Currently I am seeing a large flood of
anti-zoo and aquarium articles on my Facebook. Some of these posts
are filled with so much ignorance that they infuriate me to the point
of taking an internet hiatus earlier. Why do I feel that much of
these articles contain ignorant points of view? Unfortunately in
today's age A LOT of people take everything they read online or see
in a movie as fact. They do not look at the source of information or
the genre (non-fiction vs. fiction). Some people have agendas that
strongly influence their point of view and often times distort the
facts in misleading ways. When I was in college and having to write
research papers my professors made it very clear to me that my paper
needed to be based on all the facts and not be biases due to my
opinion, I was even given topics that specifically made me play
devils advocate and document not only the facts that alined with my
personal feeling but also with things I did not agree with but were
factual none-the-less. But anyway, I digress...I wanted this post to
focus on why on earth we have zoos and aquariums and the debate as to
if they are good or evil!
What is a zoo or aquarium? An old
definition might say it is a place where wild animals are held in
captivity solely for the purpose of displaying them for people's
enjoyment. Today however they have evolved enormously. Now most are
highly regulated and managed facilities where animals are provided
with not only their needs to survive but, enrichment and social
settings so that they may thrive. While yes people are still able to
attend these facilities and enjoy viewing the animals their purpose
is so much more. They are places where scientists can research and
learn about animals in ways that are nearly impossible in the wild.
They are also able to assist in breeding programs that help to
strengthen wild blood lines and populations.
Where do zoos and aquariums get their
animals? No one can deny that at some point in the long history of
zoos (the first on record was in 1500 BC) animals were taken from the
wild. At this point most animals are have been breed in a similar
facility or have been rescued from bad situations. Yes, zoos and
aquariums do trade animals and that is to continue to strengthen
blood lines and prevent inbreeding.
What is the purpose of zoos and
aquariums? When the first started they were most likely merely for
entertainment and while millions of people do still enjoy going that
is not their primary purpose. Most zoos and aquariums focus on
science (mind blown right?). They facilitated research opportunities,
collect data, rehabilitating injured animals and inspire young minds
to peruse careers in science and conservation. As a matter of fact I
remember many of my trips as a young child to where I was able to see
up close fascinating creatures, such as orcas, that made me decide I
want to save the planet! Without these experiences who knows if I
would have ever been motivated to study anything related to science.
Do zoos and aquariums mistreat their
animals? In the early days of zoos and aquariums little was known
about animal behavior and punishment was often used as a training
'tool'. However, today things have changed. Accredited zoos and
aquariums have veterinary staff to assure the animals health is
maintained, nutritionists who verify that each individual receives
proper diets, and a well trained team of trainers and keepers that
maintain their habitats, provide daily care and create enrichment for
their animals. All of these things are done voluntarily and using
positive reinforcement.
I support my local zoos and aquariums!
They do amazing things to help us learn about the natural world. With
out them we would not know nearly what we do about animal life
cycles, diets, social structures, medicine, or their importance and
how we can protect them. When I visit my zoos and aquariums it jump
starts my motivation to save the planet. It reminds me why I need to
recycle, how I can help with the bush meat crisis, and what else I
can do to help conserve the amazing world around me.
I ask that before you decide how you
feel about any managed animal facility that YOU do your research.
Look at first hand sources, see them for yourself, speak to their
staff. Please do not pass judgment based on someone else's views, do
your homework and form your own!
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