Are we finding education in Zoos?

An editorial by Viviana Camila Hernandez

Humans have always had quite a fascination with wild animals and every year people go
on safaris or visit their local zoos to get a taste of what their zoos offer. Zoos have been
entertaining us with exotic animal collections. Millions of people visit zoos around the
world, proving that we will never get tired of observing wildlife (including myself).
Although some people argue that zoos play an important role in conservation, research
and education, others think that they do quite the opposite and form a type of unnecessary
prison for the animals. I agree that zoos serve only as entertainment and not educational
purposes. According to a detailed study, zoos compromise the lives of their inhabitants
and thus causing unnatural behavior patterns such as stereotyped pacing, self-mutilation,
high-levels of stress, obesity, and reductions in longevity.
A zoo is an establishment that maintains a collection of wild animals, typically in a park
or gardens, for study reasons, conservation, or display to the public. As I said before, zoos
are seen as a form of education for many students. Going back to my primary school
childhood experience, I remember going to the zoo was one of the most exciting ones. As
a child I remember almost anything fascinated me and zoos got me very excited, but I
dont remember learning anything about the animals in detail, really. Zoos claim to
provide educational opportunities, but most visitors spend only a few minutes at each
display, looking for entertainment rather than education. About five years ago, a curator
at the National Zoo followed more than 700 zoo visitors and found that people were
treating their exhibits like wallpaper. While zoo visitors might learn something when
they're at a zoo there is no data that shows that this experience actually caused any
interest to learn more about animals or about conservation.
Now being a young adult I notice major differences. About two years ago I went to the
El Paso Zoo, which is located near the border of the United Stated and Mexico. As a child
going to the zoo was quite the experience, now I noticed that it was not satisfying at all.
Not only did the place seem dull and un-conserved, but the animals that are considered to
be the main attraction, showed signs of boredom. It was clear to me that the animals
were really in a state of unhappiness and I refused going back after what I had witnessed.
An Oxford University study based on four decades of observing animals in captivity and
in the wild found that animals such as polar bears, lions, tigers, and cheetahs show the
most evidence of stress and/or psychological dysfunction in captivity and concluded that
the keeping of naturally wide-ranging carnivores should be either fundamentally
improved or phased out.

After further research, I have seen some alternatives that are based on the observations of
some critics. One of the alternatives to learning about wildlife without incarcerating them
and keep on conserving them would be to take an Eco-vacation. There are many
companies that offer guided experiences that will take you into nature without disturbing
it. Another much realistic alternative would be to visit a farm animal sanctuary, these
sanctuaries offer engaging and interactive experience with animals, and make it a
memorable educational time away.
After looking at other ways we can interact with our wildlife and actually learn
something about them, it has come to my attention that we can indeed conserve the
animals, habitats and their mental states. I dont think animals should be taken from their
habitats of origin and serve as a form of entertainment. I strongly encourage you to take
into account these alternatives when it comes to getting the proper education from the
wildlife.

Reference Page
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AnimalsandNatureWithTheseExciting
Alternatives.RetrievedfromOneGreenPlanetwebsite:
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