THE ZOOS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE FORMAL AND INFORMAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Due to their unique settings, zoos have indubitable role in teaching vast amount of people each year about the secrets and miracles of life. According to the World's Zoo Strategy, zoos have four main purposes and goals: 1). Recreation, providing a "green touch"; 2). Education about the diversity of life; 3). Research on wildlife using the captive facilities for studies not possible in nature and 4). Conservation of endangered species for which only captivity can provide shelter. Sofia zoo has an Environmental Education and Research Centre established 10 years ago which is responsible for fulfilling three of the four aims of zoos in a blend of activities. We had developed education packages for formal and informal education for general public with special focus on children, provide bases for research conducted by university students and their preliminary education and also take part in several conservation projects, the results of which are used as teaching aproach. Examples of all these activities are discussed further in this paper.