WELLINGTON, July 1 (Xinhua) -- A new research published on Monday found that tourists' irresponsible behavior around kea, New Zealand's native birds, such as feeding them, poses a potential threat to the species' survival.
Well-meaning tourists are often unable to resist the temptation to feed kea despite awareness that they should not, according to the research by the University of Canterbury (UC) Business School.
With tourist locations located in proximity to kea populations, there is more likelihood of kea being exposed to human food through stealing, soliciting and scavenging food, said UC researcher Richard Aquino.
This puts kea at an increased risk of involuntary poisoning from toxins meant for their predators, Aquino said.
These findings will help inform social marketing campaigns to encourage responsible visitor behavior and support the protection of native birds, in conjunction with the Department of Conservation, he said.
These findings by Aquino and UC Professor Girish Prayag have been integrated into the curriculum of the Bachelor of Commerce in Tourism Marketing and Management, such as the course of sustainable tourism enterprises and destinations, at the UC Business School.
"We want to equip the students with not just the knowledge, but also the mindset that business can be sustainable, and that marketing can be used to drive social change," Aquino said. ■
