A Zoo View

Only 10% of the 1400 zoos in North America are accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA). The AZA enforces strict rules for the care and treatment of animals and periodically sends inspectors to assess compliance with these rules. Animal rights groups also monitor both accredited and nonaccredited zoos to make sure animals are not being mistreated.

Many animal rights and conservation groups advocate the purchase of natural habitat to be placed into conservation so that animals may remain in the wild. Some zoos are beginning to incorporate similar missions in their strategic plans.

So why do we need zoos? Many of the endangered species found in zoos are from habitats that are in decline. In fact, some endangered species are found only in zoos. Reintroducing them into the wild is difficult, if not impossible because of disease, pressure on the habitats, and/or poaching (illegal hunting). Zoos allow people to see animals they may never have an opportunity to see in the wild. Zoos also offer educational programs and information to help visitors better understand the needs of the animals.

Some of the issues addressed by today’s zoo are described below:

Environmental Enrichment is an attempt to provide humane ways to keep animals in captivity. The complexity of animals’ physical, social, and psychological lives in the wild has led both zookeepers and the zoo-going public to call for higher environmental standards for animals in captivity. Environmental enrichment practices can be very complex (artificial, fleeing-prey devices for leopards) or very simple (providing dirt burrows for prairie dogs). A simple structure such as a tree stump for bears to scratch their backs on can provide a more natural environment for the animals, allowing them to exert some control over their environment. This can result in healthier, more relaxed animals that can successfully breed. While environmental enrichment may be helpful, it can never take the place of the animals’ natural habitats. Environmental enrichment can, however help prevent stereotyped behavior problems, common in captive animals. For example an elephant may rock and swing for hours, bears may pace; monkeys stare, and rhinos circle. Both bar-biting and rail-sucking are also common with bears and giraffes. It is suggested that some stereotyped behavior problems are caused by boredom, loneliness, frustration, stress and habitat deprivation.

Naturalistic Upgrading is used to improve an animal’s captive habitat and make it more like its natural environment. Some zoos have not used natural elements at all; their exhibits are constructed with plastic and other synthetic materials that are strictly design features intended for the benefit of the viewer. However, some zoos have made impressive strides in upgrading their animals’ environments. Two excellent examples are Zoo Atlanta and the Roger Williams Park in Providence R.I. Both have proved that it is possible to enrich the animals’ space with little money and lots of creativity.

Science meets Mother Nature in Captive Breeding programs. Tissue, sperm, eggs and embryos of the world’s most endangered species are stored in protective cryogenics freezers. Species survival plans are developed and implemented to match captive animals for mating and also contribute to a healthy gene pool. There is much debate over the success of captive breeding programs. While many scientists think these high tech programs are the best way to help endangered species survive, others think that they can’t be saved with captive breeding alone. Many zoo scientists are also concerned that a number of key species are being left out of the program.

Some zoos, such as the Bronx Zoo’s Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), are implementing Habitat Conservation efforts for wild species. The WCS’ strategies include gathering the field research necessary to devise long-term conservation plans, opening wildlife parks and reserves, and training local scientists to work in their own countries. Some key zoo leaders believe that habitat conservation should be the mission of zoos. Terry Maple, Director of Zoo Atlanta says conservation plans “...allow us to save the wild. We just flat aren’t going to save these animals in zoos...”

Many zoos have made Species Reintroduction efforts a part of their mission. Reintroduction is expensive and it is not known how a captive species will adapt in the wild until it has been released. Will it know how to hunt? Hide from predators? Build a home? Mate? Socialize? Forage? Navigate? How much of its habitat is left? Are the forces that drove this animal out still at work? Has the local public been educated about the animals? Ben Beck of The National Zoo has done extensive research on this topic. In his study, “Reintroduction of Captive-Born Animals” in Creative Conservation: Interactive Management of Wild and Captive Animals, he found that of 145 reintroduction schemes involving 126 different species (13 million captive-born individuals total) throughout the world since 1900, only 16 have succeeded.