Wellington Zoo hosts Disney Director

Media release 15 March 2007

Wellington Zoo hosts Disney Director

Wellington Zoo is proud to announce Dr Jackie Ogden, Director of Animal Programmes, Disney Animal Kingdom as keynote speaker at the ARAZPA (Australasian Regional Zoological Parks and Aquaria) conference to be held in Wellington 18 March - 22 March, announced Wellington Zoo CEO, Karen Fifield today.

'We are thrilled to host the ARAZPA conference this year and have Jackie as keynote speaker. Jackie has a close association with AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) and was involved with a multi-million dollar study they conducted on visitor experience and zoos as places of conservation learning.'

'Jackie will speak about the findings of this study and the role zoos can play as learning institutions and how zoos can adapt in the future - as more children grow up in urbanised societies, city zoos may be the best link to nature and wildlife available.'

'Her research has focused on the impact of zoo-type environments on both human and non-human animals -including the impact on visitors' conservation related knowledge, emotional connection to animals and their commitment to act on conservation messages.'

'It is fantastic to have a guest speaker of such high calibre to address our delegates from across Australasia and we are excited to be able to bring Jackie to Wellington. We'd also like to thank the US Embassy for their support in helping us bring her out from Florida,' said Karen.

Jackie's keynote address Meeting the challenges of the coming century...by inspiring and engaging our visitors: Lessons learned at AZA and Disney will be in the TelstraClear Centre at Te Papa, Monday 19 March at 10.45am as part of the ARAZPA conference. Attendance by appointment only.

The ARAZPA conference at Te Papa, hosted by Wellington Zoo, runs from Sunday 18 March - Thursday 22 March with approximately 130 delegates from zoos, wildlife parks and aquariums across Australasia attending.

If you are interested in attending Jackie's keynote address, interviewing her, or any other aspect of the ARAZPA conference, please contact:

ENDS

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