What's In the Word "Conservation"?
Challenging Traditional Assumptions of Conservation
Introduction
This article is part of a series. To read the first article, click here.
Koala conservation comes in many sizes, shapes and forms, and includes captive management. However, over the years the conservation sector has extricated themselves from the captive sector due to their belief that making money from koalas (the commercialisation of the koala) was exploitative and somehow detrimental to the koala as a species. This belief spread through the conservation sector until the captive management sector was presumed to be an entirely separate industry in and of itself.
Despite the fact that koalas, today, are not being hunted or farmed, the captive management sector has continued to face harsh criticism, particularly from the conservation sector. What the conservation sector failed to recognise was the progress that the captive sector was able to make in their understandings of the koala, simply because the captive sector was innovating around the koala as the robust Australian icon that it truly is. The relationships that were formed between humans and koalas in the captive sector gave us a unique and advanced understanding of koala behaviour, which allowed us to improve koala welfare in Australia and advance koala conservation and protection efforts (for koalas and various other species).
Many conservationists baulked at the close contact between handlers and koalas in the captive sector, yet, this contact has paved the way for new and improved discoveries into the complexities of the koala.
The conservation sector could have benefitted immensely if they were receptive to the knowledge within the captive sector. Instead, they disassociated from the sector and refused to acknowledge that the captive sector could offer opportunities for them to learn.
While the conservation sector plays an important role in koala protection, particularly in mapping and studying populations in the wild, there is still room for improvement. To truly understand conservation, a collective approach must be taken, which would mean that the conservation sector recognises and appreciates other sectors (namely, the captive sector) as a valuable educational resource and an opportunity to learn and innovate. With better communication between the captive and conservation sectors, the entire industry could better serve the koala.
Much of the information available to the public today has come from the captive sector, particularly the expansive amount of knowledge on koala breeding, diet and behaviour.
Today, academics occupy a significant role in the spotlight within the koala sector, receiving much recognition and acclaim. While the role of academics is undoubtedly important, their centre-stage position in the sector can be detrimental to the industry as other, more important players in the sector are going unnoticed.
Academics and scientists often overlook the vital role that the captive sector plays in understanding koala behaviour and physiology. Both the captive and conservation sectors have their advantages and disadvantages and it would be beneficial if academics, utilising their role as architects of koala science, placed equal value on both sectors.
To truly see positive results in koala welfare and conservation, both sectors need to acknowledge their respective strengths and weaknesses and work together to celebrate and recognise the wide range of players that are instrumental to the koala sector. This means, in particular, recognising people who are in close contact with koalas and their environment and have a holistic understanding of them.
The next article discusses the overuse of the words "koala expert" within the media and conservation space.