Recreation and Leisure Activity - Essay Example

Name Tutor Course Date Question A Select a topic A recreation and leisure activity is an activity that caters for the individuals’ need of relaxing and at the same time keeps making benefits for the society, be it social or economic values. The Luna Park and Wonderland Fun Park at Docklands are some of the recreation and leisure activities in Australia. This context will highlight the zoo’s visit recreation and leisure activity that all members of the society can take part in experiencing with pleasure. Both participants and viewers enjoy in active and passive participation. Question B Definition and Explanation of Zoo and its Usual Setting A zoo is a selected and enclosed place where animals are kept in view of studying then exposing them to the public as exhibition. Depending on the setup plan of such a region a zoo may have different types of animals ranging from wildlife, sea animals to domestic ones. Such a setup may include a selected piece of land large enough to accommodate all the animals and provide them space to move about freely. Where the animals need a water settlement setup the zoo provides such especially for turtles. In a normal visiting day the visitors walk around the zoo with the help of a tour guide to lead them through. Where animal are permitted to be feed the visitor any do so is they desire provided the food clean and authorized. Determine the profile of this outdoor recreation activity A zoo visit consist of wildlife animals cages in an enclosed environment that is naturally friendly through manmade conservation strategies and other natural features. The overall activities involve viewing and physically touching or see the animals in the relatively relaxing environment. Who participates and describe the demographics relation to age, gender, etc. The demography of a zoo visits is not relatively similar or common in most regions. In terms of gender the female gender is dominating in such activities together with children of 15years old and above. A few male visitors are significant on several occasions. The old and elderly are unlikely to visit such recreation and leisure centers due to the high demand of being physically fit because it requires a lot of movements. Moreover, according to (Frost pg 149) the clear percentage of such demography is illustrated in gender age and social grouping that visit the recreation centers for leisure. Is this activity found through organized clubs and associations or individuals? Zoo visit recreation and leisure activity is organized through organization and clubs. However, recognized individual are also fundamental especially founders. Through factors like environmental conservations and requirement the upkeep and maintenance cannot be a one man’s responsibility. The community, society, clubs and organizations have to team up to make the better part of this activity. Has it always been popular? According to (Organ pg 156) yes, it has been popular since the 19th century in the North South Wales and South Australia. The main benefits and problems/risks associated with the activity to those participating, to others, to the environment in which they are undertaken? Benefits Through such recreation activities Australia has been able to maintain a great and effective on educational programs in and out of schools through the zoological garden focus on conservation. According to (Carr pg 93) the participants get more and peaceful time to spend with their family and friends through which family bonds are strengthened. This activity provided job opportunities to non-participant such as the tour guide. Conservation of the environment is also a virtual factor in this case especially where the environment is designed to suit the various needs of the attendance and the animals at large. In relation to (Frost 179), such effect is seen in the way the plants and trees are taken care of not forgetting a major factor like the sources of water. It is a form of educational and entertainment as a tourist attraction. Problems The weather conditions are sometimes not favorable to the participant both active and passive such as winter when it’s cold. According to (Kleiman, Thompson, and Baer, pg 160) the other problems that may affect such activities are the environmental problems especially where there is an outbreak of diseases which may affect the animals in the park. According to (Frost pg 180) some of the problems that are faced in such recreation centers are the common visits of visitors who are a threat to the zoo habitant such as poachers. Organization That perform an active role in this activity In relation to (Kleiman, Thompson, and Baer,pg 285) some of the organization participate in the existence of the zoo are the IUCN, AMACZOOA and AZA among others. These national and international organizations work as a team to facilitate the general upkeep of wildlife. Regulations, public policies or industry based standards influencing the direction and practice of this leisure activity? Here are some examples: In relation to (Kleiman, Thompson, and Baer, pg 157 and 158), the animals age difference, climate change, structure and their mode of care in the zoo are a key standardized factor that needs to be full followed up to the latter for their proper upkeep. Question C The activity, its Profile as Described Above This activity involves a visit around the zoo be it in the animals, birds, incest or garden region. The zoo comprises of several arena of interest in relation to wildlife conservation. The visitor pays for the tour around the zoo and can later engage in social or eating activities after or before the tour in the café, restaurant, or common eating launch areas. According to (Carr pg 92), through the walk the visitor may ask educative and informative questions in relation to the animals around e.g. the life span of the animals, there mode of adaptation among other factors. The setting of such a place is a dry land with fertile soil for growth of favorable plants for the animal’s upkeep and habitation. The setting should be more of a natural forest that is maintained to provide friendly environmental standards for the human visitors. A Good supply of water is equally necessary for irrigation and upkeep of animals, cleaning among other environmental requirement such as the Melbourne Zoo. According to (Stewart pg 1), some of the zoos have developed canteens and restaurants where the visitors can take some food or snacks such as the Adelaide Zoological garden. The profile of the outdoor recreation activity and why it has this particular profile This outdoor activity is the reliable for the available presence of wild animals in variety with creative adaptation of the man made environmental standards not far from the natural one. The positioning of standardized structures for the comfortable viewing of the wild animals, together with the relaxing places after the tour. Another profile factor is the upgrading upkeep of animals in the zoo for maintenance and conservation. The profile is popular due to relative reasons of animal upkeep and accommodation of visitors for viewing and entertainment. If the profile was changed then such activity could be relatively operating outside the ordinary and usual forum. What is changing and is this affecting its popularity? According to Kleiman, Thompson and Baer (137-138) the changing factor in this recreation activity is the fact that the participants and visitors are regarded as threats to the zoo habitants in today’s animal study. In this relation the major effect is that the increasing threats are resolving to the creation of zoo wildlife sanctuaries for the endangered animal species. In reference to (Mijo Consulting, et al, pg 1) the Australian Wildlife Health Center is one place that provides a realistic change in the recreation zoo visit activity. The payment fee to cater for any activity in the zoo that the visitor may perform is one that may be affecting the recreation activity. In cases of the less privileged in the society then unlike before such leisure is not a necessity. Through this the popularity of this activity is reduced hence it is viewed as a costly recreation and leisure activity compared to a beach visit, walk or picnic at the park. The structural change is the major habitation change that gives other activities in corporate within popularity rather than just animal study and viewing. Some of the changes is the fact that visitor can visit the zoo just to see the zoological garden and not the wildlife in place. Through this, the popularity of animal park visits is invaded by technology, environmental change, and developments in devolutionary changes. Does this activity receive strong community support or criticism and why? Yes, it receives support and criticism from the community because much of its recreation practice interferes much with the society and environmental upkeep. The community supports such practices through the regular family visits to the parks to bond and relax. The community engages in environmental cleaning day mostly practiced by youth who sometimes visit such zoological gardens to provide cleaning services for free. In reference to (Mijo Consulting, et al, pg 1)the community also is involved so much in making changes in relation to the maintenance and certain articles of the animal collection especially in the month of zootober. In relation to (Carr pg 91) the upkeep the zoo has been able to advance day by day after several criticisms from the social clubs and teams. Is the activity regularly covered by popular media? Magazines? Television/lifestyle shows? Celebrity status? The popularity of such recreation center is seen in the media both popular and non-popular although the similar programs may run through such marketing streams. The major lifestyle show may feature documentaries and television programs that have such centers in the scenes. According to, (Australia Zoo pg 1), Yes since it provides time for leisure and family time then the media uses it in advertisements nature as a mode on recreation in the society. In reference to Kleiman, Thompson and Baer, some journals feature in zoos and other wildlife conservation factors such as the Journal of Wildlife Diseases and the Journal of Animal Behavior (294). The media play a big role in advertising for such activities through televisions, magazines, movies, and even documentaries. Where popularity is evident then such locations and centers are highly marketed to domestic and international visitors. Celebrity status may include the frequent visitor likes and dislikes of such recreation center which bears a great impact to the society and any other individual with interest of such places. Featured in movies? The recreation center for leisure also features as most of the geographical locations that may feature in terms of review for beautiful locations in a country. In this regard, the media and other entertainment sectors use them as site for their movies sites, photography and modeling sites among other entrainment functions. Most of the famous zoological gardens are feature in several movies to give support and economic gain to such organizational practices (Australia Zoo pg 1), states. In reference, to Jurassic Park II, The Lost World this movie features the zoo in the Hammond concept of the Hammond’s Zoo (222). The movies that use these beautiful and fascinating geographic al locations may however be required to pay an amount to cater for such use. These are some of the upkeep standards which, recreation and leisure centers incorporate in their mode of operation. Describe any associated benefits and risks According to Carr, the associated benefits of such practices in the community is the fact that there is influence, of environmental risk especially in terms of keeping and maintain the animals as is they are still in the forest (92). The recreation centers risk losing animals when they refrain from adapting to the environmental changes that they are exposed to from time to time. The other risk is the risk of losing such animal when transportation them from one locality to another. According to (Frost pg 164), the zoo visits provide family time and bring a personal level of commitment to the society and family structure. It helps all visitors to learn the art of appreciation and above all education on conservation of animals and the environment. Another risk is the to the arts that are not developed such leisure activities cannot be found due to the need of well established structures and reliable resources that the animals may need for their upkeep. Outline the international, national or local organizations active in this activity The active organizations that are relevantly active are both national and international. According to (Taronga pg 1), the major organization or club is the Taronga Conservation Society Australia, which primarily helps in the conservation and biological research of animals. In addition, they also spotlight the need for of public education of wildlife and conservation of the environment. In relation to (Taronga p. 1), another organization that supports such recreation activity in Australia is the ZAA, Zoo and Aquarium Association which helps in that maintenance of the animal population and protection of the endangered species around. In reference to (Frost pg 93), among these organizations these is the WAZA, World Association of Zoos and Aquaria and the RZS, Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales of Australia. Although some the organizations are, international it is relatively similar that the same conservation rules apply for the environmental and social maintenance of such activities. The major goal of the organizations and community clubs that work hand in hand with the recreation centers is to keep and maintain the wellbeing of the wildlife in the best way possible. Outline key regulations and public policies influencing the direction and practice of this leisure activity. Policies and regulations act like the clear guideline for the laws in place that govern certain factors in the society. In zoo visit the zoo have to maintain certain rules as the visitors have to when they visit such recreation centers. The key policies and regulations put in place by the authorities that govern such practices are very instrumental in making sure that things fall in place in such recreation and leisure centers. Such regulations were first invented in the late 19th centuries by the founders of these centers back in the days. Although much has changed some of the regulations and policies are still in line up to date. In reference to (Taronga pg 1), some of the policies put are found in The Zoological Park Board Act 1973 which has legislative requirement for organizations like Taronga to abide with. The Act specifies on the general requirements that the centers are liable to imply with from time to time. Some of the requirements fall under the conservation of animals and the environment. In order for a center to gain recognition of such the Act come into place. Most of the regulations are incorporated in the government policies such as the standards of operation of such centers and their mode of upkeep all along. Question D Economic value of this Recreation and Leisure Activity Economically the zoo is well known to be a conservation area where animals are kept well and preserved for future viewing and study. In relation to (Mijo Consulting, et al pg 1) through the study of zoo the education sector becomes relevant in increasing the economic value therein. The economic value of zoo visit in the region is so evident through the wildlife and tourism sector. It used to establish entertainment activities in the safari tour such as horse or elephant riding. Through the established rate for such activities the sector gets more income than the normal one. The income can also be evidently reflected in the animal collection product that tours love to by while touring around. The zoo visit recreation activity brings into the market a competition. According to (Carr pg 91), economically more zoos in a locality reflect the higher the rate of economic growth in the different regions of a nation. Conclusion In conclusion, apart from a zoological garden a zoo may have a public aquarium, Biological Park, safari park among other collections. Although most animals are found in the zoo, there some that are declared endangered species while other rare. In this, biological studies and programs for the zoo help in understanding animal behaviors, adaptation and there mode of living among other factor. Works Cited Kleiman Devra, Thompson Katerina, Baer Charlotte. Wild Mammals in Captivity: Principles and Techniques for Zoo Management, Second Edition, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2010. Stewart Natasha. (2011), WildBites Cafe at Adelaide Zoo, Retrieved on April 18, 2014 from Moyal M and Organ M. (2008) Koala: A Historical Biography. Collingwood, CSIRO Pub, Print. Mijo Consulting, et al (2007), Zoos in Australia, Retrieved on April 18, 2014 Carr Neil. Children's and Families' Holiday Experience, London: Routledge Publishers, 2011. Taronga (2013), Government of New South Wales and the Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Retrieved on April 18, 2014 from Australia Zoo (2014), MEDIA CENTRE, Retrieved on April 18, 2014 Frost, Warwick. Zoos and Tourism, Bristol: Channel View Publications, 2010. Tarango. Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA), 2013, Retrieved on April 18, 2014 Read More