Civil Engineering
College Park Scholars-Science and Global Change Program
Email: rvemula2@terpmail.umd.edu
CPSG101 Science & Global Change Colloquium
National Zoological Garden, Washington, DC
May 5, 2024
Make sure you COMPLETELY answer the questions. The assignment itself will be written as a webpage, mounted to your sgc folder on terpconnect, and linked to your ePortfolio. Please get one or more photos from the trip (possibly with you in them) to help illustrate your page We plan to meet at 10:45 am at the Connecticut Avenue entrance (see the Zoo Map: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/visit/zoo-map) ZOO BUILDINGS The Zoo has grouped some collections of animals (often some of their smaller ones) in a single thematic building. Some of these buildings are organized by a particular group of animals, sometimes by region or habitat, or sometimes by another theme. Choose two (2) of the following buildings and explore them: Amazonia, Reptile Discovery Center, Small Mammal House, or the newly-reopened Bird House (for the latter you will need to get a free timed entry digital pass; there are QR codes posted around the park to help with this). One of these halls has to be a guided tour of a hall by one of the SGC faculty. Currently we plan our tours for 1 pm: · Dr. Holtz at the Reptile Discovery Center · Dr. Merck at Amazonia
Small Mammal House
· What information is listed for each species
The information plaques showed the range, habitat, and diet of the animals.
· List at least four (4) species that are on display
prevost squirrel, armadillo, golden lion tamarin, red ruff lemur
· If any, what types of displays that go beyond simple identifying text on a panel are available in this building? (These might be interactive displays, videos, skeletons, or others.) Did you find them to be informative? (These interactives are not necessarily at the four species’ displays.)
The above display shows different features present in the skeletons of mammals and associates different verbs with them. This interactive teaches children the functions of different common features in mammals.
· What education level you think the hall is aimed at
Children in elementary and middle school are the main audience, which I inferred based on the interactive display shown above.
· Whether or not you see if any non-SGCer is actually paying attention to the information plaques and/or interactive displays
Everyone was solely focused on the animals.
2) Reptile Exhibit
· What information is listed for each species
The information in the reptile exhibit was less specific, only detailing the habitat and fun facts about the species.
· List at least four (4) species that are on display
komodo dragon, emerald tree monitor, African plated lizard, snouted cobra
· If any, what types of displays that go beyond simple identifying text on a panel are available in this building? (These might be interactive displays, videos, skeletons, or others.) Did you find them to be informative? (These interactives are not necessarily at the four species’ displays.)
This display teaches people about the similarities and differences between humans and lizard bodies.
· What education level you think the hall is aimed at
I would guess that the education level this hall is aimed at is elementary school children based on the level of detail in the species information plaque.
· Whether or not you see if any non-SGCer is actually paying attention to the information plaques and/or interactive displays
Most children were only looking at the animals, but some adults would glance at the information plaque.
EDUCATION
Additionally, zoos are major centers for education about zoological and ecological issues. Find and describe two (2) specific examples of ways that the Zoo aids in the public understanding of animals and ecosystems OTHER THAN simple plaques with printed information.
Interactive displays make education about zoological and ecological issues interesting for children. A lot of displays disguise learning as a game so that children will interact with them. Freebies give the government organizations handing them out the ability to educate people on their programs and animals they focus on.
ANIMAL MENTAL/EMOTIONAL WELFARE Let’s face it: zoo animals are kept in captivity, and for many animals this is a potentially traumatic experience. These animals evolved in the wild, and their behaviors are adapted to living in the more complex (and simply BIGGER) world outside.
In the old days the mental or emotional welfare of the exhibit animals weren’t of primary concern: just stick them in a cage for all to see. But this attitude has changed.
Find at least two (2) specific examples where either the physical setting or objects in their environment have been added to provide a more interesting or comfortable place for the animals. There was a hamster wheel (ferret wheel?) in the ferret cage so that ferrets could reach their physical activity requirements. The frog displays had an abundance of plants to mimic their natural environment, even when it made it more difficult to see the frogs