Nightlife in Zurich: This campaign is dedicated to the fox, the hedgehog and the bats. Children with paint put
on their faces crawl into fox' dens in order to find out what sort of food a fox likes to
eat. Or they act like a hedgehog and try to climb over a hightened kerb stone. Something
that Zurich's city hedgehogs encounter time and again. "Disguised" as a bat, one can visit
various attractions. For instance crawl into a bat's den or snap at a biscuit dangling from
above. Almost the same way as the bat carries off its insects.
Bello and Purrly - How to keep animals according to their nature! A campaign that time and again leads to heated discussions. Who likes to admit that up to now
he did not know that guinea pigs or budgerigars should not be kept singly.Or that one's way
of feeding rather harms the animal than doing him any good. And that keeping a tortoise is
something for specialists only.
A general table shows which domestic animal is possible for me at all and is to be considered.
Do I have enough time? How much can I spend? Do I need an animal at all? Why are gerbils not
the right animals for me?
For all those who are eager to improve their guinea pig keeping, the big small rodent
enclosure, properly fitted out for the animals and with living dwellers, is being presented.
Finally, with typical structures like hiding-places, caves and dens, copses and undergrowth,
low water zones etc., one can try to find out in a quiz the natural habitat of golden
hamsters, canary birds or budgerigars.
Wolf and otter – coming back soon? This is a new campaign regarding the topic "reconolization". In a model landscape for instance,
five of the thirty puzzle pieces have to be placed in such a way that the landscape becomes suitable
for otters. Perhaps by putting a green brigde over the motorway or by leading the canalized river
here and there back to its natural course.
The discussion about wolfs gets off the ground by means of a copied wolf's trap of a North
American Indian tribe. Each time it turns out that the fairy tale about the wicked wolf
still has its significance today. And who has ever touched the fur of a wolf, of an otter
or a lynx? Here one has the opportunity to have a good look at the "big predators" of our
country.
How to attract birds? Maybe at home in your garden! Throughout this campaign day, every visitor of the zoo gets
free of charge a wild bush to be planted. Such as a vine rose, a berberies or a field elm.
There are juices and jams made of fruits and berries of local bushes and trees to be tasted.
Who knows, maybe soon this campaign will result in the fact that other species than blackbirds
and sparrows pay a visit to some hitherto all too styled gardens.
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Supporting organization: The activities within the framework of this project are one of those positive examples that demonstrate how
different organizations, interest groups and also urban authorities are cooperating in the endeavour to
reach common targets. Today the supporting organization of "Nature is near" is a small association that
developed out of various campaigns which took place at the Zurich Zoo. The Zurich Animal Protection Society,
the Zurich Zoo, Pro Natura Zurich, the Zurich Department of Horticulture and Agriculture as well as the
Zurich Forestry Office are among their representatives.
Target: Within the framework of various activities, "Nature on the doorstep" shall be brought close to
the population and especially to visitors of the zoo and also invite people to act themselves
in their residential area and in their field of activity respectively. To guarantee a
successful outcome, special attention is paid to good illustrative material and visual
examples, instructions on how to act, as well as to playing elements.
What is it all about? In the past year, day's campaigns on 7 different subjects have taken place. The following list shows the diversity and the instructive character of this program of campaigns:
Wetlands in housing schemes: Anyone who wants to know all about life in his garden pond, may by means of binoculars
marvel at a variety of water insects such as caddis flies, whirligig beetles (glomeris
margiuata), backstrokers (notonecta glanca), mayfly larvas and the rest of them. Or there
are the little green tree-frogs and, with a little bit of luck, one can see the hatching
of a dragonfly.
For beginners in laying out a pond, the persons in charge have much valuable information
and a great number of good hints in store. At any rate, it is worthwhile to get thoroughly
informed before laying out the pond. And don't forget: The surroundings of the pond must
also be right, because most amphibian species are known to spend the greatest part of their
life ashore.
Habitations for wild bees: Bees are not everyone's cup of tea, because especially the persons suffering from an
allergy are afraid of their stings. But how about wild bees in the garden? There is
always a great crowd near the handicrafts tables. Here you find out what has to be
taken into consideration when preparing nesting possibilities for wild bees or little
houses for earwigs. And, of course, you get plenty of information about these animals
and why they are important for an intact small biotope.
Forest kaleidoscope: On their way to the Uetliberg, hikers and strollers can try to find out how much they know
about the scents of a forest. Is this a boletus edulis? What about resin? And what is the
smell of the elder bush?
Children love the faked fox's den and track seeking. The thing is to track down live on
a course through the woods objects first presented in a game like gnawed off fir cones,
pellets, track seals and food trails. Anyone who feels like visiting the "zoo of the crawling
small animals" may still look at a few animals such as a young grass frog or the hardly known
"Saftkugler". Both animal species that can be found in the immediate surroundings.
Expenditure: Since a few years, the Zurich Animal Protection Society is financially committed to this
project. Because of that we are very grateful if you as website visitors help to support
and sponsor a good cause with your benefits. On request, we shall be pleased to cite your
name in this place as a sympathizer for this special project. Hereafter some budget items
for the whole project (expenditure 1998):
Wetland habitats (2 days)
Habitation for wild bees
Forest kaleidoscope (2 days) incl.
Concept and development
Bello & Purrly
Nightlife in Zurich
Wolf & otter
Birds
Material & expenses diff. campaigns
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Fr. 12'600.—
Fr. 6'850.—
Fr. 15'300.—
Fr. 8'250.—
Fr. 9'500.—
Fr. 14'200.—
Fr. 7'450.—
Fr. 4'250.—
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Here to other home projects
of the Zurich Animal Protection Society:
Please click on the topic that interests you!
Hare Project
Project Pets and Seniors
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