Presented by Sarah Wilson
The Alice Springs Desert Park is a unique place. It is, in equal parts, a Botanical Garden, a Zoo and a cultural experience The aim of the Desert Park is to tell the stories of Central Australian people, plants and animals. Because of its unique outlook on educational tourism and living collections, the Desert Park requires a unique approach to records management. The Records Department is responsible for the management of both Botanical and Zoological records.The Botany Department records incorporate a Microsoft Access database with a Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping system. This system allows park staff to track the movement of plant material in the park whether It is in the seed store, the nursery or planted in the park. Through the use of accession numbers we are able to monitor the status of individual plants through the nursery and in their habitat in the park. The Zoological records utilise internationally recognised software packages developed for zoological institutions. Animal behaviour, husbandry and breeding information are recorded in the Animal Records Keeping System (ARKS). This data is submitted to a global database on a monthly basis. Through this system, institutions around the world can share knowledge and experiences. With the upcoming advent of the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), a web based global database, zoos will be able to communicate more effectively.