Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary - Case Study Example

Issues in Ecotourism - Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Ecotourism Product Analysis – Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Introduction Ecotourism is defined as"Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people" (TIES). The environment in the world today has been ravaged both by man as well as natural calamities. In order to suit to his needs, mankind has destroyed natural forests, landscapes and wildlife in order to enable humans to inhabit the planet exclusively. Agriculture has become as a predominant industry in the world to meet the burgeoning demand of food for human populations which have attained longevity over the centuries. Man has also exploited the natural fossil fuel reserves extensively in order to run the machines which have unfortunately destroyed the way Planet Earth was meant to be. It was only in the latter half of the twentieth century that conservationists and environmentalists recognized the threat these activities posed on life on the planet itself. As a result, serious efforts were initiated to preserve the natural ecology of the planet and the hitherto unexploited areas were adopted by various local and international organizations for preservation as nature intended them to be. In order to increase awareness among the people, endeavours such as ecotourism were started which intend to preserve the natural flora and fauna and allow its non obtrusive observation from a distance, so that people can realize the importance for preserving the ecological balance and enjoy travelling to various nature theme parks all over the world. In the Australian continent, the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is one such endeavour which has gained worldwide popularity as an ecotourism destination. This paper examines the sanctuary as a tourist attraction and the manner it is being intended to be maintained with local assistance of stakeholders and other responsible agencies. Ecotourism Criteria Tourism is one of the major industries of the world and involves economic, social, cultural environmental components (Fennel, 2003). As a global industry it enjoys the status of being the largest business sector generating 230 million jobs worldwide and contributing to 10% of worldwide gross domestic product (TIES). The principles of ecotourism state that it should have minimal impact on the particular environment, should assist in inculcating environmental and cultural awareness, should provide positive experiences for the visitors and the hosts, should provide financial benefits for conservation activity and sensitize the local population towards its local socio-political climate in tune with the environment (TIES). In order to meet the ecotourism criteria, a region should be large enough in terms of area covered, should have the natural flora and fauna of the region type on the planet i.e. the climate and the geographical features typically associated with it and there should have been continued presence of natural wildlife for a sustained and extensive period of time. It should be capable of being travelled through unobtrusively, without disturbing the wildlife population of animals inhabiting it and at the same time not requiring destruction of its natural vegetation for the purpose of tourist activity alone. The Currumbin Wildlife sanctuary meets all these criteria and is a typical rainforest area located in the Gold Coast area of Queensland. It has a total area of 27 hectares of rainforest with Eucalyptus trees and has been rationally designed as a popular ecotourism destination where tourists can freely interact with a wide variety of animals such as koalas, kangaroos, crocodiles, birds, reptiles and other marsupials (Sanctuary website). The tour through the sanctuary has been well designed with direct exposure and interaction with the animals in an unobtrusive way, socio-cultural events for entertainment and train rides through the area. Animal shows include a free flight bird show, snake show, the itchy koala show, feeding frenzy and interactive encounters with dingos and other animals. One can choose to indulge in self discovery by opting for guided walks through the sanctuary. The National Trust of Queensland states that the ecological heritage of the region has been maintained for more than 32 years with intentions to continue the activity for another 100 years so that future generations can benefit from the efforts being made to sustain the region in its natural environment. Form of Tourism All tourist activity is a result of the human nature to seek adventure and pleasure in the sights and sounds of a non-native region so that the diversity of life can be experienced to its fullest. The tourism industry occupies a major chunk of international business with the forecast of international tourist arrivals of 1.56 billion by the year 2020 (TIES). Developing countries of the world stand to benefit immensely from this activity in terms of financial input by foreign tourists. Ecotourism promises to be the most attractive tourist activity as it involves a sense of adventure and excitement which is in response to unexpected contact with wildlife and witnessing natural phenomena in their pristine glory. Ecotourism not only brings man back into contact with nature but also serves to enlighten and educate the young tourists’ about the way life existed on this planet historically. As future generations in urban environments are mostly dependent on gadgets and lifestyles provided by modern technology, they need to experience nature first hand, deprivation of which can hinder normal psychological development leading to abnormal perceptions and behavioural defects. Ecotourism is one of the best and most effective ways of preventing this social malady. Facilities at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary have been developed keeping all the above aspects in mind. Themes, shows and learning activities within the premises have been well designed and serve to motivate the young learners to respect and preserve nature. Management Practices The National Trust of Queensland and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shoulder the responsibility of managing the affairs at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary which they endeavour to do in a sustainable manner. A programme, ‘ecoBiz’ is run by the EPA which aims to keep the management procedures as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible. The organizations have ensured minimal usage of electricity and water within the precincts of the sanctuary and workplace practices have been inculcated in the staff which assists them in scrupulous conservation of resources. The measures undertaken, as indicated on the Sanctuary website include recycling of paper, preparation of compost from food scraps, preservation of water resources and usage of uneaten animal food, primarily eucalyptus leaves as fertilizer for flower beds. The advisory committee ensures appropriate implementation of advertising strategies to attract tourists as well as students through online website and promotional videos. Guided as well as self guided tours are well planned and trails developed for the same. Three, differently coloured steam trains chug along adventurous trails and pleasant posters, signage and themes have been designed to keep the tourists engrossed. A range of educational programs and community courses are available for academicians to enrich their knowledge, particularly in Australian wildlife, herpetology and avian husbandry. Holiday packages and courses are available year round in order to sustain the objectives of the wildlife sanctuary with the National Trust of Queensland and EPA actively involved in improving the quality of the programmes available at the premises. Active feedback mechanisms allow the authorities to recognize lacunae in their programmes and plug them effectively with new strategies. The staff at various facilities within the sanctuary is well qualified and trained according to the latest developments in their respective fields. Stakeholders Besides the national Trust of Queensland and the EPA, two prominent stakeholders in the Currumbin Wildlife sanctuary are the ‘Queensland Symphony Orchestra’ and the ‘Bendigo Bank Tugun Community Branch’, who play a pivotal role in maintaining the sanctuary in a sustainable manner. Queensland Symphony Orchestra The Queensland Symphony Orchestra is particularly associated with an avian project called ‘Coxen’s Fig Parrot Recovery project’ which aims at protecting and preservation of a particular species, the Fig Parrot, which is an endangered species of the region. The organization carries out a breeding programme for the endangered bird and identifies genotypes of related species from similar environments in other parts of the world to be brought and bred at the sanctuary. The Red-Browed Fig Parrot has been brought and introduced to the sanctuary as a result of their conservation efforts for the species. Bendigo Bank Tugun Community Branch This particular organization has involved itself in financing the educational activities within the sanctuary. Programmes have been developed for local as well as foreign students to enhance their knowledge on various aspects of environmental preservation and obtain firsthand experience by interacting directly with the Australian wildlife. Students from within as well outside the country can participate in primary, secondary as well as tertiary levels of education by taking appropriate courses. ESL courses are also made available for students’ whose native language is not English. Recommendations The two stark environmental issues facing the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary are the pollution of the aerial environment by the steam locomotives and excessive artificial feeding of the birds which enhances the risk of dependence of the birds’ on food provided by humans. Moreover direct communication between animals and tourists from different areas of the world can increase the risk of diseases bit to and from the animals. It is therefore recommended that if the trains have to be run at all within the sanctuary, they should be powered by solar energy as it is the most environment friendly energy source. Deliberate and long term provision of food through artificial means can also disturb the ecological balance by making behavioural changes in wildlife and redistribute populations of fauna across the sanctuary. It is therefore recommended that natural sources of food should be conserved within the region and practices to sustain those sources should be adopted. Appropriate signage should be placed at critical areas in the sanctuary and stricter hand washing protocols should be ensured after direct contact with the animals. Conclusion The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a prime example of a successfully running and well maintained ecotourism region of Australia. The local authorities, with assistance from international as well local stakeholders have strived to maintain the nature park which attracts international tourists, students as well academicians’ to interact directly with nature and the Australian wildlife. Although remarkably well structured and managed, the sanctuary is in dire need of removing some of the hindrances which threaten its existence. Pollution due to steam locomotives is a primary concern which needs to be removed by introducing eco friendly engines, preferably powered by solar energy. Direct contact with animals needs to be practiced with great care as it can harm both animals and man due to the risk of disease transmission between the two. The animals should not be fed artificially and availability of natural food sources should be ensured in a sustainable manner. References Benbow, S. (2004). Death and dying at the zoo. The journal of popular culture. 38(4), 32.  Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary . (2009). Retrieved October 8, 2010, from http://www.cws.org.au/ Fennell, D.A. (2003). Defining Tourism, The Nature of Tourism, Chapter 1, Ecotourism: An Introduction, Retrieved October 16, 2010 from: http://books.google.co.in/books?id=VAYYfo0gCpQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=ecotourism&source=bl&ots=PVBcaGBgVO&sig=6ZpPccpGMheOjgEHdFH_tORVIXA&hl=en&ei=axe6TPnLEImyceDYxOEM&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=13&ved=0CFUQ6AEwDA#v=onepage&q&f=false Hales, R. (2010). 3119HSL Ecotourism Week 1 Lecture. Retrieved from Griffith University, Department Tourism, Leisure, Hotel and Sport Management, Learning@Griffith website: https://learning.secure.griffith.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_86970_1&frame=top. International Institute for Sustainable Development . N.p., 2010. Web. 10 Oct. 2010. . Media release Thursday, July 10, 2008 Community members consulted on Currumbin Board guidelines http://www.cws.org.au/getcloser/images/pdf/NTQ_board_consultation_release_10_7_08.pdf Orams, M. (2002). Feeding wildlife as a tourism attraction: a review of issues and impacts. Tourism management. 23(3), 281. TIES Global Ecotourism Fact Sheet. Retrieved October 16, 2010 from: http://www.ecotourism.org/atf/cf/%7B82a87c8d-0b56-4149-8b0a-c4aaced1cd38%7D/TIES%20GLOBAL%20ECOTOURISM%20FACT%20SHEET.PDF Wearing, S., & Neil, J. (2009). Ecotourism Impacts, Potentials and Possibilties (2nd ed.). Jordan Hill: Butterworth-Heinemann, pp74-76 Weaver, D. (2008). Ecotourism. Milton, Qld: John Wiley & Sons. What is Ecotourism? Retrieved October 16, 2010 from: http://www.ecotourism.org/site/c.orLQKXPCLmF/b.4835303/k.BEB9/What_is_Ecotourism__The_International_Ecotourism_Society.htm Read More