Zoos have been a part of our culture for a really long time. Even as far back as medieval ages, exotic creatures were kept in menageries by the rich and powerful. However, this arrangement hasn’t always worked out so well for the animals. Recently there has been an increasing amount of controversy over the existence of zoos and the role they play in our modern society.
On one hand, zoos can provide a great opportunity to learn about and experience animals that an individual many never have the opportunity to see otherwise. On the other hand, captivity limits the animal’s ability to live a natural lifestyle. In this age of the internet, where a few clicks can connect you to YouTube, Instagram, Wikipedia, and so much more, do we even need zoos? Do we have a right to see an animal in the flesh when that confinement may be to the detriment of the animal’s welfare? These are complex topics that don’t necessarily have black and white answers.
Personally, I feel there is still value in responsible, well run zoos. You may be able to watch videos or view photos of practically any creature in the world with just a few clicks of a computer mouse, but nothing can fully replace seeing these animals in real life…smelling their odors…and (where appropriate) touching their fur or skin. These experiences can have a profound effect on people, encouraging further exploration into science, conversation, and environmental topics.
However, there exists a wide range of quality of animal care and welfare among zoos. Good zoos provide high quality animal care and prioritize conversation and education in their mission. We have a responsibility as consumers and animal tourists to preferentially support these good zoos and avoid visiting poor quality zoos that do not provide appropriate animal welfare.
So how do we identify these good zoos? I’ve outlined some guidelines below that you can use to help determine a zoo’s quality.
The 5 Freedoms of Animal Welfare
The five freedoms were originally designed to establish minimum animal welfare standards for livestock. Over the years, these have been adapted to evaluate the welfare of any animal under human control. These freedoms include: freedom from hunger or thirst; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain, injury, or disease; freedom to express natural behaviors; and freedom from fear or distress. You should keep these freedoms in mind when evaluating the quality of any zoo. (Check out my previous blog on The 5 Freedoms of Animal Welfare)
Memberships
There are multiple organizations that help regulate animal welfare in zoos and aquariums. Membership in these organizations is not mandatory, so those zoos that do opt in show commitment to a high quality of animal care. Two of the largest are the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is easy to check and see what zoos are members on these associations’ websites.
Education/Conservation Efforts
Good zoos prioritize education and conversation in their mission statement. You can help evaluate a zoo’s quality based on their commitment to these principles.
Evaluating a Zoo
A good zoo should:
–Provide safe, clean, and spacious enclosures that mimic the animal’s natural environment with areas for resting, movement, and hiding
–Provide a sanitary diet appropriate for the species and free access to a sanitary water source
–Maintain an appropriate stocking density (number of animals per space) for the species and enclosure size
–Provide enrichment programs appropriate for the species that encourage natural behaviors
–Provide copious amounts of educational signage
–Provide access to well-educated employees or volunteers that can readily answer questions
–Be able to justify any breeding programs the zoo participates in and have a plan for resulting offspring
–Not encourage programs where non-domestic animals perform non-natural behaviors
Animals in a good zoo should appear:
–Maintained at an appropriate body weight (not too skinny *or* too heavy)
–Maintained at an appropriate hoof/nail/claw/beak length
–Free from visible wounds, injury, lameness, or hairloss (unless currently under management by a veterinarian)
–Free from any stereotypical behavior (pacing, weaving, cribbing, over grooming, etc)
Supporting Good Zoos
Unfortunately, no situation is perfect. However, as a responsible animal tourist, we have an obligation to only support zoos that prioritize animal welfare along with education and conservation in order to give the animals we enjoy the best life possible.
