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Article: Zoos look to the future: zoos may seem to be all about admiring the animals, but more often than not they also have humane objectives like furthering breeding programmes for endangered species and educating children to respect the natural world around them.(OUT-N-ABOUT)
- Article from:
- Swiss News
- Article date:
- May 1, 2008
- Author:
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Basel Zoo aims to do both. Education isn't exactly on the zoo's official programme list, but that mentality pervades its operations and exhibits.
At the aquarium, "we want to get the wow factor", says Thomas Jermann, curator of the Vivarium.
The wow factor is alive and well in the dozens of species of colourful and strange-looking fish, and of these, perhaps none is more bizarre than the Australian Lungfish--coming this summer--whose fins are actually limb-like.
Jermann says his greatest source of pride is teaching the children of Basel:
"If we can get children to love nature, then we can protect it," ...