ENVIRONMENTAL DISCOVERY & LEARNING PROGRAMS
The Interactive Programs are hands-on educational programs, where our guests learn about the natural world through contact with live animals, natural artifacts (biofacts), multimedia presentations, videos and interactive activities such as educational games, arts and crafts.
1. Friendly Farm Animals
Can you tell apart an African pygmy goat from a Cameroon sheep? A Falabella from a Shetland pony? The Vietnamese pot-bellied pig from a typical domestic pig? Learn all about domesticated animals and the differences with wild relatives, the products we get from them, how they behave, what they eat and how to groom them. Hand-feed our farm animals including our rabbits and guinea pigs.
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2. What do animals eat?
The huge White rhinoceros may be a fierce animal but it is a strict herbivore, grazing the savannah grasslands just like a cow would a field. Here at our zoo it lives in harmony with the Cheetah, the fastest mammalian carnivore on the planet. This session is all about animal diets. Hand-feed our farm animals, prepare a ‘food ball’ for our Giraffes, Robbie and Everest, observe birds’ beak shapes in the big aviaries, and take a mini-tour to watch how animals feed around the park.
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1. Being a Dolphin
You will discover the main features that make a dolphin such a special animal and its marine habitat. Using simple tools, you learn about their physiology: their size, their ability to hold their breath and see in the dark, the way they communicate with different sounds. You will have the unique opportunity to observe dolphins and learn from their animal-care staff, who know them best as they spend their whole day with them.
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2. Habitats - Where do Animals Live
The African Savannah is a dry open space that shows no mercy from the ferocious predators that roam freely over the plains. A Tropical Rainforest on the other hand may have many hiding places but unexpected dangers lurk around the corner. What makes up a habitat, which animals live there and how do they survive in the harsh conditions of the wild? Learn about amazing animal survival tactics, the problems that arise when humans and wild animals come into contact and what we do to overcome these problems. Help us enrich our animals’ homes; visit the large collection of wild cats, our own African Savannah and Tropical House.
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3. Animals of the Greek Forest
The Wolf did not eat Little Red Riding Hood and the Griffon vulture does not prey on live sheep. Discover why Greek wildlife should not be feared but be respected and protected. Learn how these animals survive in the Mediterranean landscape, what threats they face and how they can live together with humans, side by side. Watch Vicky, the Otter, swim in her personal pool, our family of Bears forage for fruit and fish, the Wolves eat and play and our rescued Vultures show off their wing span.
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1. Animal Behavior
How do Chimpanzees show their enthusiasm? When does the Lion grumble? How do Lemurs fight for dominance? All these and more will be answered in this session that introduces how animals behave and the benefits of their behavior in the wild. You will make food gifts for the Chimpanzees and observe them as they interact with each other and take a mini-tour to explore the behavior of other animals.
2. Monkeys, Apes and Human
If you understand the concept of evolution, you will know that Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives in the animal kingdom and very intelligent animals indeed. Find out what makes apes and other primates special, how we are all related, why apes are seriously threatened in the wild and what we can do to help them survive. You will also learn what the difference between monkeys and apes is and you will meet and greet our funky monkeys, friendly lemurs, loud chimpanzees and athletic gibbons. Finally, to enrich their daily lives you will construct food-gifts for the chimps or the gibbons.
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1. Our Earth is Boiling
Scientists predict that our planet is facing the 6th major extinction of species in its 4.6 billion years of existence and global warming is a major cause of this. Find out what climate change means, what causes it, how it will affect the lives of humans and animals and what you can do to reduce your own ecological footprint. Go on a mini-tour around the park to meet the animals that are endangered in the wild, to learn what zoos are doing to protect them, and how you can assist in saving these species.
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2. Biodiversity
What is biodiversity and why is this word becoming so popular? What is its importance for humans? Discover how the diversity of life has changed over the history of our planet, what is predicted for the future and how zoological parks contribute to conserving biodiversity. Meet animals that are threatened with extinction here at our Park and learn about the international breeding programs for the protection of their species that we are participating in. Learn what you could also do to protect wildlife.
The duration of the above interactive programs is 1 hour and the cost is 60 euro. Supervising parents and teachers attend session for free. Maximum number of participants 30, whereas Kindergarden and Preschool groups no more than 20.
In order for participants to prepare before the session, please download activity sheets from the above list.
Attica Zoo visiting you at your School
A. Exotic Pets - with an educational visit to your school, our staff enable students to become aware of the exotic pet trade, and they get to meet some abandoned exotic pets we have rescued, such as the Royal Python, the Pygmy African Hedgehog, the African Giant Snail, bio-facts such as bones, shells, fur and feathers, and learn about what it really means to be wild, tame and domesticated. This program is also suitable for kindergarden students.
B. A nest for the Chickadee - This program promotes environmental action by teaching students how to make bird boxes for the chickadee, a bird of Greece that struggles at times to find a nest! It combines story-telling with hands-on skill building for compassionate conservation. The funds from this program support similar programs in other parts of Greece, read more here.
Duration: 1 hour and a half for a group of 50 students
Cost: 150 euro
For bookings call: 210 6634724 (x201), 6951689337, email education@atticapark.gr
