Monkeying around: who’s learning what at the zoo?

Abstract

The following article is an account of the research I am undertaking as part of my PhD project. Thus far, only the preliminary research is complete, therefore final results of the project are not stated here. It’s 9am; a fully loaded bus packed with 50 excited children leaves a school. The students’ faces are already smeared with traces of chocolate, their voices are raised in excited anticipation, that familiar aroma that you can’t quite describe pervades the bus; the windows are heavy with condensation. This can only mean one thing — it’s that time of year again...we all remember it —THE SCHOOL TOUR, and they’re going to Fota Wildlife Park. Fota Wildlife Park is one of Ireland’s leading tourist attractions. Every year over 12,500 children participate in Fota’s formal education programme. They come from all over Ireland to visit the park, view the animals, and have fun. We assume that ...