Factors Influencing the Sponsoring of Animals in Slovak Zoos
Anthropogenic disturbance causes biodiversity loss, and consequently the captive conservation (ex situ) of threatened animals may be an effective strategy in protecting species. We used estimated body mass, phylogenetic closeness with humans, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) con...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/1/21 |
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| author | Jana Fančovičová Pavol Prokop Róberta Repáková William Medina-Jerez |
| author_facet | Jana Fančovičová Pavol Prokop Róberta Repáková William Medina-Jerez |
| author_sort | Jana Fančovičová |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Anthropogenic disturbance causes biodiversity loss, and consequently the captive conservation (ex situ) of threatened animals may be an effective strategy in protecting species. We used estimated body mass, phylogenetic closeness with humans, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) conservation status, and species attractiveness scores, to examine the factors influencing the adoption likelihood of a species in all Slovak zoos. In general, vertebrates received more funding than invertebrates, and mammals were the preferred taxa by private contributors. In terms of funding, we propose that the perception of mammals as phylogenetically close to humans, and attractiveness factor, contribute to an advantage over less attractive and phylogenetically distant species. Conservation status also contributed to the amount of donations; however, the magnitude of these relationships was weak when compared to the effect of animal taxa. These results suggest that Slovak zoos might be more successful in raising donations by breeding threatened species, and raising public awareness about these animal species. Displaying popular, flagship species of non-mammal taxa may increase interest among the public as well, and may translate into a significant growth in the amount of donations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:51:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-98248b401a6648a2b9d7250ab77a329f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:51:27Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-98248b401a6648a2b9d7250ab77a329f2023-11-23T11:04:34ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-12-011212110.3390/ani12010021Factors Influencing the Sponsoring of Animals in Slovak ZoosJana Fančovičová0Pavol Prokop1Róberta Repáková2William Medina-Jerez3Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Trnava University, Priemyselná 4, 918 43 Trnava, SlovakiaDepartment of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, SlovakiaDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Education, Trnava University, Priemyselná 4, 918 43 Trnava, SlovakiaTeacher Education Department, College of Education, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USAAnthropogenic disturbance causes biodiversity loss, and consequently the captive conservation (ex situ) of threatened animals may be an effective strategy in protecting species. We used estimated body mass, phylogenetic closeness with humans, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) conservation status, and species attractiveness scores, to examine the factors influencing the adoption likelihood of a species in all Slovak zoos. In general, vertebrates received more funding than invertebrates, and mammals were the preferred taxa by private contributors. In terms of funding, we propose that the perception of mammals as phylogenetically close to humans, and attractiveness factor, contribute to an advantage over less attractive and phylogenetically distant species. Conservation status also contributed to the amount of donations; however, the magnitude of these relationships was weak when compared to the effect of animal taxa. These results suggest that Slovak zoos might be more successful in raising donations by breeding threatened species, and raising public awareness about these animal species. Displaying popular, flagship species of non-mammal taxa may increase interest among the public as well, and may translate into a significant growth in the amount of donations.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/1/21donationsex situ conservationwillingness to pay |
| spellingShingle | Jana Fančovičová Pavol Prokop Róberta Repáková William Medina-Jerez Factors Influencing the Sponsoring of Animals in Slovak Zoos Animals donations ex situ conservation willingness to pay |
| title | Factors Influencing the Sponsoring of Animals in Slovak Zoos |
| title_full | Factors Influencing the Sponsoring of Animals in Slovak Zoos |
| title_fullStr | Factors Influencing the Sponsoring of Animals in Slovak Zoos |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors Influencing the Sponsoring of Animals in Slovak Zoos |
| title_short | Factors Influencing the Sponsoring of Animals in Slovak Zoos |
| title_sort | factors influencing the sponsoring of animals in slovak zoos |
| topic | donations ex situ conservation willingness to pay |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/1/21 |
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