NGO involvement in zoo management: a myth or reality?

作者：Ashmawy Iman Karam I M^*

来源：Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2018, 20(4): 1873-1887.

DOI：10.1007/s10668-017-9939-3

• Environment management
• NGOs
• Zoos
• Involvement
• Conflicting relationship

With the sudden deaths of few animals in the Egyptian Giza Zoo (GZ), the debate was launched about zoo management and the limited resources available. In addition, the role of the different stakeholders, especially the non-governmental organizations (NGOs), in zoo management was also put into the forefront. Hence, the purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the extent to which NGOs are involved in the management of the GZ. By conducting seven semi-structured interviews with the GZ director and all the three officially registered NGOs that work in the field of animal rights and protection in Cairo and Giza, the study was able to reach at the following conclusions: First, the GZ is mainly adopting the regulatory and entertainment styles of zoo management offering little room to benefit from the advantages that the NGOs can offer. Second, the role of the NGOs ranges from criticizing, advising, helping when problems arise, to holding training sessions and conferences to increase the awareness of the GZ's workers and build their capacities. Nevertheless, the NGOs are not involved in planning or fundraising. Finally, as a result of numerous factors including contradictory expectations and characteristics between the GZ and the NGOs, the relationship between the GZ and the NGOs can be described as conflicting as indicated by Onkila (Bus Strategy Environ 20:379-393, 2011).

• 出版日期2018-8