Is there really still a debate going on?
11/01/13 16:53 Filed in: Zoo Design theory
I've been recently reminded of the lack of consistent appreciation that we, as human, have towards Zoos and Animal Sanctuaries in our culture. Many people still regard them as a collection of oddities and menageries of powerful people, and at worse case, money making exploitations.
I've been recently reminded of the lack of consistent appreciation that we, as human, have towards Zoos and Animal Sanctuaries in our culture. Many people still regard them as a collection of oddities and menageries of powerful people, and at worse case, money making exploitations. As Bucky Fuller once said, it takes 50 years for popular culture to catch up with Science - and I think this is the case here. When I grew up (50 years ago) Zoos were terrible places, filled with barred cages and concrete and postage stamp enclosures. Lions were exhibited next to Tigers next to every other wild cat within smelly Feline buildings - each one with the same blue tiled walls and concrete floors - no reference to where these animals come from or why they are adapted to look the way they do. They were places of curiosity and worse.
Today, zoos are arranged in zoogeographic biomes where the animals of a particular region are exhibited in large, habitats in predator/prey relationships with culturally theme artifacts and architecture. Discussions of how the people of these areas relate to the wildlife, and what pressures there are to the ecosystems due to real world issues of overpopulation, energy consumption and economics. The modern zoo is a place of education and research. We have learned so much by improving the conditions of the animals in our care. The current Zookeeper is no longer a city sanitation worker, but an educated zoologist with experience at numerous zoos, multiple college degrees and stiff competition for the better jobs.
Even with all the changes in todays zoos, some people are still debating the worth of Zoos and Sanctuaries. To me, the goal of any zoo design project is to better the conditions of the captive populations and create places of greater respect for these species and in turn educate the public about the work these zoos are doing at home and abroad in the animals natural habitats. The point is to learn more and more about their needs so that we can protect them from possible extinction. These are lofty goals and a far cry from the zoos of 50 years ago.
We are at a point in time that we are managing wild populations of animals, monitoring their activities and negotiating relationships with human populations. The captive populations are managed for genetic diversity so that we never again need to bring wild caught animals into captivity. And in the case of sanctuaries, we are creating places to allow animals who are no longer needed for research or wild animals who were caught up in the pet trade or entertainment industry, can live out their lives in respectful conditions that create a life worth living after their service to our society.
What's not to like - we certainly can't open the gates and let all the animals in zoos and in research centers return to the wild. We are way beyond that point. We must take responsibility for what we have created and make the world a better place for these species in our care. What's the debate? There is only right action, and making the best of what we have inherited.
There is no going back - only moving forward in ever improving ways to make the world a better place for everyone.
Today, zoos are arranged in zoogeographic biomes where the animals of a particular region are exhibited in large, habitats in predator/prey relationships with culturally theme artifacts and architecture. Discussions of how the people of these areas relate to the wildlife, and what pressures there are to the ecosystems due to real world issues of overpopulation, energy consumption and economics. The modern zoo is a place of education and research. We have learned so much by improving the conditions of the animals in our care. The current Zookeeper is no longer a city sanitation worker, but an educated zoologist with experience at numerous zoos, multiple college degrees and stiff competition for the better jobs.
Even with all the changes in todays zoos, some people are still debating the worth of Zoos and Sanctuaries. To me, the goal of any zoo design project is to better the conditions of the captive populations and create places of greater respect for these species and in turn educate the public about the work these zoos are doing at home and abroad in the animals natural habitats. The point is to learn more and more about their needs so that we can protect them from possible extinction. These are lofty goals and a far cry from the zoos of 50 years ago.
We are at a point in time that we are managing wild populations of animals, monitoring their activities and negotiating relationships with human populations. The captive populations are managed for genetic diversity so that we never again need to bring wild caught animals into captivity. And in the case of sanctuaries, we are creating places to allow animals who are no longer needed for research or wild animals who were caught up in the pet trade or entertainment industry, can live out their lives in respectful conditions that create a life worth living after their service to our society.
What's not to like - we certainly can't open the gates and let all the animals in zoos and in research centers return to the wild. We are way beyond that point. We must take responsibility for what we have created and make the world a better place for these species in our care. What's the debate? There is only right action, and making the best of what we have inherited.
There is no going back - only moving forward in ever improving ways to make the world a better place for everyone.