Basel Zoo - World Ocean Day 2016 - World Ocean Network

World Ocean Day Programme 2016

Wednesday 8 June 2016, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Programme

World Oceans Day is being celebrated with a special programme in and around the Vivarium: under the heading of ‘Plastic in the Ocean’, Basel Zoo will provide information about the issue of plastic pollution in our waters. How does plastic get into the water, what are microplastics, and why do animals eat them?

Activities

Zoo keepers explain ‘How and why do animals eat plastic?’
Experiment to try: ‘Microplastics in cosmetics?’
Oceaneye a guest at Basel Zoo
Children’s activity: ‘Decorate your own ocean cloth bag’
Underwater shop
‘Vivarium’ and ‘coral’ info stand
Exhibition on the Ozeanium project with free Ozeanium cloth bags (while stocks last)

Presentation

Conservation

Modern zoos’ journey into the future goes far beyond the scope of zoos today and the global zoo and aquarium conservation strategy plays an important role on this path. Zoos and conservation organizations across the world joined forces in the global zoo and aquarium conservation strategy years ago. The stated aim of all participants is to play their part in protecting and preserving global natural habitats, along with the plants and animals that live in them, that still exist today. The strategy involves more than just paying lip service and it places obligations on the participants. Many of the objectives, achievements and standards formulated by the strategy are already part of the traditions that have been fostered at Basel zoological gardens for many years. For example, the Etoscha, Gamgoas and Australis enclosures bring biological and ecological backgrounds to life for the purpose of the strategy. Nature’s food chain is presented in the Etoscha house and the Gamgoas house is characterized by the conflict-ridden relationship between human beings and nature. Australis gives an insight into the unique world of animal reproduction on the Australian continent. The opening mentioned also includes Basel Zoo’s financial investments in scientific projects.

The future of the Zoo

OCEANARIUM AS A CONFERENCE AND EDUCATION CENTRE

For several years now, Basel Zoo has been heading down the road into the modern zoo world. It has invested a great deal in upgrading its animal enclosures and transformed many of these into natural habitats. Due to its location in the heart of city, however, the zoo has not expanded since 1961. Now, the zoo is considering just such an expansion on the Heuwaage site, where it plans to build a large aquarium: the ‘Basel Zoo Oceanarium’.
More…