A reader survey carried out to determine preferences for material in the Australian Zoologist showed that there was an active reading audience with defined preferences for a good range of zoological material. With 598 replies to the questionnaire in the June 1989 edition of the Australian Zoologist, a high degree of confidence can be attached to the findings. There was a clear preference for material on terrestrial vertebrates (77%) and least for invertebrates (6%). Among the types of articles preferred, sharply defined interests were apparent, with conservation zoology, e.g.., woodchippinq, ranking first (with 77% of respondents ranking this subject as interesting), with theme issues, e.g., kangaroo harvesting, ranking a close second at 74%. The next two highly ranked articles were those with an ecological outlook (67%) and editorials on contemporary issues (64%). Collectively, these top four topics demonstrate a consistent preference for ecologically-based viewpoints on contemporary conservation matters. A high degree of interest was shown in articles on Taronga/Western Plains Zoo (62%), fauna survey (60%). features taking up an entire edition, e.g., Riversleigh fossils (54%), historical material (53%). and book reviews (50%). Clearly, the relationship between survival of animals in the wild and conservation and management of populations and habitats is recognized by readers. The relationship between zoological science and society is now probably better recognized than it ever has been. The overwhelming preference for conservation zoology has a message for writers, editors and publishers, and indeed zoological endeavour generally.

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