lessons at school (duration 1,5h) 4)Fund raising at Pistoia Zoo

TEACHER TRAINING Organization of a teacher training course Creation of team-work to improve the outcome of the project CHILDREN CONSERVATION EDUCATION TEACHERS

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY BY TEACHERS How do children imagine bears? How bears are presented in tales, novels and movies?

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY BY ZOO EDUCATORS Interactive exhibition at school

Use of animal derivatives

Role-playing game to learn about animals’ ecological role

Conservation issues: hands-on activities to discover how to study and protect bears

Cooperation with the Abruzzo National Park Contact between children and researchers Twinning between Pistoia and ANP schools Link between Education and In-situ Conservation

Math English BEARS BECAME PART OF EVERY SUBJECT!

TAKE ACTION! FUND RAISING AT PISTOIA ZOO

Gadgets

Games

Songs

Drama shows

Children as educators

Researchers from ANP

CONCLUSIONS The educational programme made it possible: –to increase schoolchildren’s and visitors’ awareness of the Marsican brown bear and conservation issues –to take action for conservation supporting the ANP and raising funds for damage compensation –to link Pistoia Zoo, Schools, Research and In-situ Conservation

WHAT’S NEW IN 2009? EAZA European Carnivore Campaign

WHAT’S NEW IN 2009? 300 schoolchildren!

Thank you!