Nugroho Agung S & Ira Kania Defira

Environmental degradation is a serious issue in the world today. Human factor is the largest contributor to the environmental degradation. Zoos and aquariums have the potential to raise environmental awareness and generate community involvement through conservation education. In this paper, I would like to present some of the education programs developed by SeaWorld Indonesia’s Education Unit.

Today, the world is facing environmental degradation. Green house effect has changed the global climate. Ecosystem damage and pollution have decreased the biodiversity. The condition in Indonesia is very serious. One example is the destruction of the marine ecosystem, shown by the condition of coral reef of which only 6.2% are very good, 23.72% good, 28.3% damaged and 41.78% is badly damaged. Human impact is the biggest reason for environmental degradation, by doing such activities:

Natural resources over exploitation

Changes of land use

Increase in pollution and utilization of dangerous chemical compounds

Bombing and cyanide fishing, coral mining

Sedimentation

Tourism activities have caused the poor condition of coral reefs in Indonesia.

 

Facing these problems mentioned above, what can zoos and aquariums do? First we must look for the cause of the problems: lack of community awareness on the environment. We must develop a community awareness and community involvement to counteract the lack of knowledge and information about the environment by giving conservation education. A conservation education not to tell the community what can or can not be done, but rather to give them the information to look at the environment in different ways. The community is not only the visitors but everybody who can be reached by zoos or aquariums. With all their collections, exhibits and displays, zoos and aquariums have the potential to develop a community awareness and community involvement by providing conservation education. To increase the people’s awareness and the need to participate in the efforts of marine conservation. SeaWorld Indonesia is committed to 3 Es: Education, Environment and Entertainment. Education means SeaWorld Indonesia is committed to educating the community about the importance of conserving Indonesia’s precious resources. With this paper I would like to describe some of the conservation programs developed by SeaWorld Indonesia.

To support our commitment, Education Unit provides accurate information for our exhibits for the regular visitors and school groups by using graphic panels, direct conversation and feeding show presentations. The graphics are specially designed for educational and entertaining purposes. Not only do they contain ordinary information such as the animal’s name, distribution and diet but also interesting facts about the animals, their role in the ecosystem and what the community can do to save the animal and its environment. By giving the written information in a systematic and interesting way, they will be easily understood and promote empathy among the visitors. However some visitors will only look at the exhibits and read only the animal’s name, which means they miss the conservation messages. To solve this problem, SeaWorld Indonesia provides Education staffs to explain the invaluable information. Having direct conversation with visitors means a two-way communication which is much more effective for deeper understanding, for example how to get involved in saving the environment. Education staffs also give a feeding show presentation. During the presentation, they share conservation messages and emphasize the importance of the wise use of environmental resources for the future.

Above all, the most important way to create environmental awareness is by touching, holding and feeding the animals. This provides a special experience and generates deep impression which will be remembered by the visitors. For this purpose, SeaWorld Indonesia provides a large Touch Pool, inhabited by harmless animals. Education guides accompany the visitors in touching, feeding of the animals and to share their knowledge.

In-House School Programs

SeaWorld Indonesia has developed a school program called Sekolah Bersama Ikan (School With The Fish). We made worksheets for all class levels from kindergarten to senior high school. The programs are informative, interactive and exciting. All students are given the worksheet. With worksheet in hand, the student can explore the wonders of the aquariums. The worksheet differs from what students find in their schools by asking leading questions which require the student to closely observe the animal or display and interpret their findings. Attractive illustrations stimulate their imaginations. The education staffs are available to guide and assist the students. Over 600.000 students have participated in this program (Table 1). On the one hand, the program has succeeded but on the other hand the large number of students have made the program less effective. To keep this school program running effectively, every ten students should be accompanied by one teacher. All students have to answer the questions on the worksheet and return it to the teacher for scoring. The education program can also be done outdoors so they can see and learn in the real environment. This method will stimulate their sense of adventure and discovery.

SeaWorld Indonesia develops outreach programs for the community that has a direct impact on the environment, such as the fishing villages. We visit schools in the fishing villages once a month. We teach the children through interesting games and quizzes about marine life, how precious our sea is with its large variety of sea creatures and the importance of protecting their future by the wise use of marine recourses. They were very excited and asked many questions during this program. At the end of this program, we gave them presents. Since 1995, this program has been conducted in North Jakarta, Kepulauan Seribu (Thousand Islands), Karimunjawa in Central Java trough to Lampung.

Beginning this year SeaWorld Indonesia has also developed an outreach program for private schools especially Play Groups and Kindergartens. We introduced sea animals which can be touched likes sea stars, sea cucumbers and turtles before they visit SeaWorld. This program helps the children to learn and to appreciate our sea and the marine life so that in future, they will also become involved in the conservation efforts to save our valuable heritage.

To encourage more people to participate in marine conservation efforts, SeaWorld has organised special events such as "Reuse and Recycle Competition" and "Drawing Competition on Save the Marine Life". SeaWorld Indonesia has participated in some national and international events which were related to marine conservation, e.g. Reef Check ’97 which was held in the framework of International Year of The Reef 1997.

Modern Zoos and Aquariums have a very important role in conservation education. Many methods and programs have to be developed in order to reach all social classes. One of the most important ways is to use interactive methods which can give a long-lasting memorable experience. More and more people will become involve in conservation efforts when they have empathy with nature.