Enrichment programs and public perception

[urbpan]

I have a couple questions which may seem terribly cynical, but they are on my mind and I'd like to get some opinions on them:

How important is public perception to an enrichment program: How much of the content of the enrichment program exists to improve public relations and increase the public image of the zoo (whether or not the enrichment method is an obvious one)? If some of the content of the enrichment program exists to increase the public image of the zoo, how forthright should the zoo be about this side-benefit of the enrichment program?

(cross-posted to the yahoo zookeeper groups)

Comments

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

So it's sort of a balancing act?

[ritaxis.livejournal.com]

It shouldn't havwe to be, consciously: it should flow. Like, if the subject of the day's program is more intimately connected with the specific mission of the institution, there should be more plugging, and if the subject of the day's program is more general then there should be less. And there should also be a certain amount of p.r. for related careers! Students always need to be hearing about things they can do for a living that aren't showcased on TV (and particularly they need to be hearing about things that take more and less amounts of post-secondary education)



What is that beast in your arms?

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

New England's most horrible animal, the woodchuck Marmota monax.

[ritaxis.livejournal.com]

I should have known. We call them marmots (http://www.naturalphotos.com/sekercioglu/sierra_nevada/pages/CAL17-YNP-Marmot.htm) when we see them in the Sierras.

They eat radiator hoses if they get a chance.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to get the name "northeastern marmot" to enter common usage.

They also like computer cables. Don't keep them in your office.