WHY DO WE HAVE ZOOS?

I have held a lot of jobs in my lifetime. One of the most rewarding was working at the Los Angeles Zoo. I started there as a volunteer during college doing behavioral research studies and eventually worked my way to paid positions as education assistant, catering assistant and volunteer coordinator. When I told people what I did for a living, I got a mixed bag of reactions. Most of the time, they said, “That is so cool” but others claimed they didn’t believe in zoos because they felt sorry for the animals living in cages. I would go on to explain that zoos are so much more complex; they are deeply involved in animal welfare, conservation and education all over the world.

Historically, zoos have had poor reputations. The early entrepreneurs were showmen, taking exotic animals from the wild purely for the enjoyment of crowds of onlookers. That may have been true but I have to believe that those gents were in awe of their magnificence and just wanted to share amazing and unique animals with those who would never have the opportunity to see them in their native habitat.

Over time, zoos evolved into places that protected animals from the ravages of both man and nature, essentially saving them from danger. When habitats were destroyed, zoos provided a space for animals to live and thrive. When baby animals lost their parents to poaching, zoos gave them their only chance for survival. When a smuggler was caught with an illegally traded reptile collection sewed inside his clothing, zoos provided a place where those animals could go. Zoos became the voice of animal advocacy. Exotic animals are no longer pulled from the wild for no reason.  It is their offspring that are alive and well living in zoos now. 

Many zoos and other facilities work toward releasing animals back into the wild for those that are able to re-adapt and survive. A perfect example of such a success story is the California condor that was placed on the endangered species list in 1967.  By 1982, the number of California condors flying free in California was down to only 22. In a combined effort of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, LA Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park and other groups, the captive breeding program brought the number of California condors back to over 400 with more than half of those living free in California, Arizona and Baja California, Mexico. Zoos participate fully in many of these types of species survival plan programs.

The highest priority of zoos today is the health and welfare of the animals in the collection. Great care is taken to design living space based around the physical attributes and emotional needs of its residents. Established family groups are respected and animals are only moved out or regrouped for breeding diversity or if conflicts arise.

Breeding programs are a worldwide endeavor, managed through Taxon Advisory Groups that develop animal care guidelines as well as recommend regional collection plans. This method ensures that all zoos are working in cooperation to meet the needs of a particular species and to manage the gene pool in the most successful way possible.

Modern zoos are enjoyable places with lush gardens, meandering pathways and areas to just sit, think and draw. They offer visitors rich experiences of delight as well as opportunities for “teachable moments” through interpretive signs, keeper presentations and educational activities. Children in Los Angeles may not be able to visit the exotic continents of Asia, Africa and Australia but, with a visit to the Zoo, they can learn about the animals that live there and start to care about their survival.  They soon understand that they can make a difference by respecting the earth and the animals and people that share it. Zoos deserve our support.

Susan Bolan

susanbolan710@gmail.com