Lizzy Russo
WGSS 275
OpEd 2
Zoos: More Than Just Family
Entertainment
I
grew up going to zoos with my mom. It was, and still is, one of my absolute
favorite things to do. My family has a membership to our local zoo and whenever
we go on a vacation, that is one of the first things I ask to do. Visiting zoos
and learning about animals definitely played a big role in shaping me into the
environmental science-loving person I am today so when I read Sunaura Taylor’s
claim about zoos in her book Beasts of
Burden I was taken aback. Taylor claims that animals in zoos are disabled
and are abused, neglected and are suffering. After reading this claim I began
to think about how off base Taylor was in her assumptions about zoos. Despite
what Taylor claims, zoos are very beneficial to animals and can actually be
good for their wellbeing. Especially right now with the uncertainty of the
environment and the natural world, zoos can be a safe haven for animals and can
be a tool for helping the environment.
One
of the main points that Taylor makes is that zoos abuse and neglect their
animals. In her book, she claims “All of this raises profound ethical concerns
about the ways nonhuman animals are treated-- or, more aptly, mistreated-- by
human beings.” This quote is in response to an experience the writer and
primatologist Dawn Prince-Hughs had when she saw a gorilla at a zoo. She wrote
about how she saw the gorilla showing nervous ticks. Taylor is using this
account to make the generalizing statement that all zoos are bad for animal’s wellbeing.
I am not going to completely discredit Taylor’s claim. There are some bad zoos,
but it is not fair to put all zoos into one category. Zoos that are accredited
by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) are good for animals. The AZA is
a nonprofit organization that works towards the advancement of zoos and public
aquariums. They also set the standards for safe zoos and aquariums. To become
an AZA-accredited zoo, the facility must go
through an eight-month process to make sure that it’s up to their rigorous
standard. After the zoo is accredited it must be tested four times a year to
make sure they can meet safety requirements. The accreditation and tests are to
ensure that zoos and aquariums are safe for both animals that they care for as
well as visitors.
Modern,
accredited zoos are working extremely hard to update their facilities and
provide as wild of an experience for their animals as possible. Modern zoos and
the AZA are focused on not just helping animals survive but thrive. Accredited
zoos have been working since 1993 on researching animal care and
conservation to ensure that animals are being properly cared for. Zookeepers
are constantly coming up with innovative ways to enrich and engage animals
based off of research that is being done by zoos across the world. Enrichment
can include thermoregulating enclosures, hiding food for foraging animals, and
creating food puzzles for large carnivores to give them the experience of
hunting. Additionally, modern zoos also have innovative enclosure designs that
very closely replicates animal’s wild habitats. Zoos have been working very
hard in the past few decades to update their facilities and build new ones that
ensure animal’s wellbeing.
Lied Jungle Omaha Zoo
Besides providing care for their
residence, AZA zoos and aquariums are working hard at conservation efforts.
Right now, many animals are in danger of going extinct or becoming endangered.
All AZA zoos work towards conservation. This may include funding research or
participating in breeding programs that help to grow populations of critically
endangered animals. Many zoos and aquariums also help to rescue injured animals
and nurse them back to a state where they can be released back into the wild.
An example of this is the California Condor. In 1985 only nine of them
remained in the wild. By 1987 the San Diego Zoo and the Los Angeles Zoo began
their conservation efforts to help revive the condor. Today there are over 250
wild California Condors. Without these efforts, this bird would probably have
gone extinct. Zoos also play a big role in educating the public, especially
young kids, about wildlife and conservation. Zoos always have information
posted around the grounds about how to help protect wildlife. Additionally,
zoos often work with local schools and other organizations to help get kids
involved in conservation and other natural sciences. If it wasn’t for zoos many
people would not have the opportunity to see animals up close. Zoos provide the
opportunity to directly engage with the natural world, and that is vital to
conservation. I do not think Taylor was considering the important role zoos
play in protecting the environment when she was writing her book.
California Condor
Going
to the zoo was such an important part of my childhood, and I believe a lot of
people could say the same thing. Being able to see animals up close is why I
love animals and want to pursue a career in researching them. AZA-accredited
zoos work hard to care for their animals, and they make sure that they are safe
and they also work extremely hard on wildlife conservation. While Taylor may
have a point that there are some bad zoos, it is not fair to throw all zoos
under the bus. There are hundreds of zoos around the world with keepers who
care very much for the animals.
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