The Cute Factor

We all love baby animals.  No matter what the animal is – if it’s a baby, it’s cute. So how do zoos capitalise when  there is a newborn, and what does it mean for that species in the long term? 
 

Baby rhino feeding from mum

There is no doubt that a newborn baby at a zoo can create a lot of interest and zoos will make sure that they get as much attention as possible.  The zoo's publicity machine will go into overdrive to create a buzz, and the more cute the animal the more interest there will be from the general public.  A critically endangered newly hatched  Kroombit Tinker tadpole will not get any attention compared to a newly born elephant - and yet the significance of that tadpole is immeasurably more important for the survival of that  species.  For the elephant there will be a naming competition, media appearances, 24 hour web cam, and day-by-day news reports on its progress until the big day when the calf goes onto public display.   And if that isn't enough celebrity status for the newborn - well just wait until its first birthday party!  The tadpole however, well its grown legs and looks a little more like a frog - and you may never hear about it. Ok maybe too extreme of an example but hopefully you get my point.   Cute is king and incredibly profitable for a zoo if handled in the right way, and in the long run that is beneficial to the Kroombit Tinker Frog too.

 

Play time for the tiger cubs at Dreamworld 2007

Knut the famous polar bear from the Berlin zoo increased that zoo's visitors two fold and no doubt put the plight of the polar bear front of mind of all of those who went to visit him.  It’s also fair to say that his shock death at the age of four, in front of 600 people, also opened up some important conversations about how to manage the balance between fame and publicity (profits)  and the  health and welfare of animals. Whether those lessons have been learned will be answered when we all draw our attention to the newly born polar bear cub at Sea World on the Gold Coast. 
 

Tiger cub at Dreamworld 2007

Baby animals signify hope. Baby animals give scientists the opportunity to learn about that species and give us all the opportunity to celebrate in the success of perhaps taking that species one step back from the brink of extinction. Popular baby animals also signify profit and give zoos the opportunity to exploit that animal for monetary gain, which if done with balance and care can benefit all endangered animals. So when paying your entry price to go view a zoo's latest cute furry bundle, remember you've possibly just helped to save a less pretty species as well.

© June 2013-Stuatthezoo.blogspot.com.au

Do animals get bored in zoos?

There are three activities that all animals in the wild are totally preoccupied with. They are: finding food; trying not to become food; and finding a companion to mate with. These three activities are essential to the survival of any species, and thus what dictates most animal behaviours, migration patterns and rituals. So what becomes of that animal when you provide it with its daily food, keep it safe from predators and introduce it to a mate at the most opportune time? Well the short answer is:  if not managed correctly they will get bored.

A polar bear at Sea World playing with a toy

A good zoo will always have in place an animal enrichment program that is designed to stimulate animals both mentally and physically. These programs are implemented  by well trained zoo keeper who are not only there to clean cages and feed and water animals but who also becomes the animals' guardian, a person who knows the animals personalities, likes, dislikes and temperament. By understanding the animals under their care, keepers introduce activities like hiding food for animals to search out, and inventing games that the animals can participate in and introduce toys that can be played with. A simple plastic container, branches or a cardboard box can enthral an animal for hours and introduced scents can stimulate animals' natural instincts.  These activities are constantly changed depending on the animals needs.

Lion and Lioness enjoying the sun at the Bronx Zoo

Enclosure design plays a significant part in the enrichment of animals' day-to-day lives. Water features, scratching posts, caves, climbing structures and mud pools all encourage animals to explore and demonstrate their normal behaviours. More and more zoos are introducing multi-animal enclosures, especially for primates who get bored most easily – these enclosures will have a range of different species in natural environs that encourage inter-species interaction.  Other enclosure encourage complex social groups to thrive allowing for natural breeding and social rituals.  Common sense also plays a large part in giving animals the space they need to thrive such as putting social animals like Gorillas together and solitary animals like Orang-utans alone in their own enclosures or spreading food around an enclosure for an animal that likes to forage.

The Madagascar enclosures at the Bronx Zoo is good example of multiple species in the one enclosure 

Zoo animals that have their mental well-being enriched by these methods generally live significantly longer than their wild cousins. Possibly because of the stress that has been alleviated by not having to find food, hide from predators and fight for the right to mate.
© May 2013-Stuatthezoo.blogspot.com.au

What’s with the Dinosaurs?

Sea Worlds Dinosaur Island

When I first started thinking about this post, It was more about me being perplexed about dinosaur exhibits at zoos and their relevance. Ok I get it! Dinosaurs are popular at the moment. But really, has there ever been a time when they haven’t been?   This post was prompted by a recent visit to Sea World on the Gold Coast – Where they have Dinosaur Island, an area filled with giant models of dinosaurs growling and moving and looking just real enough to scare the pants of any kid. Don’t get me wrong it looked great and I’m sure it’s a huge draw card creating well needed funds and I get the need for that,  as I wrote in a recent blog.

 

Sea World - Gold Coast

What I have come to realise is that I think they are missing an opportunity to tell a really important story. Maybe one that will resinate with children allot more than just some animatronics.  We all know that dinosaurs have been extinct for millions of years so yes there is a fascination and they are very popular. So why not use them as the draw card to tell a more frightening story.  Let’s also tell children about animals that have gone the way of the Dinosaur in let’s say, the last 10 year!  So in Sea Worlds Case – tell the story of the Baiji Dolphin that once was abundant in the Yangtze River in China - now extinct, last seen in 2002.  Or the Western Black Rhino – technically still on the critically endangered list but none have been seen in any of the recent surveys and none are held in captivity, so without a peep – Extinct! Or the Hawaiian black Crow, Pyrenean Ibex or the Golden Toad, all gone.

Baby western black rhino - Gone!

I know that none of these animals have the pulling power of a Dinosaur Island. I am also sure that some zoos do touch on the subject of recent extinct animals at their dinosaur exhibits. If I had my way, alongside the plastic toys, tee-shirts and hats of dinosaurs in the gift shop would be, tee-shirts and hats and mugs with a picture of a Western Black Rhino, Golden Toad etc, with the word Extinct in bold red underneath. These stories need to be told so that our children’s children are not taking their children to a place called “wild life island”.
© April 2013-Stuatthezoo.blogspot.com.au