An Unwholesome Alliance

 Dan Ashe's Alliance with Anti-Zoo Groups Sparks Backlash Among AZA Members

Most of this outreach occurred years ago, so I'm not sure why this is just getting an article now, but yeah.  I remember how outraged many of my colleagues felt when they heard that the leadership of HSUS was going to be speaking at an AZA conference, and wondering how this would possibly be to our benefit.  It's true that there are times when zoos and animal rights organizations find common ground, especially when the subject is the rescue of animals from subpar conditions.  Some zoos seem to have closer relations with AR's than others and are more prone to collaborative efforts.

There's a line between hearing what other people say for purposes of dialog and finding common ground on one hand, and legitimizing their arguments - which many members of your own community might find personally insulting and attacking - on the other.  It's especially exasperating as it limits our ability to work with high-quality non-AZA partners.  Also, AZA has been tightening accreditation standards to a degree that we've seen several longtime members, especially among the smaller zoos, loose accreditation.  Do these facilities suddenly become "bad" zoos overnight?  Are we expected to cut all ties and cooperation with colleagues we've known and trusted for years, just so we don't look bad in front of PETA and HSUS?  I have a hard time buying that viewpoint.

Where exactly this hypothetical line is, I can't say for sure - but I know that I'm not alone in the zoo community in my belief that if Mr. Ashe hasn't crossed that line, then he's at least standing directly on top of it.