Zoos had their beginnings as a way of
making money out of showcasing the unusual, of giving people the opportunity to
see exotic animals that they would normally never have the opportunity to see. More
like the “freak shows” that would accompany fairs from the 16th to
the 18th centuries, than a haven for stunning specimens of the
animal kingdom.
More often than not these poor animals were
dragged in from every corner of the world, housed in small cages and in awful conditions.
Life expectancy was low and animal welfare was nonexistent. But it was a very
profitable business and as long as people kept paying to see them, nothing
changed. Then there was an outcry for
the more humane treatment of animals in the mid 1900s and attendance at zoos
dropped off dramatically.
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| Perth Zoo old bear enclosure from another era |
Thankfully because of public opinion, zoos
have come a long way and today they house animals in extensive enclosures
mimicking habitats with the latest technology and knowledge of husbandry to
control all aspects of the animals comfort, health and wellbeing. The zoos of
today don’t just look inwards but outwards, contributing to conservation
efforts, breeding programs and educating the public in the protection of some
of our more vulnerable species. All of
these enclosures, animal upkeep, food, staff,
health care and conservation programs make zoo keeping a costly
endeavour.
With the onset of quality nature shows on
TV, the internet and cheap airfares that can whisk you off to almost anywhere
on earth - do you need to visit the zoo? Are people as fascinated in these animals, that
they will pay $40 plus per person to see something that they have seen so many
times before. After all haven’t we all seen an elephant?
So how do zoos keep those attendance rates
and the income up so they can continue to engage in conservation efforts? Is
animal viewing enough? Do they need to
add more entertainment? Become more like a theme park to appeal to a broader
audience perhaps? Or will the allure of seeing, smelling and hearing happy animals
in great enclosures win out?
Well maybe not the smelling!
Good Question Stu. I can argue both sides of this argument, but I think in the end whaatever helps us save animals form being extinct might be a good thing.
ReplyDeleteTrue ! I like zoos and theme parks , I don't see any harm in the mixing to create more revenue. Especially when it goes back into animal welfare and breeding programmes . :)
ReplyDeletePeople just want more these days. They see animals on documentaries and the internet. I think zoos are a great day out for entertainment as well as education so having a few extra things like rides and eateries makes people stay longer - and hoefully learn more. IF the zoos can make money out of it AND then put that money into conservation of a species, then I am all for it.
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