The Quiet Zoo Revolution, by Jeremy Hance
How the world's best zoos are working to save biodiversity in an age of extinction
What is a zoo? Is it a place of entertainment or education? Of cages or conservation? Beginning around the mid-Twentieth Century, zoos and aquariums underwent a revolution of sorts: they began to see their animals less as captives and more as charges, while viewing their role within the community as increasingly educational. Many abolished barred cages for larger and more natural-looking pens, added enrichment activities to keep animals engaged, and began to take education more seriously, especially as the realization of a biodiversity crisis began to permeate the public consciousness. This revolution in zoos has been well-documented. But a quieter revolution in zoos has also been occurring over just the past twenty-five years. Rather than just stand by the sidelines as species vanish in the wild, more and more zoos have begun funding on-the-ground conservation efforts, some even going so far as launching their own conservation programs. While this revolution has been less visible than spruced-up pens and educational outreach, it signals a widening realization by zoos of the positive—and wholly unique—role they could play in combatting global mass extinction. But the question remains: are zoos doing enough?
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Tiger
meets human at the Minnesota Zoo. Physical spaces where people can
easily encounter and connect with wild species, zoos and aquariums are
unique institutions. Yet in an age of environmental crises, are they
doing enough to save species from extinction? Photo by: Tara Harris
Read more at http://news.mongabay.com/2014/0519-hance-zoo-revolution.html#32jEKeLbxrMj6pcZ.99
Read more at http://news.mongabay.com/2014/0519-hance-zoo-revolution.html#32jEKeLbxrMj6pcZ.99
Tiger
meets human at the Minnesota Zoo. Physical spaces where people can
easily encounter and connect with wild species, zoos and aquariums are
unique institutions. Yet in an age of environmental crises, are they
doing enough to save species from extinction? Photo by: Tara Harris
Read more at http://news.mongabay.com/2014/0519-hance-zoo-revolution.html#32jEKeLbxrMj6pcZ.99
Read more at http://news.mongabay.com/2014/0519-hance-zoo-revolution.html#32jEKeLbxrMj6pcZ.99
Photo by Tara Harris
What
is a zoo? Is it a place of entertainment or education? Of cages or
conservation? Beginning around the mid-Twentieth Century, zoos and
aquariums underwent a revolution of sorts: they began to see their
animals less as captives and more as charges, while viewing their role
within the community as increasingly educational. Many abolished barred
cages for larger and more natural-looking pens, added enrichment
activities to keep animals engaged, and began to take education more
seriously, especially as the realization of a biodiversity crisis began
to permeate the public consciousness. This revolution in zoos has been
well-documented. But a quieter revolution in zoos has also been
occurring over just the past twenty-five years. Rather than just stand
by the sidelines as species vanish in the wild, more and more zoos have
begun funding on-the-ground conservation efforts, some even going so far
as launching their own conservation programs. While this revolution has
been less visible than spruced-up pens and educational outreach, it
signals a widening realization by zoos of the positive—and wholly
unique—role they could play in combatting global mass extinction. But
the question remains: are zoos doing enough?
Read more at http://news.mongabay.com/2014/0519-hance-zoo-revolution.html#32jEKeLbxrMj6pcZ.99
Read more at http://news.mongabay.com/2014/0519-hance-zoo-revolution.html#32jEKeLbxrMj6pcZ.99
What is a zoo? Is it a place of entertainment or education? Of cages or conservation? Beginning around the mid-Twentieth Century, zoos and aquariums underwent a revolution of sorts: they began to see their animals less as captives and more as charges, while viewing their role within the community as increasingly educational. Many abolished barred cages for larger and more natural-looking pens, added enrichment activities to keep animals engaged, and began to take education more seriously, especially as the realization of a biodiversity crisis began to permeate the public consciousness. This revolution in zoos has been well-documented. But a quieter revolution in zoos has also been occurring over just the past twenty-five years. Rather than just stand by the sidelines as species vanish in the wild, more and more zoos have begun funding on-the-ground conservation efforts, some even going so far as launching their own conservation programs. While this revolution has been less visible than spruced-up pens and educational outreach, it signals a widening realization by zoos of the positive—and wholly unique—role they could play in combatting global mass extinction. But the question remains: are zoos doing enough?
Read more at http://news.mongabay.com/2014/0519-hance-zoo-revolution.html#32jEKeLbxrMj6pcZ.99
What is a zoo? Is it a place of entertainment or education? Of cages or conservation? Beginning around the mid-Twentieth Century, zoos and aquariums underwent a revolution of sorts: they began to see their animals less as captives and more as charges, while viewing their role within the community as increasingly educational. Many abolished barred cages for larger and more natural-looking pens, added enrichment activities to keep animals engaged, and began to take education more seriously, especially as the realization of a biodiversity crisis began to permeate the public consciousness. This revolution in zoos has been well-documented. But a quieter revolution in zoos has also been occurring over just the past twenty-five years. Rather than just stand by the sidelines as species vanish in the wild, more and more zoos have begun funding on-the-ground conservation efforts, some even going so far as launching their own conservation programs. While this revolution has been less visible than spruced-up pens and educational outreach, it signals a widening realization by zoos of the positive—and wholly unique—role they could play in combatting global mass extinction. But the question remains: are zoos doing enough?
Read more at http://news.mongabay.com/2014/0519-hance-zoo-revolution.html#32jEKeLbxrMj6pcZ.99
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