Zoos Are Wrong?

4.21.2006

I'm sorry to have to rant about this but I am absolutely sick and tired of people bashing zoos especially in comments concerning my photos. Particularly ones like the following.

Example:

"This photo is technically a great photo but I just can't appreciate it because it was taken at a zoo because zoos are evil blah blah blah"

I for one strongly support zoos. I know that not all zoos are great… yes there are some that are still living in the standards of the old ways, but many zoos have changed how they take care of their animals. At one point in time zoo animals lived in what appeared to be jail cells. Currently most habitats are as close looking to natural as possible and include objects for the animals to interact with.

One of the main concerns I've noticed people have with zoos is they feel that zoos are purely for entertainment purposes.

"I just can't understand how mankind in the year of 2006 still finds it ok to imprison animals for 'entertainment'. Zoo owners should be imprisoned themselves, and then have crowds walk around their cage and laugh at their misery."

"Most of today's non-profit and serious zoological gardens display wild animals not just for the amusement and the entertainment of their visitors but mainly for conservation of endangered species, for education and biological research. The concern of these institutions is to help save the diversity of life on Earth through applied conservation activities such as breeding endangered species." -en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoo

The zoos I visit have several breeding programs in order to boost up the population of critically endangered species.

The last zoo I went to called Binder Park Zoo breeds Mexican Wolves which were at one point in time extinct in the wild. Thanks to zoo facilities these wolves have been able to make a come back.

"The five last known wild Mexican grey wolves were captured in 1980 in accordance with an agreement between the United States and Mexico intended to save the critically endangered species. Since then, a comprehensive captive breeding program has brought the subspecies back from the brink. Currently, there are 300 captive Mexican wolves taking part in the program.

The ultimate goal for these wolves, however, is to reintroduce them to areas of their former range. In March 1998, this reintroduction campaign began with the releasing of three packs into the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona. Today, there may be up to 50 wild Mexican wolves in Arizona and New Mexico. The final goal for Mexican wolf recovery is a wild, self-sustaining population of at least 100 individuals." -en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_Wol…



"Why do zoos keep the Grey Wolf

Zoo exhibits with Grey Wolves are powerful teaching tools for engendering human appreciation for and understanding of nature and the ecological role of carnivores. This power comes from the close relationship that humans of many cultures have had with wolves for millennia. This relationship is and has been both affiliative and competitive.

Grey Wolves are also kept in zoos for achieving more direct conservation goals. The Mexican Grey Wolf, Canis lupus baileyi, is held by more than 40 zoos or wildlife facilities in both Mexico and the United States of America for the purpose of conservation breeding in support of reestablishing wild Mexican Wolf populations." -WAZA


Meet Suci isn't she adorable! Suci is only the second captive-born member of her species. The Sumatran Rhinoceros is one of the most critically endangered mammal species on Earth. Suci lives at the Cincinnati zoo which is striving to save this species by keeping a breeding program.

"Surviving in Human Care
According to the current Red Data List of IUCN(International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources), 36 animal species are "extinct in the wild". Zoo-bred animals of several species listed by IUCN as "extinct in the wild" did survive in zoos and have been reintroduced to parts of their former range in recent years (Partula spp., Red wolf, Black-footed ferret, Przewalski's horse, Mhorr gazelle, Arabian oryx, Scimitar-horned oryx).
Furthermore, IUCN does not list a few species which were extinct in the wild but have survived in human care and several of them have been reintroduced by zoos and wildlife parks to their original habitat (Californian condor, Père David's deer, European bison, Arabian oryx)."
-WAZA-List of Species needing help

In addition to breeding programs they also take care of animals that could not live out in the wild otherwise.


This Bald Eagle along with another being taken care of at this zoo were shot in the wing by hunters. Due to the severity of their injuries the majority of their wings have been amputated. Both of these Bald Eagles would not be able to survive in the wild so their only way of survival is by staying at this zoo. Some zoos take in injured raptors for a short period of time in order to be able to rehabilitate and then release them back into the wild. www.riverbanks.org/conservatio…


This is a White Lion of Timbavati there are roughly 30 in the whole world....30. There are no known existing lions which this genetic recessive gene in the wild. They cannot exist in the wild because of the coloration of their fur. Since they are a lighter color the mothers normally kill the cubs. If the cubs do not die this way they are killed by predators who can easily spot the cubs who are almost pure white when cubs. If the cubs make it past the cub stages as an adult they starve because their prey can see them. The only way these lions can live are through zoos.


Now what about the money that zoos get? A lot of the money goes towards the animals. Keeping the enclosures up to date, food for the animals, vet costs, getting breeding partners for existing animals, and research. Take for example Mr. Tidy my favorite lion. The money for the train ride is going towards doubling Mr. Tidy's enclosure.

In addition some people feel that the animals at zoos live horrible depressing lives. In many cases animals are quite happy. In fact if animals are not happy they are less likely to reproduce. Last time I went to the Detroit Zoo there was love in the air. Animals have a tendancy to reproduce only if they feel secure enough to let their young ones live in the same habitat. Some animals feel so secure that they do things they would be less likely to do in the wild. One such case is the Giraffe at Binder Park they will lay down and rest and squat in order to graze on grass. These positions in the wild leave them extremely vulnerable to attacks.


If you still don't like zoos or could care less please keep your comments to yourself

Websites to visit:
WAZA-World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Wikipedia Entry on Zoos

/end rant