On a warm sunny day in March, members of the Science and Natural History Group visited Bristol Zoo. Apart from strolling around the Zoo admiring the animals and the floral displays, we had booked a session in the Education Department.
We were ushered into a large room, draped like a tent. On the floor were a number of objects, many representing animals in danger of extinction, such as snake skin bags, fur coats, a turtle, a piece of coral. Other objects represented Conservation, for example wooden articles from sustainable forests.
The objects prompted us to discuss many ways in which animal species may be threatened by man’s activities. An opportunity to hold a rare cockroach reminded us that conservation is not just about large animals; small creatures also have important roles in the environment.