Species Centers of the Future

The concept of a safari park, while relatively young compared to the traditional zoo, has still been around for several decades.  Off-site breeding facilities are also not a brand new idea - the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute has been around for decades.  What is new is their newfound dedication to working together to create sustainable populations for the future.  The focus is working with a relatively small number of species in close support with conservation projects in the wild.

This is all very exciting stuff that offers a lot of promise and excitement for the future of wild animals being managed under human care.  The question is, with all of these new developments, what is the future of the traditional zoo?  Does it become obsolete?  Does it become more like the off-site facilities?

I feel that there is still plenty of value in the smaller, urban zoos.  They are better geared towards education, with focus on public display.  For many smaller species, or those that are delicate and need closer management, they can work very well for breeding.  The C2S2 centers are typically located in rural areas, which are not accessible to nearly as many people as urban zoos.  Zoos can spread their message and gain support for conservation with helping people make connections with actual, living, breathing animals.  

For that, there is no real substitute than your local zoo.