One of the aims of zoos, aquariums and other zoological institutions (ZOOs) is to educate and raise public awareness about the importance of biodiversity conservation. The aim of the master thesis was to assess the public's knowledge about biodiversity and to gather public opinion about the importance of conservation measures by ZOOs in biodiversity conservation. We used proc logistic statistical method, to test whether there were significant differences in the understanding of biodiversity conservation depending on gender, age and education of respondents. The data was collected using an anonymous web questionnaire. Of the 518 respondents, 92 % had heard of biodiversity, but only 38 % of them knew the meaning of the term. Concern about the loss of biodiversity was significantly influenced by gender, with men being less concerned. Gender, age, and education had a significant influence on the frequency of zoo visits. Zoos are more frequently visited by women, the younger generation (15-25 years) and the more educated. Most of the respondents attitudes toward the role of zoos in biodiversity conservation are age-related. Respondents in the 26-year-old age group were more likely to disagree than agree with most of the statements, and they did so less often than younger respondents (15-25 years). Only gender had a significant influence on the results of most respondents’ attitudes towards individual nature conservation activities of ZOOs. Men were less likely than women to report that individual ZOO activities are important for the biodiversity conservation, and for a smaller number of statements, they were more likely to consider them unimportant. Gender, age and education did not have a statistically significant influence regarding the future of zoos in biodiversity conservation.
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