A second at the sign: Signage increases visitors’ recall of wildlife information at a kiwi hatchery

Abstract

Conservation of wildlife is an integral part of sustainable development of a nation and conservation education needs to remind citizens of how they can play their part. Signs are one of the commonly used low-cost tools to educate the public about different facts and actions necessary to conserve wildlife. I investigated whether a sign increased recall of pecific facts about kiwi predators. I used a single-case, multiple-baseline-across-site design with an ABAB reversal design. At the intervention site The National Kiwi Hatchery, Rotorua, visitor recall increased when the sign was present, compared to when it was absent. At the control site, Hamilton Zoo, where no sign was placed, recall was similar to sign-absent conditions at the intervention site and did not change over the study period. My research provides evidence that signs can be effective low-cost behavioural interventions.