If working at Sparsholt zoo and being in the animal community has taught me anything it’s how to have an open mind. I used to believe that a good zoo checks all the boxes, but I now see how far from the truth I was.
Zoological facilities such as zoos, aquariums and marine parks are the Earth’s primary source of conservation and preservation. If we all became too picky with what zoos we visit then we lessen that amount of conservation that is already running short. Zoos aren’t stopping extinction, they’re only slowing it down. If world leaders were to one day listen to animal activist extremists and shut down all zoos, aquariums and marine parks then the rate of the planet's destruction will speed up, dramatically.
After all, how much can we achieve in saving wildlife when we’re too busy choosing sides?
In this blog, I will tell you how picky I used to be when choosing what zoos I would like to support and how I grew to be where I am now: as long as a zoo cares and its actions are consistent with what it says then I believe that zoo deserves my support.
Every zoo must be perfect; every single enclosure must be perfect… sounds plausible … right? Well… zookeepers of any species not only provide enrichment for the animals both with human interaction and without human interaction, but they also need to clean out the enclosure and when the time comes for a full clean… it becomes more time-consuming. Then the keepers must prepare and check the food for the animals as well as install the food in enrichment devices or use it for training which takes up more time in the day… Oh and don’t forget assisting vets with health examinations of the animals as well as educating guests and eating lunch… Maintenance, retrieving and taking back multiple tools and carrying wheelbarrows everywhere. You bet the legs, joints and back of a zookeeper are willingly and quite literally sacrificed for the animals.
The thing is, we can’t be too picky about what zoological facilities you feel comfortable supporting. Every zoo starts somewhere and every top zoo started as nothing more as those zoos I used to refuse to visit because they don’t check all the boxes. However, the only way for zoos to improve is money and by visiting zoos, you provide them with a secure financial source which they can then use to improve their facilities in the future.
Nowadays I believe that as long as the animals are loved, cared for, provided with the absolute minimum at least (the minimum is a lot when it comes to zoo animals) and the facility participates in the conservation of wildlife and the environment, their animals are ethically sourced such as bred in human care or rescued. I do not believe in capturing any animal for stocking purposes as it’s unnecessary and takes away wild populations when captive-bred animals are accessible. The animals must be stimulated mentally and physically but I understand and appreciate that some days, just like any workplace, there may be a lack of staff that day and animals may show signs of boredom. The zoological facility must comply with laws too.
They’re the only boxes that I check now and I believe that facility is worth supporting.
I also learned at Sparsholt college that animals begging for food can look like a stereotypical behaviour. When a big cat such as a leopard paces its enclosure it can be caused by stress. But it can also be caused by the cat visually spotting its keeper and begins waiting for food impatiently by walking around the enclosure looking for its keeper.
Stereotypical behaviour and animal exhibits could have been caused by previously being kept in a zoo that couldn’t provide the animal with what it needs so, at its new zoo, the animal has kept the behaviour as a habit. Stereotypical behaviour is a coping mechanism for stress but it can also become a habit just like with us humans.
If working at Sparsholt zoo and being in the animal community has taught me anything it’s how to have an open mind. I used to believe that a good zoo checks all the boxes, but I now see how far from the truth I was.
Zoological facilities such as zoos, aquariums and marine parks are the Earth’s primary source of conservation and preservation. If we all became too picky with what zoos we visit then we lessen that amount of conservation that is already running short. Zoos aren’t stopping extinction, they’re only slowing it down. If world leaders were to one day listen to animal activist extremists and shut down all zoos, aquariums and marine parks then the rate of the planet's destruction will speed up, dramatically.
After all, how much can we achieve in saving wildlife when we’re too busy choosing sides?
In this blog, I will tell you how picky I used to be when choosing what zoos I would like to support and how I grew to be where I am now: as long as a zoo cares and its actions are consistent with what it says then I believe that zoo deserves my support.
Every zoo must be perfect; every single enclosure must be perfect… sounds plausible … right? Well… zookeepers of any species not only provide enrichment for the animals both with human interaction and without human interaction, but they also need to clean out the enclosure and when the time comes for a full clean… it becomes more time-consuming. Then the keepers must prepare and check the food for the animals as well as install the food in enrichment devices or use it for training which takes up more time in the day… Oh and don’t forget assisting vets with health examinations of the animals as well as educating guests and eating lunch… Maintenance, retrieving and taking back multiple tools and carrying wheelbarrows everywhere. You bet the legs, joints and back of a zookeeper are willingly and quite literally sacrificed for the animals.
The thing is, we can’t be too picky about what zoological facilities you feel comfortable supporting. Every zoo starts somewhere and every top zoo started as nothing more as those zoos I used to refuse to visit because they don’t check all the boxes. However, the only way for zoos to improve is money and by visiting zoos, you provide them with a secure financial source which they can then use to improve their facilities in the future.
Nowadays I believe that as long as the animals are loved, cared for, provided with the absolute minimum at least (the minimum is a lot when it comes to zoo animals) and the facility participates in the conservation of wildlife and the environment, their animals are ethically sourced such as bred in human care or rescued. I do not believe in capturing any animal for stocking purposes as it’s unnecessary and takes away wild populations when captive-bred animals are accessible. The animals must be stimulated mentally and physically but I understand and appreciate that some days, just like any workplace, there may be a lack of staff that day and animals may show signs of boredom. The zoological facility must comply with laws too.
They’re the only boxes that I check now and I believe that facility is worth supporting.
I also learned at Sparsholt college that animals begging for food can look like a stereotypical behaviour. When a big cat such as a leopard paces its enclosure it can be caused by stress. But it can also be caused by the cat visually spotting its keeper and begins waiting for food impatiently by walking around the enclosure looking for its keeper.
Stereotypical behaviour and animal exhibits could have been caused by previously being kept in a zoo that couldn’t provide the animal with what it needs so, at its new zoo, the animal has kept the behaviour as a habit. Stereotypical behaviour is a coping mechanism for stress but it can also become a habit just like with us humans.
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