Zoos have been a part of our lives since time immemorial, but do animals really need zoos? Or are they mere show pieces for man to admire?
Though the wealthy have always owned exotic and wild animals, they did not resemble the modern-day zoo. The first zoos were created as a private collection of the wealthy. These collections were called menageries and often employed animal handlers to take care of them. Cave paintings and wall carvings are proof enough that menageries were in existence as early as 2500BC. Monarchs, when returning from expeditions brought back native and exotic wild animals as souvenirs and expanded their collection. Menageries were found all over the world in China, Egypt and England. The modern zoo took a while to come into existence.
The earliest known modern zoo is Menagerie du Jardin des Plantes in France, founded in 1794. The menageries of French aristocrats, including the king and queen were collected by the French Revolution and added to the zoo. But the zoos were more like museums for live animals, with most of them being kept in small areas in glass cases or cramped cages solely for display.
So how do zoos contribute to conservation?
Zoos, can be both an ex situ and in situ method of wildlife conservation depending on the species population and their natural habitat. Perhaps the animals from the early 1900s and a few decades later, did not require zoos. Urbanisation and industrialisation were not as widespread and species populations were comparatively stable and animals thrived in their natural habitats, but with time and man’s increasing interference with nature, wild animals were killed for reasons ranging from food for survival to hunting games. As man got more comfortable in forest terrain, the decline of wild animals began.
Man’s curiosity is one that is not easily satisfied, the desire to see different wild animals in one place incited the formation of the aforementioned displays. These animals tortured by the lack of space, improper and inadequate food became a source of entertainment for the world. The dichotomy is not lost. While some believed that nature must be respected and preserved as is, others want to curb and destroy its very wilderness by bringing them to zoos.
But are zoos ethical?
Do zoos continue to remain places of abuse? Has the world not changed with time and have we as humans not realised our mistakes? To a large extent, zoos are extremely different nowadays, with adequate space provided for the animal to roam around, employment of specialised personnel who are well informed on the requirements of the specific animal. They are not put in cages in several places, but there are still exceptions.
We have reached a point where animal protection laws are more prevalent than they were years ago, with strict rules and regulations that must be followed. No matter how much we try to deny it, zoos are information hubs. This allows for scientists to be able to study different species and educate the public about the same.
What about the unnatural enclosures?
Zoos can be of different kinds based on their geographical locations and purpose. Urban and suburban zoos are the quintessential zoos, with most of the animals being taken from their natural habitats and being introduced to simulations of their habitats in cities and metropolitans. Urban zoos sometimes have animals in small enclosures, which is a point of contention among animal lovers and conservationists. There are several other zoos that have now expanded to a very large extent allowing for sprawling grounds for their animal residents. Originating from zoos are also national parks and wildlife reserves, where wild animals are protected in their natural habitat permitting very little or close to no human activity in their proximity to ensure minimal human disturbance. These do not pose problems as animals thrive where they truly belong, but zoos remain a point of debate.
Extinct in the Wild!
What started off as a way for biologists to study wild animals and a source of entertainment to mankind, has now become a key component in wildlife conservation. The IUCN Red List identifies 39 animal and 39 plant species as extinct in wild, meaning zoos are the only places you will find these species. Zoos serve as a great rehabilitation resource and allow for man to intervene in a positive manner, study their mating and reproduction patterns to devise conservation schemes for specific species. Breeding programmes are put in place, to potentially reintroduce critically endangered species in the wild.
For example, the Californian Condor, in the early 1980s had only about 30 odd surviving members in the wild. They were taken to zoos and now there are about 400 members. Breeding in captivity is favourable as all external and internal conditions to a large extent can be altered to be conducive for reproduction. Another cause for extinction in wild that is often unnoticed is diseases.
When in their natural habitats, these are left untreated and in severe cases can cause rapid transmission and death in wild populations, but wildlife veterinarians can help these animals by treating them with the right kind of drugs and assist them in their recovery. Zoos are a great way to introduce children and people of all ages to the animal world. They raise a lot of funds, which can in turn be used for conservation programmes in association with other organisations.
Conclusion
There are two sides to the coin like always. Zoos are still places where animals are held captive outside of their true homes. A lot of research has been done on the ‘zoo visitor effect’ wherein the animals showed both positive and negative deviations from their normal behaviour. In some cases, interaction of public with animals has been linked to increased aggression and reducing social interactions, whereas there has been an increase in activity levels in certain species. Introduction of animals to zoos can also cause the loss of sex-specific behaviour and genetic diversity. Unlike a national park or a wildlife reserve, a zoo will never match up to natural habitat.
Animals like dolphins, elephants, bears and birds are used for entertainment in several established zoos. As humans we must not forget the fact that they are “wild animals” for a reason. These animals have to be transported in small boxes and cages, and reintroduction after breeding in captivity, is tricky as the animals need to reacclimatise to the environment and their survival is also dependent on the status of their ecosystem.
So, the question remains, are zoos important for conservation? Absolutely, but what you can do to be mindful is proper research on the kind of zoos around you, the work they do, how they treat their animals and how efficiently they use their funds. The future of zoos lies in understanding the extent of human intervention and being mindful of the kind of animals being rehabilitated, using it as an effective tool to preserve biodiversity. Zoos are ever-evolving, and it isn’t just animals in cages anymore, it’s about awareness, the power of knowledge and the respect we have for our co inhabitants.
Help us Help Them!
Help us Help Them! Think Wildlife Foundation is a non profit organization with various conservation initiatives. Our most prominent campaign is our Caring for Pari intiative. Pari is a rehabilitated elephant at the Wildlife SoS Hospital. 25% of the profits from our store are donated to the elephant hospital for Pari. Other than buying our wonderful merchandise, you could donate directly to our Caring For Pari fundraiser.
Written by: Manasa Ramesh